Gardening
Humans have been growing plants for thousands of years. Farmers and
horticulturists make their living growing food and other plants, while
other people grow gardens for pleasure. Becoming a good gardener
requires a Scout to understand the science of growing plants—how to
prepare the soil, how to select and plant seeds, and how to care for the
growing plants.
Requirements
- Do the following:
- Grow six vegetables, three from seeds and three from seedlings, through harvest.
- Grow six flowers, three from seeds and three from seedlings, through flowering.
- Give the food value of the following:
- Three root or tuber crops
- Three vegetables that bear above the ground
- Three fruits
- Test 100 seeds for germination. Determine the percentage of seeds that germinate. Explain why you think some did not germinate.
- Visit your county extension agent's office, local university agricultural college, nursery, or a botanical garden or arboretum. Report on what you learned.
- Identify five garden pests (insects, diseased plants). Recommend two solutions for each pest. At least one of the two solutions must be an organic method.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Build a compost bin and maintain it for 90 days.
- Build a vermipost bin (worm compost bin) and maintain it for 90 days.
- Build a hydroponic garden containing three vegetables or herbs, or three ornamental plants. Maintain this garden through harvest or flowering, or for 90 days.
- Build one water garden, either in a container (at least 12 by 6 inches and 6 inches deep), or in the ground as a small, decorative pond no larger than 6 by 3 feet and 24 inches deep. Maintain the water garden for 90 days.
Resources
Scouting Literature
Insect Study, Landscape Architecture, Plant Science, and Soil and Water Conservation merit badge pamphlets.
Books
- Brown, Deni. Eyewitness Garden Handbooks: Bulbs. DK Publishing, 1997.
- Bradley, Fern Marshall, and Barbara W. Ellis, eds. Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. Rodale Press, 1992.
- Editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine. National Garden Book. Sunset Books, 1997.
- Edwards, Ray, and the DK Publishing Staff. American Horticultural Society Practical Guides: Perennials. DK Publishing Merchandise, 1999.
- Gilroy, Diane K., and Carol H. Munson, eds. All-Time Best Gardening Secrets. Rodale Press Inc., 2000.
- Grey-Wilson, Christopher. American Horticultural Society Practical Guides: Annuals and Biennials. DK Publishing Merchandise, 2000.
- McDowell, C. Forrest, and Tricia Clark-McDowell. Home Composting Made Easy. Cortesia Press, 1998.
- Phillips, Ellen, and C. Colston Burrell. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials. Rodale Press, 1999.
- Robinson, Peter. American Horticultural Society Practical Guides, Ponds and Water Features. DK Pub Merchandise, 1999.
- Rosenfeld, Richard. American Horticultural Society Practical Guides: Herb Gardens. DK Publishing Merchandise, 1999.
- Sanchez, Janet, and the editors of Sunset Books. Perennials, second edition. Sunset Books, 2000.
- Toogood, Alan, and Linden Hawthorne. Eyewitness Garden Handbooks: Annuals and Biennials. DK Publishing, 1997.