Garden Rangers tend Madison Children’s Garden

Roma tomatoes have flourished for the Garden Rangers at Madison Public Library … even if the rabbits nibbled all the strawberries.

Any child in grades 2-5 can join Garden Rangers.

The Garden Rangers are weeding, watering and watching the Madison Children’s Garden – A Living Library. “We want to give children a chance to get hands-on work in a garden. So many children in the community live in apartments or condos,” youth services librarian Maggie Allen said.

The Garden Rangers can “learn about what’s growing in the garden – smell it, touch it and learn names. Sometimes we plant, water, add to composting or learn how to identify what needs to be weeded,” Allen said.

Most vegetables are thriving, except for strawberries that rabbits have enjoyed. “Liz and Dave Butler, garden liaisons for the Friends of the Madison Library, have been working hard to find the right plants for the gardens,” Allen said. “When they took over the garden duties, some plants were getting too much or too little sun. They’ve made some great improvements.”

For the compost bins, teen volunteers add leaves each week, but the Garden Rangers actually rotate the compost bin and add items, like bananas and coffee grinds. “Ultimately, we’ll be able to use that composting material back in the garden,” Allen said.

Any child in grades 2-5 can join — even younger if they have a true interest in the garden. Because of vacations and inclement weather, different children have attended each month.

Garden Rangers meet on the first Monday of the month promptly at 4 p.m., with their next meeting on Aug. 6 from 4 to 5 p.m. “Dress to go outside and perhaps get dirty. We’re learning about composting, so kids can bring materials that can be composted and perhaps gloves or other basic garden tools,” Allen said.

For now, the children are taking advantage of the summer growing season, but, in upcoming months, librarians may incorporate talks about nonfiction books relating to the garden. “Right now, we’re a work in progress,” Allen said. “We’re hoping that whatever curriculum we develop will be consistent throughout the year.”