Growing Together: Open Forum

What's one moment in your garden where a child surprised you with their curiosity or insight? 

I grew patty pan squash last summer and was so surprised by a teenage boy who was so defensive and protective of this squash. He ran out to the garden, yelled at his peers to stay away from his squash, and he took care of it from seed to fruit. When we harvested it, he excitedly ate it raw and unseasoned and encouraged everyone around him to get a piece too. He excitedly told staff about the history of the plant he had just learned in previous weeks. The staff working with him were afraid to try it because it looked "weird" to the staff. The boy teased the staff that they were "really going to be afraid of a vegetable" and laughed it off and said they'd simply have more for themself! It was a sweet moment where the boy had seen their labor come to fruition, tried something new, challenged black and white thinking, normalized the experience, and decided to remain optimistic and positive in spite of someone else's judgements and perceptions. I was so surprised to see the way the boy had advocated for vegetables, advocated for his own individuality, and protected his labor and his own values. 

What's one moment in your garden where a child surprised you with their curiosity or insight?