Children in the garden

Including children in the garden will help teach them to love nature and be involved in sharing a fun activity. No matter what age they can learn to be helpful when assigned simple chores like watering plants and tending a small area of the garden of their own. Start out teaching them some basic seed planting or how to identify weeds. If they grow it by themselves they are more likely to eat it. Buy each child some gloves, small tools and 1 or 2 kinds of seeds to try. You can help them plant a few seeds in a coffee cup so they can place them in a window and watch them grow. Children seven years and older can start their own garden journal to keep track of when they planted and how their seeds are doing.

 

Most easy plant seeds like sunflower or beans can be started in mid May right outside in the garden. Most children are very excited and curious about plants and ask lots of questions. Try to teach them a few names of popular plants and herbs. Let them help harvest the beans and peas. This keeps them interested. They also tend to want flowering plants right away so pick a few at a nursery to plant. It's a good way to give them something to see and care for while they wait for the seeds to mature. Provide a nearby water source so children can fill a watering can to help. Fill planter boxes with soil ahead of time. Use barrels for children for their own garden. They are able to stand with easy reach from all sides. Teach them how to make compost from kitchen scraps and yard waste. If you keep a bucket under your sink they will learn to fill it with banana or apple peels instead tossing them in the trash. Choose seeds that are large like beans or cucumber. Pits like peach or plum can be planted but do take some time to grow. Recycle old shoes or boots for a plant container. They can choose to plant a salad garden. Maybe plant a few herbs to teach them how you use them to cook with. If some plants start to set seeds show children how to collect a few to dry and save for future gardens.