Welcome to Kids in the Garden; Learning and Growing, a month long series to inspire parents and teachers to garden with their children. In addition to our regular blog posts, we will be featuring gardening articles with tips and advice from some amazing writers, parents, and teachers. This article contains affiliate links.
I am excited to introduce you to our first author of this series,Birute Efe author of Playtivities. Not only is Birute a talented writer, but when you learn that English is her 3rd language, be prepared to be impressed!
She up-cycles household materials to make learning activities for her kids, creates fun art projects, makes learning math fun and will be moving to their own farm this month!
Getting Your Garden Started in 3 Steps
Birute Efe author of Playtivities.
I am super excited to be a part of this awesome gardening with children series for 2 reasons.
1. Our family is very passionate about gardening and sustainable life. Being able to bring healthy, nutritious food to the table from our garden is one of the biggest joys for the whole family. We spent a lot of time researching about how to have a truly healthy garden.
2. We are moving to a big farmland as I write this post so gardening will be our main activity. Lots to learn, teach and have fun with. I can’t wait!
Meanwhile, I would like to share few ideas on how to start gardening with kids.
Step 1. Introduction to seeds. And why our family chooses heirloom seeds.
Whatever gardening you are going do with your children it will most likely start with seeds. And they are important.
I explained to my children about 3 different kinds of seeds: heirloom, hybrid/organic and genetically modified (GMO).
A while back I was shocked to realize that even if you buy a seed or a plant and grow it yourself naturally and without any pesticides it can still be GMO. It all depends on the seed.
We choose heirloom seeds because of the health and sustainability. These self-pollinated seeds are carried from generation to generation without any human interruption. We love the idea that when you plant something from heirloom seed, you can save the seed from the plant and use it next year. You cannot do this with other kinds of seeds, so you have to buy seeds every single year.
How do you get heirloom seeds?
Even if you haven’t saved any seeds from last year you can still have them by ordering from trusted sources like:
- A nonprofit source where you can purchase/exchange heirloom seeds such as Seed Savers Exchange.
- Online Companies such as Annie’s Organic Seeds or Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
- Or you can still find some heirloom seeds or plants in your local farmers market.
And make a plan to collect your seeds for the next year.
Step 2. Deciding on what to plant.
For our first year gardening project we will pick easy, fast-growing vegetables and greens that kids love to eat. This way, they will be excited to see them grow.
After some discussion, we deiced to pick:
- sweet pees, “because they are so sweet and crunchy”
- tomatoes and cucumbers, “because they are so juicy and runny and we love them in the salads”
- lettuce, “because we eat salad every day”
- sunflower, “because it’s pretty”
- pumpkin, “because it grows so easy and big”
- eggplant, “because there are so many delicious ways to cook it”
- variety of herbs, “because we love the smell of it and we put it every dish”
I can’t wait to grow heirloom corn, beans climbing on the corn and pumpkin/squash underneath them. Like native Americans did.
Step 3. Gathering Gardening Tools and Kid Friendly Garden Labels
As a fun part of it for the kids we decided to make some rock garden markers.The kids painted the rocks in the color of the plant and I wrote the name on each rock. This fun activity definitely got started us on talking more about different vegetables and flowers.
Materials Needed:
Paint the rocks and allow to dry. Then write the name of the plants on each rock with a paint marker and place next to the plant.
This also connects literacy and gardening!
Gardening with kids should be a fun activity. And what could be more exciting than a cute watering can to water those new plants and flowers while they grow or new colorful gloves to work with in the soil.
Actually, we are getting the cutest Kids Garden Tool Set with few kid size tools and a tote for easy caring.
I truly hope that our family’s gardening plans inspire you at least a little bit to get out there and plant a seed with your children. #plantaseed
I encourage you to start gardening, because, like my good friend says: “Gardening soothes the soul. I swear, if everyone gardened we would have a better planet.”
Birute Efe has daily fun at her kids activities blog Playtivities. She loves creating activities and toys for her 2 kiddos by up-cycling household items, so she will never walk pass by a big cardboard box or a pile of old magazines. She believes the best learning comes from exploring and creating. Connect with her through social media:
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+
Facebook: http://facebook.com/
More Related Articles:
Best Herbs to Grow with Kids by Victoria
Best Flowers to Grow with Kids by Kitchen Counter Chronicles
I love the post! Gardening is amazing experience for kids and parents! I always let the kids help around!
You know, I took note for the first time with YOUR project #gardenconnect. No idea why I never thought of that earlier. May have to do that this year with all my gardening beds!!! I still just kind of wing it!
Well luckily I keep good notes so it’s just be a fun project for myself and the little ones!
I am SO glad that you are here. We will try to have a mix of general information articles, experiments for kids, best of lists and more. Let me know if there is anything specifically that you are looking for!
LOL @Kim, I would recommend starting with transplants, or a plant from a garden nursery first then!
They are cute! Although when you garden with a 1 year old, they don't always stay where they are supposed to, he he he. May be best for 3 years old and up if you need accurate markers for your plants!
Thanks for stopping by Dora! Yeah for seeds. I know some of you are in snow, but soon it will be gardening time. What plant are you most looking forward to planting?
I'm really looking forward to this series. We're gardening fanatics too – and with three kids ten and under, we're always up for ideas!
I'd kill the poor plants before I even had a chance to start growing them. Gardening and I don't play well. LOL
Love the painted plant markers! I'll be sure to remember it for when I plant with my brothers this spring! Will have to wait for the snow to melt first though…
I get a little confuse when on G plus,,,Thanks to who every stop in my blog…I love garden we all ready gotten our seeds. I know nothing will be planted at end of March to cold.