the Green Desk

Just one gourd seed (Lagenaria siceraria) planted in early spring will become a lush, 25-foot vine covered with dozens of gourds by fall. After a full summer of growth, the gourds can be harvested and dried, then turned into natural birdhouses that invite birds into your outdoor space.

Is pressure treated wood acceptable for use in an outdoor learning environment? The NLI is often asked this question, and this post refers to official guidelines from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Creating concrete toadstools to enrich an child’s environment is fun and easy to do with basic tools and materials. Toadstools can be placed in groups to create mini-environments or installed throughout a space creating moments of discovery. Items such as these exemplify one of many ways to enrich a child’s environment with art and imagination.

Plant protection railing is a simple way to protect newly installed plants. By guiding feet away from new planting beds, the railing guards plants from being uprooted or trampled, delicate tree branches from being hung on, and roots from being compacted. The simplest variations of plant protection railing can be installed inexpensively with minimal skill, and is a key method to ensure new plants will thrive in the outdoor learning environment.

Butterflies are the elegant result of a fascinating life cycle. Childcare center butterfly gardens can be created to support the complete butterfly lifecycle. To thrive, butterflies require both nectar-producing and host plants. A successful butterfly garden should contain both.

Imprinting concrete with natural objects adds texture and character, increases the potential play and learning opportunities and is fairly simple if the steps provided are followed.

Farm to Preschool aims to influence the eating habits of young children while their preferences are forming by improving healthy food access at home and within the community. Farm to Preschool encompasses all prekindergarten programs and focuses on school gardening and connecting farms and schools.

Pathways can be installed either on top of the existing ground surface or by excavating below the ground surface and installing the pathway material in the resulting broad, shallow trench. Two of the most common pathway materials (apart from concrete) are fine crushed stone and mulch. Installation is described below.

Painting tire planters makes them more attractive and keeps them from getting so hot. Following the suggestions provided will lead to more successful tire planters.

Engaging the community is key to successfully renovating an outdoor learning environment (OLE). Recruiting local volunteers and resources can help stretch budgets and bring community support for long-term development and sustainability.

Sensory gardens provide intimate spaces where young children can be immersed in the scents, textures and colors of plants and related elements.

Learn about selecting edible plants in landscapes designed for children and families.

A comprehensive guide to selecting, installing, and managing plants in landscapes designed for children and families within naturalearning.org.

Dr. Diane Craft spoke at the 9th Annual Natural Learning Design Institute and shared innovative, but practical, ideas for increasing physical activity levels in young children.

The changing color of the autumn leaves is a great opportunity for exploring science, art and literacy with young children.

Stepping stones are an effective and durable material used for creating pathways. They can be installed linearly to create secondary pathways or used enmasss to create patios or sensory gardens.

Laying out a pathway can seem complicated and overwhelming. Following the provided steps should simplify the process and produce a more successful result.

The birds are attracted to sunflowers in your garden because they benefit from the high nutritional value sunflower seeds provide. They are also preparing for the winter months when there will be less food for them to eat.  Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron as well as vitamin B complex, and a valuable source for protein, fiber and polyunsaturated fat.

Primary pathways are a functional necessity in childcare outdoor learning environments (OLEs) and promote physical activity by facilitating walking, running, chase games, and wheeled toy use (riding, pushing, pulling). They are designed to provide easy, attractive circulation throughout the outdoor learning environment and connect classrooms to the primary settings of infant, toddler, and preschool areas. 

The best way to help prevent stings is to establish proper ways to interact with insects. When bees are away from their hive gathering pollen and nectar they are very busy and not likely to sting unless they are bothered – inadvertently or deliberately.

For safety and supervision reasons, childcare centers have chain link fences along the perimeters of their outdoor learning environments.  It is easy and inexpensive to naturalize a chain link fence with vines.

Sometimes the best or only option for greening an outdoor learning environment is to install planters directly on asphalt. Several options for safely installing raised planters on ashphalt are provided.

Built from locally sourced logs, branches, and sticks, Natural Playhouses are an affordable and creative alternative to the playhouses one normally purchases from catalogs.

Tree cookies are a simple, affordable, and effective way to define a path (similar to stepping stones), or to be used as loose parts and play props in a naturalized outdoor learning environment.

Embankment slides have become popular settings within naturalized outdoor learning environments. If not properly considered and installed, they may not function as intended. Guidance is provided concerning installation, use zones, steepness, plantings and avoiding erosion.

Infants and toddlers have different needs and abilities and there are various pathway options based on those needs and abilities.

Log seats are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to improve and diversify play affordances in your outdoor learning environment.

Sunflowers are one of the most magical, kid-friendly plants. A little sun and water and soil and those small seeds will quickly become the tallest flower in the garden. Planting them purposefully to create play areas is a great way to maximize the play value of this very affordable, and delightful, plant.

Starting plants from seeds indoors to be ready for planting the spring garden is a great idea and there are several important considerations to be successful—timing, planting depth, and light for new seedlings. 

In December 2010, the ban on growing tomatoes in outdoor learning environments at licensed childcare centers in North Carolina was lifted.  Tomatoes can now be grown in the outdoor learning environments of children three years of age and older, as long as proper supervision is in place.