Preparing the Garden with the Kids in Mind;

Preparing the Garden with the Kids in Mind;

As a follow up to my previous post Getting the Kids to Dig Gardening, here are some more ideas to involve the children in the process of growing a garden.

After you've gotten them all excited to use their new gloves and watering can outside you'll have to put it on hold until warmer weather arrives. But for now it's time to start some seedlings inside, here's what you'll need.

1. Seeds, or cuttings can be used in some cases, like herbs. if you buy some basil in the supermarket save some of the lower stems and place them in a jar filled with enough water to cover the stalks. In a week or so they should start to shoot off some roots, you can then transplant these into the ground/pots after the danger of frost has passed. Place the containers somewhere the kids can see and check the progress of them daily. Make a point to show the kids and they will understand the process better when they get older.

2. Good garden soil, note* if you want organic vegetables you need to purchase organic soil otherwise your soil will have already been treated with fertilizer. There are organic fertilizers you can add to the soil separately to aid in the growth of quality plants. This is a great opportunity for the kids to get involved, set up a messy area where they can play with the dirt and fill all the containers you'll use.  


3. Egg cartons work well for starting seedlings so save the cardboard type from easter egg dying, or any small containers you have around the house, cups, tuna cans, baby food jars, just make sure you don't over water them. You can even cover seedlings with some plastic wrap to create a terrerium effect which is ideal for starting seeds.



seedlings at the garden center

4. It is a good idea to soak your seeds in water prior to planting them in soil to speed up the germination process, but this is not always neccessary. another great opportunity for the kids here, count out the seeds you want to plant and let them put them in the water.



5. Make sure you know which seed is which so when you go to transplant you don't put a climbing pea plant next to a cucumber (or you will end up with a tangled mess) There are a lot of plant marker ideas online, at pinterest.com for example, but just be creative and have fun and let the kids help to draw, paint, write out the names, or just put the seed packet on a stick, whatever you end up doing they can help just about any way you choose.

lettuce seedlings sowed directly outside
in september for fall harvest



Lastly, give the seeds a few good weeks, with some full sun and enough water, to start breaking through the surface. Make sure the seedlings are stong enough to support themselves in a strong wind before transplanting outside. After all this is done you then get to begin the fun part of getting dirty (I know it sounds scary to most of you moms, but it's part of the business and the kids will learn from every bit of it) Good luck and happy gardening.

peace & love to all

dinelle