Gardening is a low-cost hobby that families can do together in their own backyard. Kamala Gamble, co-founder of Slow Food OKC, suggests, “The easiest thing is to grow vegetables that [children] like and then grow things that come up and out of the ground as quickly as possible. Lettuce and radishes come quick.”
Whether you are a green thumb or a novice with little space to spare, you can grow a garden with your kids and have fun doing it! Here are six easy steps for your family to get their garden growing:
- Plan. Choose a container or plot of space to grow your garden. Select the type of plants you want to grow.
- Shop, Swap and Borrow. Take a sample of your soil to a gardening center to determine if you need fertilizer or soil amendments. Buy some basic gardening tools, such as a shovel and spade, for you and kid-sized tools for your children, or borrow from a neighbor or friend.
- Prepare. Choose where you want to plant different seeds or seedlings. Consider leaving an empty patch of dirt for younger children to dig in, so your plants won't be damaged.
- Plant. Let your children get dirty and take ownership of the garden by participating in planting. Be sure to follow the packet instructions for your seed or seedlings.
- Maintain. Water the plants, pull weeds and watch your garden grow.
- Enjoy. Harvest your crops, pick your flowers and enjoy!
For a more in-depth look at these steps or to find fun gardening projects, download The National Wildlife Federation’s guide Get Your Family’s Garden Growing at www.beoutthere.org/garden.
