| Sharing your garden with children can be a | | | | cycle of life and death. |
| rewarding activity for both the child and the adult. | | | | Plant a variety of plants as you garden, flowers, |
| Children have such a sense of wonder and | | | | herbs and vegetables. Plan your garden so there |
| watching them enjoy the growing process is such | | | | will always be something to harvest. If you plant |
| a treat! It helps to renew our own sense of awe | | | | sweet corn, plant a row a week so you will have |
| at nature and the beauty of the earth around us. | | | | delicious, fresh corn on the cob for several |
| Gardening with kids is a good way to teach | | | | weeks. Ask your children what their favorite |
| children patience, after all gardening is not an | | | | vegetables are then plant it and let them care for |
| activity that provides instant rewards. Kids will | | | | that crop. |
| learn to nurture the plants and enjoy the thrill of | | | | Try teaching your children about natural methods |
| seeing the first shoots of green poking up through | | | | of pest control. Explain the benefits of having |
| the earth and the rewards of the first harvest. | | | | certain bugs such as ladybugs and praying mantis |
| But what are the best ways to involve kids in | | | | in the garden. Many times kids mistakenly think |
| gardening? It all depends on the age of the | | | | that all bugs are bad, this is a good opportunity to |
| children involved. Younger children will get | | | | teach them about beneficial insects. |
| distracted easily so it is best to start them with | | | | You can even take your gardening one step |
| plants that have a shorter growing period such as | | | | further by teaching your children how to harvest |
| bean seeds. Plant them in trays inside or even a | | | | the seeds to plant next year. Flowers are usually |
| paper cup set in a sunny window. In no time they | | | | the easiest to get seeds from. However, you can |
| will see the green shots coming up through the | | | | harvest seeds from vegetables like corn without |
| dirt. | | | | much trouble. Allow some of the cobs of corn to |
| Older kids can help with container and full size | | | | dry and then knock the corn out and store in a |
| gardens. Allow them to help with all the stages of | | | | cool dry place for planting next year. |
| gardening from planning to harvest. Work side by | | | | As you can see, gardening with children can be an |
| side with them as you prepare the soil and plant | | | | educational experience. In addition, you will develop |
| the seeds. You can use the time as teaching | | | | a stronger bond with your kids and they will learn |
| moments - show them how different seeds look, | | | | about nature and gain a greater appreciation for |
| talk about the different grow times of plants, etc. | | | | where their food comes from. Gardening with kids |
| You can even use it as a time to explain the | | | | is a richly rewarding experience for everyone! |