Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Gardening with kids!

Now that spring is here it is time to start thinking about gardening.  A garden can seem like an overwhelming task, I know from experience! But over the last couple of years I have figured out a way to make it a little easier.

My parents had a huge garden in our back yard when I was growing up. They would grow asparagus, peppers, tomatoes, corn, and cantaloupes just to name a few. My Dad would be tilling the garden in the early spring to loosen to dirt. He would go to my aunts farm to get manure to fertilize the garden. It was a lot of work. Now, I do not have that kind of will to do a garden! I love the idea of fresh veggies but don't have that kind of time to put into a large garden. So, I have come up with an inexpensive and fun way to garden with kids.

When kids are hands on with the process they tend to try the veggies and fruits that they grow. It is a great way to get them to try new things and it teaches them responsibility.

To keep it inexpensive and from having to dig up your yard, buy a plastic kiddie pool. They run about $10 and you can find them at lots of stores. Drill holes in the bottom of the pool. This will allow for adequate drainage. Buy a nice rich quality soil and fill the pool. Find some cinder blocks or a wooden pallet for the pool to sit on. Place your pool in a sunny area and remember once it is filled it will be hard to move. One thing I would splurge on is the plants. If you are going to grow them from a seed, use starter pots inside to let the plant get a good start.

Since this garden is meant for the kids take them to help pick out the plants. Plant practical things that you and your family will use. I like tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, peppers. By picking 4 kinds of plants it will allow you to section the pool off into 4 and you won't have overcrowding. My family loves Cantaloupe and Watermelon, but this garden won't support these fruits. These are 2 fruits that will take over a garden. If you choose to plant these pick a small area and mound up the soil. My parents had a trick they used for these fruits. They would mound up the dirt and place a tire on the top. Then they would plant the fruit inside of the tire. It keeps them from taking over a large area!

Have your kids water the garden every morning, evening, or both. The hot summer sun can be harsh and will dry out the soil easily. Be sure to cover your garden with a sheet at the first sign of a frost.

Now simply watch as your garden produces some yummy fruits and veggies. Your kids will be excited to see what all their hard work has done!