Step into the Club’s café on a weeknight and you might see something unexpected: kids proudly munching on lettuce and sharing leafy treats with two very spoiled tortoises named Cosmo and Neil. This isn’t your average salad bar. This is Garden Gnomies.

What began as a simple summer gardening program has turned into a year-round adventure in growing, tasting, and discovering just how fun fresh food can be.

From Seeds to Salad

This year, Garden Gnomies moved indoors with the help of a Tower Garden, a tall vertical system that lets plants grow without a traditional garden bed. Members rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

They planted tiny seeds. They waited for them to sprout. Then they carefully tucked the new seedlings into the Tower Garden.

After six weeks of watching the plants stretch toward the light, harvest day finally arrived. The reward was crisp, fresh lettuce that became the star of the dinner salad and a special treat for Cosmo and Neil, the Club’s tortoises, who happily crunched their way through the greens.

One member summed up the experience while trying the lettuce they had just helped harvest:

“It’s actually not that bad!”
— Comment overheard during the Tower Garden tasting

For many kids, tasting a new vegetable they helped grow is a big step and a proud moment.

A Growing Partnership

Behind the success of Garden Gnomies is a key partner: Steve Koontz from Keep It Watered. With Steve’s guidance, the program has grown in more ways than one.

Together, the Club and Steve applied for a gardening grant and received funding for a brand-new Tower Garden. The Club also had an older Tower Garden that was no longer in use. With Steve’s help, that tower is now back in working order.

Now, with two Tower Gardens running, members can grow a wider variety of vegetables and even flowers.

One of the most exciting projects right now is a crop of Junior Sunflowers. These cheerful plants are just getting started, but they are already a favorite.

Soon, members will celebrate with a special Garden Gnomies party. During the party, they will carefully remove their Junior Sunflower sprouts, transplant them into personal flower pots, and take them home. Each member will leave with a living reminder of their time in the garden and a chance to keep their gardening journey going at home.

Growing Food, Growing Confidence

For staff, Garden Gnomies is about more than vegetables.

“I’ve been so excited to show our members how they can grow their own food! I feel like they are more willing to try something new and taste vegetables that they have grown themselves.”
— Sheila Kantz, Café Supervisor

When members take part in the full process, from seed to salad, they learn where food comes from and build confidence in the kitchen and in themselves.

Kids who might normally avoid anything green start to get curious. They ask questions. They gently touch the leaves. They check the Tower Garden to see what has changed since the last time they were there. And often, they decide to take a bite.

Sometimes that first bite leads to a new favorite food. Sometimes it is simply a moment of pride because they tried something new. Either way, it is a win.

From the Club to Home

One of the best parts of Garden Gnomies is that it does not end when members leave for the day.

With their Junior Sunflowers in hand, members bring a piece of the Club home with them. They also bring new skills and a sense of curiosity. They know how to care for a plant, what it needs to grow, and how satisfying it feels to nurture something over time.

For many, that small flower pot is only the beginning.

What’s Next for Garden Gnomies?

The program will continue through the summer and beyond. With two Tower Gardens, support from Keep It Watered, and a group of eager young gardeners, there is plenty of room to grow.

Members will plant and taste new vegetables. There will be more salad nights and more treats for Cosmo and Neil. Fresh flowers will brighten the Club and members’ homes.

From the first tiny seed to a plate full of greens, Garden Gnomies is showing that when kids grow their own food, they are much more likely to taste it.

And sometimes, with a surprised smile, they say:

“It’s actually not that bad!”