Engage kids from the start by letting them help plan the garden.
accomplishment and pride when it comes to harvesting the fruits of their labor. Physical activity in the sunshine, fresh air, and dirt filled with living things can improve moods, lower stress, and promote refreshing rest at the end of the day. It’s healthy to learn new skills and develop self- confidence through nurturing life with your own hands. Garden dirt is a good dirt that can strengthen the immune system and our bodies. Taking the time to complete needed garden tasks and revel together in the wonder of flourishing life can nurture connection and curiosity that will build spirit and independence well into the future. >> Life Lessons Get your kids involved right from the beginning. Planning a garden involves math, organization, forethought, and responsibility. Just like with cooking meals, allowing kids to choose plants and be part of the process gives them a sense of
ownership as the season progresses. When choosing plants or even gardening together, tell the stories of the plants. Each takes on a personality of its own when you know how it works, where it came from, and what its purpose is. You can also treasure hunt for good and bad insects, telling their stories and functions as you keep your garden’s ecosystem healthy and thriving. Not everything that’s pretty is beneficial. Not everything that’s ugly is harmful. >> Kid-Friendly Environment Kids love plants that they can interact with. Lamb’s ear is soft and fuzzy to the touch. Chocolate mint and cinnamon basil smell even better than they taste. Strawberries and raspberries provide delicious picking sessions. It’s such fun to watch sunflowers grow big and tall, and then fascinating to harvest the seeds. Pumpkins are a no brainer for keeping kids entertained. The
perceptible overnight growth of large pumpkin varieties is impressive. Kids can scratch their names into the skin when it’s small, and as it grows, the pumpkin will scar the name into itself, creating a personalized gourd. >> Enjoying the Harvest When your garden begins to produce fruit, this is wonderful opportunity to talk about nutrition and cook together what you grew together. You can even grow a garden with a meal or food in mind, like a pizza garden or salsa garden. The tactile activities of growing, caring for, harvesting, and making food with ingredients you’ve grown yourself open up a whole new perspective on life that no grocery store can offer. Together, we can build a more sustainable future of food and community through family gardens. N
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