WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners will be visiting second-grade classes throughout the county from March 8-May 17 to motivate young people to grow their own food.

Through the illustration of the “Herbie, the Bean Plant” puppet, students learn about plant parts and the growing cycle.

The program increases knowledge about a variety of plants, increases awareness of the importance of plants in human lives and provides hands-on experience in starting plants from seeds.

Each student plants a bean, radish, corn, pea and sunflower seed in a clear “root viewer” container whereby they can observe the seeds’ germination and root, stem and leaf development.

Master Gardeners work with local teachers to coordinate their program with the second-grade curriculum to reinforce and enhance the children’s learning experience.

The Master Gardeners are scheduled to be present in the schools on the following dates:

March 8: Greywolf

March 15: Franklin, Olympic Christian

March 22: Hamilton and Queen of Angels

April 12: Jefferson and Helen Haller

April 19: Helen Haller

April 16: Roosevelt

May 3: Forks

May 10: Dry Creek and Crescent

May 17: Neah Bay and Clallam Bay

Clallam County Master Gardeners, a cooperative program between Washington State University and Clallam County, provides up-to-date information on sustainable gardening practices. Master Gardener volunteers also address environmental and social priorities such as water conservation, the protection of water quality, reducing the impact of invasive species and healthy living through gardening.

For more information, call Lorrie Hamilton, program coordinator, WSU Master Gardeners of Clallam County, at 565-2679.