Bean Teepee

Bean Teepee
Make a cool, leafy
hiding place!

Somewhere in your garden, create
a fun hiding place for kids
to keep cool in the Summer!





What You Will Need:

• 4x4-foot Garden Patch
• 8-12 Bamboo Stakes (at least 6 feet long)
• String
• Scissors
• Pole Bean Seeds (such as Scarlet Runner Bean or Blue Lake)

What You Do:

• When the weather warms up, find a spot in the garden that is about 4 feet on each side. Make sure the ground is ready to plant by digging up the soil until it is crumbly.
• Tie stakes together at the top and set them upright in the middle of your garden patch.
• Spread the bottom ends of the stakes out to make a circle.
• Leave an opening between 2 stakes wide enough for a "door" into the teepee.
• Soak your bean seeds overnight to promote germination. Plant 4 or 5 seeds one inch deep at the bottom of each pole.
• Keep the seeds watered while they are sprouting.
• Once the seeds begin to sprout, they should find the stakes themselves and climb upward.
• By mid-Summer, your bean teepee should be ready to play in! Spread a tarp or old blanket on the ground inside and invite your friends over!

Additional Ideas and Tips:

• If you want more color on your Bean Teepee, plant flowering vines along with the bean seeds — Morning Glories make a colorful addition.
• Chart the growth of your bean sprouts — a great math lesson!