Bean Tunnels and Teepees
Ages 5 and up (two 30-45 minute sessions)
Objectives:
- To create a sense of ownership in the garden by the children
- To entice children to play in the garden
- To be creative with natural materials in the garden
Materials:
- Baling twine
- Fresh cut saplings or branches from the woods, approximately 1 inch round and 10 feet long
- Scissors
- Shovel
- Vine seeds
The tunnels or teepees are a fun and interactive type of trellis for the garden.
Bean plants come in two forms, bush and pole. When planning the tunnels or teepees, choose pole bean varieties. Their vines will grow 10 feet or more throughout the growing season. The addition of morning glories will add bright color. Note: Never use sweet peas. Their seeds are poisonous if ingested.
Part One:
Have the children collaborate and vote on the shape of the structures, e.g. tepees, tents, zigzagging tunnels? Decide where in the garden the structure(s) will be placed. Do they want to go through a maze of corn to get to it?
Part Two:
Once a location is decided upon, help the children place the poles in the desired pattern. Using the twine, tie the poles together at the top. Dig holes and bury the ends of the poles. Using more twine, create webbing for the plants to climb up. This is a good time to talk about weaving!
Part Three:
Plant the beans and morning glories around the base of the structure 2 inches apart.
Don’t plant seeds or plants in the entryway/doorway.
If using seeds, you can have the children measure them once they’ve sprouted and keep track of how many days it takes to harvest.
If poles aren’t available, try planting Mammoth Sunflowers to create the structure. See section 3- “Sunflower House”.
