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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.A group of preschoolers and their guardians colored pictures during the Potatos and Preschoolers event at the MetroParks Farms.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Naturalists Lynn Zocolo and Brenda Markley taught preschoolers about how potatos grow at the Metro Parks Farms Sept. 25.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Evan Mihalik held a potato as Evan Porter looked on at the Potatos and Preschoolers event at the Metro Parks Farms Sept. 25.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Preschooler Evan Porter colored a picture before the Preschoolers and Potatos event at the Metro Parks Farms Sept. 25.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Naturalist Lynn Zocolo showed a groups of preschoolers a diagram of how potatos grow at the Preschoolers and Potatos event at the Metro Parks Farms Sept. 25.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.During the Preschoolers and Potatos event naturalist Lynn Zocolo dug up potatos for preschoolers to see.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Taryn held a potato that naturalist Lynn Zocolo dug out of the dirt at the Metro Parks Farms Sept. 25 at the Potatos and Preschoolers event.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Brenda Markley, a naturalist at Metro Parks Farms, showed children the differences between types of potatos Sept. 25.
By JESSICA HARKER
The MetroParks Farms had an event for preschoolers to learn about potatoes on Sept. 25.
Naturalists Brenda Markley and Lynn Zocolo ran the event, where they taught preschoolers about the differences between potatoes and what you can make from them.
“It’s a fun way for kids to learn about what we grow at the farms,” Markley said.
During the event children went out to the garden where Zocolo dug up potatoes the farms grew that year.
Children were encouraged to point out the differences between types of potatoes, and talk about the traits and taste of different potato products.
“We grew potatoes at the parks this year, which we don’t always do,” Markley said. “Its great to show kids in real life what we do here at the farm.”
Children colored pictures during the event.
They were also allowed to mash their own potatoes and taste tested various potato products including chips and mashed potatoes.
Zocolo, a horticulturist who works at Fellows Riverside Garden, discussed with children how potatoes grow.
“A lot of people don’t know that potatoes grow in different sizes and different colors,” Markley said during the event.
The event was offered, according to Markley, as a way for students who have not started school yet to socialize. It also provides socialization for parents and grandparents of young children to meet other people with children of the same age.
For more information about upcoming MetroParks events, go to www.millcreekmetroparks.org.