Gardening with Kids

When I was a kid, and when my kids were small, we spent plenty of time outside. Whether hiking or biking, going to an orchard to pick fresh fruits, or taking walks in the park, being outdoors was second nature. I believe getting out in the fresh air and exercising and exploring is essential to our health and wellness. It also fosters an appreciation for the world we live in and it's inhabitants. It's something I plan on continuing with my own grandchildren one day.

Getting out and about in nature doesn't have to involve taking a trip or a big plan. One small thing that I've found kids love is growing a garden. Start small, with items that grow quickly. We planted strawberries and mint in a container garden and the kids loved the process of planting, watering and checking on their "crops" each day. When the first strawberries came in, it was an exciting day! All that was needed was a planter (we picked a cedar one, about 1' x 3'), 2 bags of organic potting soil, mint seeds, and 4 small strawberry plants. We placed the planter on a patio in an area that gets 6-8 hours of sun each day, filled it with soil, followed the directions for planting the seeds on the mint package, planted the strawberrys, sprinkled with water, and waited. Each afternoon, we watered our little garden and checked for any weeds to pull, and waited some more. After everything started to grow, things got exciting. When it came time to pick and eat the strawberries, there was a lot of joy and pride in their accomplishment. Twinkl Teaching Resources Gardening for Kids How to Video is a good resource if you need tips for getting started. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZCdcTbXHYI