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1 5 TIPS
FOR RAISING BUDDING GARDENERS
Help young children Choose Easy Plants to Grow such as yellow, green or purple beans. Start indoors or out when all danger of frost has passed. Purple beans are fun because they change colour when cooked.
IT’S NEVER TOO early to teach a child about gardening. Not only is growing your own food an easy way to encourage healthy eating habits, foster curiosity and responsibility but it’s a wonderful activity for bonding with your children or grandchildren. Here are some fun tips for sowing the seeds for a lifelong love of experimenting with and enjoying nature.
2. Plant a Pizza Garden . Draw a circle in the soil and divide it into
wedges. Grow a different topping in each wedge—tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, basil, etc. Or, you could plant separate items in containers. Amend the soil with compost. Plan to celebrate later in the summer with a pizza party serving pizza made with toppings from the garden. TORONTOBOTANICALGARDEN.CA
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4. Make a Garden Chore Chart and include jobs for everyone such as prepare the soil, plant, weed, water, harvest and make food to eat using vegetables and herbs from the garden. Preschoolers, for example, can learn to pull weeds and water seedlings. Five- to seven-year-olds can help rake and prepare the soil. Older kids can research and help choose what to plant. Teenagers can make compost, prune shrubs and mow the lawn. 5. Organize a Scavenger Hunt. Kids of all ages love a
treasure hunt and it’s a great group activity. Give each child or team paper, pencil or pen, a bag to hold their finds and a list of what they are to look for. The list can include anything they are likely to find in the vicinity such as a yellow flower, an orange leaf, a white pebble, a feather, etc. You could have themes such as six items of different colours or a list of five items they’ve seen that represent the senses of see, touch, smell, hear and taste. Set a time limit and when everyone gets back sit down and discuss what each child has found.
SPRING 2021
ILLUSTRATIONS: JUNE ANDERSON
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By Lorraine Hunter
Make Magic Plant Markers. To keep track of which seeds are planted where, have kids print or paint the names on popsicle sticks (available from craft and dollar stores) and place them in the soil.
