by Jan Brannon, Kids Growing Strong
For several years, the Colusa County Free Library and the Colusa County Garden Club have partnered to cultivate a vibrant learning garden on the west side of the main library. This collaborative program is designed to foster curiosity, responsibility, and a lasting connection to both literacy and the natural world. Children engage in hands-on gardening while deepening their understanding through books and shared exploration. Whether tending seedlings or exploring new stories, participants discover how small, consistent efforts can lead to meaningful growth.
The children participating in the Kids Growing Strong Community Garden were honored to be selected for the Xerces Society California Pollinator Habitat Program. Through this program, students learned that protecting and restoring habitat is a critical step in conserving monarchs and other pollinators.
Selected in May 2025, the group began preparing the site adjacent to the garden. As part of the program requirements, outreach was conducted to encourage nearby community members to avoid the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, ensuring a safe environment for the California native plants provided by Xerces.
Plants were delivered in October, and students completed planting on November 1. The event was well attended and provided a meaningful, hands-on learning experience for participants and community members alike. With trowels in hand and plenty of enthusiasm, students helped bring the project to life. Following the winter season, the habitat has begun to establish and grow.
An original mural by local artist Lilly Edwards further enhances the space, adding color and visual interest while reflecting the themes of pollinators and native habitat. Her work creates a welcoming backdrop that complements the garden and invites visitors to engage more deeply with the environment.
This project has provided valuable educational opportunities, allowing students to explore pollinator behavior, native plant selection, and environmental stewardship. Much like tending a garden or following a story from beginning to end, participants are learning to observe change over time and understand the connections that sustain life. Students are also developing plans to construct nesting habitats to further support pollinators. As noted by Jamie Davis Meyers, “Our native butterflies need more than pretty flowers for the adult stage, they desperately need host plants for laying their eggs and feeding their larvae. Through this habitat our young gardeners will see the entire life cycle of the native plants and insects.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the project and welcome the community to experience the habitat is currently in the early planning stages and will be announced on the library’s Facebook page.