As a mom, newly elected PTA president and recent Career Day speaker, I can personally attest that kids are digging into gardening. This is why I must tip my dirt-stained ball cap to Burpee’s new program that supports young gardeners.

Burpee Home Gardens kicked off its national “I Can Grow” program by supporting younger and novice gardeners in community events across the country, and by collaborating with the National Gardening Association on the new educational I Can Grow Guide. “I Can Grow” is a confidence-building program from Burpee Home Gardens for youth and novice gardeners that focuses on The Four E’s of vegetable gardening: Education, Eating better, Environment and Economy.

In order to make youth gardening education more accessible, Burpee Home Gardens has collaborated with the National Gardening Association to produce the I Can Grow Guide. This 55-page educational resource offers ideas for teachers, youth group leaders and volunteers on how to cultivate a successful youth garden program. The I Can Grow Guide is available as a free download through the Burpee Home Gardens website, www.burpeehomegardens.com.

It offers recommended steps for starting an edible garden for youth, as well as a host of lesson ideas for school gardens in many subject areas, including science, math, history, language arts, health and nutrition, along with activity ideas for community gardens. The I Can Grow Guide also includes topics like starting a youth garden business, cooking classes and beginning a neighborhood beautification project.

To learn more about the “I Can Grow” program, visit www.burpeehomegardens.com, or visit the Burpee Home Gardens Facebook page at www.facebook.com/burpeehomegardens.