What was just a handful of seeds placed in the soil a few weeks ago has now become the first real garden of the Small Family Home in Ledići.

After Foundation Second's Director Belma Mujezinović, together with volunteers, prepared the land, arranged the garden beds and planted the first crops during the spring, the garden began to show its first results. Everything that was planted successfully sprouted, transforming part of the yard into a green space full of life, learning and joy.

The first plants to emerge from the soil were spinach, lettuce, chard, radishes, carrots and spring onions. Every new sprout was a reason for excitement, and the children eagerly followed the growth of the plants, visited the garden regularly and learned how the food we eat every day is produced.

A particularly joyful moment was the first spinach harvest. The freshly picked leaves were used to make the very first spinach pie at the Small Family Home in Ledići. For many of the children, it was a special experience to see something they had watched grow day by day end up on the shared dining table.

Fresh lettuce, radishes and spring onions soon appeared on the table as well. The children proudly harvested vegetables grown from seeds planted in the spring, and many had the opportunity to take part in the entire process for the first time – from preparing the soil and sowing seeds to harvesting and preparing food.

 

The garden in Ledići is much more than a place where vegetables are grown. It serves as an outdoor classroom where children learn about nature, seasons, responsibility, patience and the value of hard work through hands-on experience. Every plant requires care and attention, and every harvest shows that effort and persistence bring results.

Garden activities continued in early June. During their stay in Ledići, the children planted crops traditionally sown at this time of year in mountain areas. Beans, corn, pumpkins, zucchini and other crops were planted and will continue to grow throughout the summer, bringing new harvests in the months ahead.

We are especially pleased that the children have the opportunity to follow the development of plants they planted themselves. Every visit to Ledići brings a new surprise – a new leaf, a new flower or the first fruit. In this way, they develop a strong connection with nature and gain experiences they will remember long after the activities are over.

The development of the garden is part of the broader vision of the Small Family Home in Ledići, which was created as a place for rehabilitation, recreation, education and quality time for children without parental care and other beneficiaries of Foundation Second's programmes. Alongside social activities, sports and time spent in nature, children have the opportunity to learn through practical work and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

As the summer months approach, we are looking forward to the first cucumbers, zucchini, beans, corn and other produce from our mountain garden. We are certain that every new harvest will bring another reason for smiles and pride.

Because in Ledići, it is not only plants that grow. Independence, responsibility, friendships, memories and the belief that we can create something beautiful with our own hands grow here as well.