THE GARDEN

Soil Preparation: Depending on the child’s age, you may have to do a lot of the initial soil preparation for them, especially in the first year. But, every child likes to dig, so let them dig and break up clods of dirt with hand tools so that they feel they have prepared their own garden bed.

Seeds: Look through seed catalogues with your child and guide them toward choosing fast growing, tougher than usual plants that can stand over or under watering such as radishes, beans, peas, nasturtiums, onions and sunflowers. Make suggestions, but let your child make the choice.

Planting: show your child how to plant by starting with large seeds like beans, peas or sunflowers. Clearly mark out a furrow where seeds are to go and help place the seeds in the bottom and firmly cover with soil. As your child becomes more experienced, move on to medium sized seeds (radish and spinach) and let them measure and mark the row themselves.

Watering: Stress the importance of water to growing plants and that without careful and regular watering, the seeds won’t grow into plants. If your child is too small to carry a watering can, give them a glass to water some or all of their plants.

Observing: Once the plants are up and growing, encourage your child to observe the changes to their plants as well as the growth of “unintentional” plants (weeds). Also have your child observe the soil, bugs, animals and other life in the garden.

Harvesting: The best way for a child to learn about where their food comes from, is from harvesting and eating the food they have grown in their garden. Supply your child with a basket, a hose and bucket for washing off the dirt and have them carefully pick their vegetables!