Camp Yardzen!

During these unusual and challenging times, we know how difficult it can be to keep kids occupied with fun and interesting projects.

Enter Camp Yardzen, a bi-weekly, 30-minute class on Wednesdays in September and October: 9/9, 9/23, and 10/7 at 3:00pm PST. The classes will focus on a fun and easy DIY kitchen and garden project. To participate, join our Google Hangout here: meet.google.com/vjc-hayo-ndi.

More details on the projects below, but rest assured that your kids won’t need anything fancy to participate — all you’ll need are common kitchen tools, plants growing in your garden, and produce you likely have in your fridge or can pick up at your local grocery store. And did we mention that these classes are free?

Our instructor, Mike Irvine (or Gardener Mike as he prefers!), is an Oakland-based gardener, writer, and teacher. He has years of experience working as an edible landscaper and organic farmer, plus he’s the former Garden Editor for Sunset magazine. Check out his most recent garden writing in the August issue of Better Homes & Gardens.

Class Schedule:

Garden Infusions

Wednesday, September 9, 2020: 3:00 pm (PST)

To participate, join our Google Hangout here: meet.google.com/vjc-hayo-ndi.

Everything you need to know about making delicious infusions with herbs, fruits, and edible flowers. If you’re new to infusions, they’re a simple way to make deliciously flavored waters, iced teas, and hot teas. All you need is a few tasty ingredients, a large vessel, and some time steeping in the fridge or in a teapot.

Tools

• Large empty water container, ideally with a tight-fitting lid to avoid splashes. If you don’t have a lid, don’t worry about it — just be careful!

• Large wooden spoon that can fit in and touch the bottom of your water container

• Large jug full of water (or a sink nearby)

• Knife for cutting fruit (for younger kids, you may want to pre-slice

• Cutting board

• Ice cubes at the ready in your freezer

• Strainer

• Cups or glasses

 Ingredients

•  1 bunch of fresh mint

• 2 or 3 Meyer lemons (regular lemons will do, too!)

• A couple of handfuls of berries — blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.

Don’t worry if you don’t have these exact ingredients. You can infuse lots of different things into your water, including cucumber, lime, grapefruit, lemongrass, or anything else that you think would taste delicious.

Dried Flower Bookmark

Wednesday, September 23, 2020: 3:00 pm (PST)

To participate, join our Google Hangout here: meet.google.com/vjc-hayo-ndi.

Learn how to dry flowers with nothing but a big, heavy book and some rubber bands. Then we’ll show your kids how to create their own one-of-a-kind bookmark with the flowers, but the same process can be used to make a postcard or a piece of art to hang on the wall or the fridge.

Window Sill Gardening with Kitchen Scraps

Wednesday, October 7, 2020: 3:00 pm (PST)

To participate, join our Google Hangout here: meet.google.com/vjc-hayo-ndi.

Don’t throw away those kitchen scraps! In this session, learn how to create a garden in a sunny windowsill from items you were going to drop in the compost after making dinner.