Photo: woodleywonderworks, Flickr
Spring is here and opportunities are abundant to start teaching your children about growing food, organic gardening or the growing cycles of plants. It’s never too early to start your child down the path of learning where food comes from and how difficult it can be to raise a “crop.” These days many families are trying to be more connected to their food and no matter where you live, there are ways to incorporate gardening and growing food into your life.
Use planter boxes for growing food
Even if you live in a small space, there are ways to make gardening a part of your child’s life. One sunny window is all it takes to grow herbs, and if you have a small space on a patio or fire escape, you can plant a container garden of carrots, peas, sprouts or herbs.
As you tend this garden you’ll be teaching your child about growing food, about the plant life cycle and also about how the environment effects the food. All it takes is enough space to make a pallet garden, or box garden, and the fun and lessons can begin. If you want to start super small, all you need is an empty can, some dirt and the bottom of a celery stalk. For detailed instructions, click HERE.
More space = more gardening
If you have a bigger space which is available for gardening, you can try your hand a growing food of different sorts. All it takes is a 3×3 plot and Williams-Sonoma will give you a downloadable map for what to plant in a companion garden. Here you can grow vegetables, an herb garden or salad garden. If you like, you can simply choose to plant a flower garden and have fresh cut flowers all summer!
Another great way to tuck gardening into your life is find some old bird baths. Shallow containers are perfect for growing succulents (cactus) and are great for beginners who may forget the watering!
No matter how much, or how little, space you’ve got, there are ways to incorporate gardening into your life. The act of growing food is an important lesson for children to learn as tech them about plants, the environment, and the hard work that goes into the “farm to table” cycle. By planting a small or large garden, and harvesting its bounty, whether it be food, flowers or watching a succulent bloom, your child will find a connection to their physical world.
About Liz Alfano
I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com
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