Growing Together: Open Forum

Looking for garden tools to use with elementary school students, trowels, watering cans, any other suggestions?

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Shirlee Krantz
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Hi Shirlee, 

We have bought the metal leaf rake and wheelbarrows from Montessori Services and our students love them. We use them primarily with Grades Prek-2.  https://www.montessoriservices.com/practical-life/yard-garden/yard-garden-tools

We've purchased these garden gloves from Amazon and they have held up for the past year and a half so far. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0956M95WR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

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Megan Isabell
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Hi Shirlee,

In our elementary garden program we get the most use out of our sets of trowels, hand cultivators, buckets, rakes, and hoes. The trowels and hand cultivators we use are standard size and the rakes and hoes are child sized, but heavy duty (not plastic/toylike). We also have a set of waterproof coveralls for each kindergarten class, and we wish we had a set of rubber boots in a range of sizes (but storage limitations currently prevent this).

Jen

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Jen Reese (she/her)
Science & Garden Coordinator
Amherst & Pelham Public Schools
Amherst, MA
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Thanks for the information. Having overalls is a good idea, where did you get yours from?

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Shirlee Krantz
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2024 12:05:49 PM
From: Jennifer Reese
Subject: Child size tools

Hi Shirlee,

In our elementary garden program we get the most use out of our sets of trowels, hand cultivators, buckets, rakes, and hoes. The trowels and hand cultivators we use are standard size and the rakes and hoes are child sized, but heavy duty (not plastic/toylike). We also have a set of waterproof coveralls for each kindergarten class, and we wish we had a set of rubber boots in a range of sizes (but storage limitations currently prevent this).

Jen

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Jen Reese (she/her)
Science & Garden Coordinator
Amherst & Pelham Public Schools
Amherst, MA
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Where did you get the heavy duty child sized rakes and hoes?

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Nicole Dodds
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2024 12:05:49 PM
From: Jennifer Reese
Subject: Child size tools

Hi Shirlee,

In our elementary garden program we get the most use out of our sets of trowels, hand cultivators, buckets, rakes, and hoes. The trowels and hand cultivators we use are standard size and the rakes and hoes are child sized, but heavy duty (not plastic/toylike). We also have a set of waterproof coveralls for each kindergarten class, and we wish we had a set of rubber boots in a range of sizes (but storage limitations currently prevent this).

Jen

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Jen Reese (she/her)
Science & Garden Coordinator
Amherst & Pelham Public Schools
Amherst, MA
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I got some of these little shovels and they've held up great! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NNHMKBS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 Otherwise, we use regular full sized trowels and cultivators. 

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Julie Loosigian
(she/her)
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Thanks for sharing.


Original Message:
Sent: 2/14/2024 11:47:00 AM
From: Julie Loosigian (she/her)
Subject: RE: Child size tools

I got some of these little shovels and they've held up great! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NNHMKBS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 Otherwise, we use regular full sized trowels and cultivators. 

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Julie Loosigian
(she/her)
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I purchased these for both my garden groups last year and they were a big hit.  They are all one piece of metal, so sturdy for kid use and colorful, which just adds to the fun of digging in the dirt!

https://a.co/d/2jtLPMh

We also purchased these gloves:

https://a.co/d/jhmQz0h

Daina

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Daina Gulbis
K-8 Garden Coordinator
Somerset Hills School District
Bernardsville, NJ
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Hello! I ordered these sets from Home Depot a few years ago and they are still holding up well: https://www.homedepot.com/p/G-F-Products-Kids-Garden-Tool-Set-with-Tote-10012/204863154

I also keep a supply of garden gloves on hand. I was able to get several sets of gloves at local dollar stores.

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Karen Stuppi
Children's Librarian
New Brunswick Free Public Library
60 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
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