Show l' l Children Children Learn Natural Beauty The Youth Gardens Program in Washington DC D.C. has proved that the development of natural beauty can also teach children to appreciate date beauty and respect it The program organized by concerned concerned con- con citizens and organizations locates land and organizes groups of inner city children into garden clubs to plan gardens during the winter execute their plans in the spring and harvest their crops in the the fall Children who have participated in in the program have found that their own gardens give them a sym sym- symbol sym sym- bol of hope in contrast to the drabness drabness drab- drab t ness and despair of their own neighborhoods Because of the hope they take pride in the care of ofa a living plant that they have started from seed nurtured prodded and harvested In addition to creating hope and pride the project has a high vocational vocational vocational voca voca- potential Several graduates of the program program program pro pro- gram have expressed interest in working in nurseries nurseries landscaping firms and florist shops according to Robert F. F Lederer executive vice president the American Association Association Association tion of Nurserymen one of the supporters of the program The District of Columbia government government government gov gov- a garden director to supervise the programs program's clubs throughout the city and to advise youngsters on planting and care of gardens Each child in the program is supplied with seeds tools fertilizer fertilizer fertilizer lizer and other materials necessary for gardening When individual plots are not available the children share garden spaces or build window window window win win- dow boxes for plantings When inner city residents take an interest in beautifying their own homes their pride is reflected in their entire outlook on life said Lederer The theme of 1971 National Lawn and Garden Week March 26 20 Country Green for City Living provides a superb objective objective objective tive for improving the urban It is especially important that children be exposed to natural environments during their formative formative formative forma forma- tive years The fresh wholesome atmosphere provided by trees and large areas of healthy grass will be immensely beneficial to the healthful health health- ful development of a child |