Discovery Gardens

Project Grow has two Discovery Gardens. Our newest Discovery Garden, located in the Washtenaw County Farm Park off of Platt Road, is located near the county's new farm-themed playground area. Our original Discovery Garden, located on the grounds of the Leslie Science & Nature Center off Traver Road, is nestled next to the Black Ponds Woods. Both gardens provide a unique and calming place for children, senior citizens, wheelchair bound gardeners and volunteers of all ages to come together to garden organically.

The gardens operate from mid-May through mid-October and consists of the following four distinctive programs:

Wonder Sprouts: An organic gardening and educational experience for children ages 3 to 12. The Wonder Sprouts participants are encouraged to garden together on Wednesdays, along with the Wise Roots and Easy Access Gardeners, during the season from approximately 5:30pm until 7:30pm at both the Leslie Science Center location and at the County Farm Park Location. In addition, the Wonder Sprouts program includes garden craft based classes six times during the season. In the 2008 season these classes will be held on Wednesday evenings, during our scheduled potluck events. Please see the class schedule for exact time and location information. Wonder Sprouts 2008 Class Schedule

Wise Roots: Providing organic raised gardening plots for older adults in an intergenerational setting. The Wise Roots participants are encouraged to garden together on Wednesdays, along with the Wonder Sprouts and Easy Access Gardeners, during the season from approximately 5:30pm until 7:30pm at both the Leslie Science Center location and at the County Farm Park location.

Easy Access: Specially designed raised garden beds with accessible pathways are provided for the wheelchair-bound gardener at both of our locations. In addition, the Discovery Garden located at the County Farm Park is well suited for low-vision or no-vision gardeners. Instructional help and guidance available for the visually impaired gardener upon request. The Easy Access participants are encouraged to garden together on Wednesdays, along with the Wise Roots and Wonder Sprouts, from approximately 5:20pm until 7:30pm throughout the season at both the Leslie Science Center location and at the County Farm Park location.

Theme Gardens: Designed to inspire and educate people of all ages theme gardens surround the two Discovery Gardens and are tended entirely by volunteers.

All Gardeners :Gardeners in the Wise Roots, Wonder Sprouts and Easy Access programs receive a 24 square foot raised bed, seeds, and educational information on organic gardening methods. All gardeners have on site access to a community tool shed, water and a shade area for relaxing. Volunteers are available to provide assistance during the designated weekly gathering time at each location

For more information contact the Project Grows Discovery Garden Coordinator at 996-3169 or via email at discovery garden@projectgrowgardens.org

You can now register on line for 2008 community and Discovery garden plots as well as submit volunteer applications and register for Project Grow classes and events!

Click here to apply on line for a Project Grow garden plot

Garden applications can also be downloaded from this web site by clicking here on garden application for application and here on garden registration for registration materials. Also, hard copy applications are in the 2008 Pre Season Community Gardener newsletter available at the Project Grow office, City Hall, Ann Arbor (main) library, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation administration building, Whole Foods, Downtown Home and Garden, People's Food Co-op, and the Washtenaw County Extension office

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