Garden Rangers remember their feathery friends

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

MADISON – The Garden Rangers Club at Madison Public Library didn’t forget the challenge of winter for their feathery friends.

For a late winter activity, the children’s club built birdfeeders with everyday, recycled materials on March 4.

“We wanted the kids to really think about what they had around the house and be creative … with materials like plastic bottles and milk cartons,” youth services librarian Maggie Allen said.

The craft was accessible for all ages in the Garden Rangers, and they used equipment on hand at the library. The rangers took their feeders home to place in their family’s patio or lawn.

Garden Rangers is a club of children in elementary school who help tend the Madison Children’s Garden – A Living Library. Younger children can join if an adult can attend and assist as needed.

“We formed the Garden Rangers last summer, so we’ve been doing a lot of experimenting,” Allen said. “Since we created the Madison Children’s Garden several years ago, it has always been our hope to have children and families that use the garden to help with maintenance.”

All work for Madison Children’s Garden has been volunteer-driven. “So many kids in our community just don’t get a chance to plant vegetables or build gardens,” Allen said. “It’s an amazing opportunity.”

Last summer, the Garden Rangers completed plenty of hands-on work in the garden, such as weeding, planting and mulching. During the garden’s off-season in the last few months, special guests, like personnel from Huntsville Botanical Garden, have visited for special, indoor projects.

“Starting in April, we’ll focus on garden projects once again with composting and recycling in honor of Earth Day. Then in May, we’ll plant for the summer season,” Allen said. “We’re really trying to create the group around the kids.”

Along with Allen, other group leaders for Garden Rangers are Dave and Liz Butler, members of Friends of the Garden.

For more information, call Allen at 256-461-0046 or email to mallen@hmcpl.org.