SUQUAMISH — The boys, Suquamish Elementary fourth grader Kari Slotten complained, were unflappable in their laziness as “Super Mom” the scarecrow was being constructed, one newspaper stuffing at a time.

“We tried to get them to take part in it,” Slotten said. “But they just sat there.”

It may have been that the boys had different priorities — there were bird houses to be painted as well. After all, given the variety of tasks and duties of preparing, cultivating and keeping up the community Children’s Garden at Raab Park, there’s not much time to sit around.

Master Gardener Margaret Atwood, whose daughter, Maura Crisp, is a student teacher in Ginelle Todd’s fourth grade Suquamish class, stopped by May 19 to get to work creating scarecrows and painting bird houses just as the first sprouts began to show themselves at the Poulsbo garden.

The children quite obviously take great pride in their work in the garden, which was created by Poulsbo Parks and Recreation just for North Kitsap kids.

“We made these scarecrows for the park,” said student Ivy Rodolf. “They’re gonna have big hair which is really cool. And they’re kind of freaky looking, because some of them have big body parts.”

The students created three scarecrows, each aptly named, “Super Mom,” “Robber Dad” and “Cowboy.”

“We were trying to make them as wild and crazy as we could so it’s interesting for people to look at,” remarked student Jarrod Shlemmer.

“We got to design her clothes and stuff her with newspaper to make her look weird,” explained student Helena Peterson of “Super Mom.” “She’s really wacky.”

Giving different groups of kids responsibilities in helping at the site is what truly makes it a children’s managed garden, Atwood said.

“We have children helping from preschool through high school,” said Atwood, who is overseeing the Children’s Garden at Raab Park. “It’s really a team effort. We have volunteers, Master Gardeners, even an Eagle Scout.”

Ten birdhouses were hand painted the day of Atwood’s visit to encourage birds to take interest in the garden. Summer plans at Raab Park not only include lessons about our winged friends, but of a variety of discussions such as insects, edible flowers and native trees and plants.

There is also, of course, the harvest. Much of the food grown in the garden will also be donated to Fishline Foodbank, though there’s one plant many of the Suquamish fourth graders have already begun counting the days for — though the end of October is still more than five months away.

“A lot of the kids are already excited about making jack-o’-lanterns with the pumpkins they grow,” Crisp said.