The Junior Gardeners Program was offered by the Kingsville Horticultural Society through our four elementary Kingsville schools. This year 94 children aged 4 – 14 enrolled and in late May each participant was provided with a gardening kit.

It included a variety of flower and vegetable seeds, a live plant donated by Capogna Flowers, an instruction booklet and a youth membership to the society.

Heather Crewe awarding medals and certificates to the winners

This year’s theme was Grow Yourself a Snack. The judges visited 29 gardens where participants and their parents/guardians opted for the visit, following COVID protocols.

The gardens were rated according to the gardeners’ age category, out of a possible 100 points. Everyone receives a certificate of participation and winners of each age group compete for bronze, silver and gold medals.

Three of our gold medal winners are all from the same family!

Mackenna Michalski, Kenzie Rauch and Myles Michalski

Myles and sister MacKenna Michalski (St. John de Brebeuf Catholic Elementary School) and their cousin Kenzie Rauch (Jack Miner Public School) were lovingly coached by grandparents Jim and Elean Krushelniski.

They were taught to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, stake and support the plants, water and feed them, and harvest the produce all on their grandparents’ farm.

Grandma and Grandpa Elean and Jim Krushelnisk

Rumour has it that grandpa warned them that if he found so much as one weed in their gardens, he would rototill the whole garden. That’s incentive!

Grandpa must be an excellent teacher because all three kids achieved a perfect score for their gardens.

Whether or not they pursue careers in agriculture or horticulture, only time will tell. But at the very least they have learned new skills that will serve them for life.

Elean and Jim Krushelniski with their grandchildren

Much appreciation is extended to Heather Crewe, president of the Kingsville Horticultural Society and all of the volunteer judges for making this possible.

We look forward to seeing new and returning participants next Spring.

Life is a garden!

Kenzie, Mackenna, Myles and Heather Crewe

Congratulations to all of our Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal Winners!

GOLD

4 – 5 yrs: Dawson Kreeft

6 – 7 yrs: Emma Marinho

8 – 9 yrs: Kenzie Rauch

10 – 11 yrs: MacKenna Michalski

12 – 14 yrs: Myles Michalski

SILVER

4 – 5 yrs: Abigail Windsor

6 – 7 yrs: Jacobi Driedger

8 – 9 yrs: Myla Perciballi

10 – 11 yrs: Siri Morrish

12 – 14 yrs: Kohen Rickeard

BRONZE

4 – 5 yrs : Blake Malott

6 – 7 yrs : Gabby Furtado

8 – 9 yrs: Laura Gambriel

10 – 11 yrs: Ember Parks and Ethan Dresser

12 – 14 yrs: Erika Parks

Photos and video by Lynn McLaughlin