Agriculture

These young farmers will eat — and plant — their veggies

Teacher Kim Van Bourgondien demonstrates planting techniques to Jake Rosado, 7, of Miller Place, center, and Dylan Nolan, 8, of Cutchogue. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)
Teacher Kim Van Bourgondien demonstrates planting techniques to Jake Rosado, 7, of Miller Place, center, and Dylan Nolan, 8, of Cutchogue. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

For the bee demonstration, Sang Lee owner Fred Lee took the children to the beehives and showed them the beekeeper gear while Ms. Senesac explained the pollination process.

But the camp is more than just lessons. For some, the hands-on part — growing, picking and eating food on the farm — is the best part.

“I like how we pick vegetables; it’s fun,” 8-year-old Cutchogue resident Dylan Nolan said when asked how he’s been enjoying the camp. “I love beans,” he added, one of the vegetables of the week for July 16.

“I like meeting new people and I liked getting to try new foods,” said 12-year-old Emma Quarty of Peconic. “There are some vegetables that I normally don’t like cooked, but when I tried it raw I actually liked it.”

Ms. Senesac says that although she will try to teach the kids as much as possible about healthy eating, the real reinforcement happens at home at the table.

“I can only educate the kids so they know where it comes from, so they can ask for it or say, ‘Hey Mom, I grew this in my own garden. I seeded it, I want to eat it now,’” she said.

In order to help with the process, Ms. Senesac allows the children to pick veggies of the week to bring home to their families. At the end of the day, she emails their parents recipes that involve the new foods.

For next summer, Ms. Senesac plans to offer a separate camp for youth in the 12-to-14 age range, which will include more work helping out on the farm.

When asked why he likes the camp and what he’s been learning so far, 10-year-old Rudy Bruer of Mattituck had a ready list.

“I like camp because you get to do fun stuff and you get to learn stuff that can help you in life and stuff that you might not have known … and they can help you grow your own garden and make compost … and you learn that different vegetables are different colors because they have different vitamins in them … and …”

The weekly camp started July 9, but is open for children to attend individual days; the cost $85 per session. Those interested should email [email protected] beforehand.

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