healthy living
Harvest more than just produce Include the whole family in creating a vision for your garden L e a Hans o n
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ardening with kids not only provides the tangible benefits of exercise and fresh food, it also fosters communication, builds strong relationships, and creates an opportunity to work toward a common goal. When it comes to your home garden, half the fun is in the planning. Alison O’Connor, Horticulture Agent for CSU Extension in Larimer County, says garden planning is crucial: “If you plan to involve the entire family in gardening, the planning should involve everyone, too.” As parents, you’re the experts when it comes to creating a garden that matches your family’s personalities and needs. But, involving kids in the process of garden planning can generate interest and a lifelong passion for nature. A great first step is to peruse gardening books together. Encourage kids to be inquisitive by discussing and critiquing photographs and illustrated garden plans. When creating a vision consider cause and effect. “The most important thing is to grow something of use; make sure it has some sort of appeal long term,” O’Connor says. Edible crops, for example, are great for kids because they can directly see where food comes from and how it can be transformed into something they love to eat. A flower garden is a great option if your child is interested in making bouquets. Once you’ve created a vision, start to map it out. Use poster board and various art materials to begin the planning. Map out the plot together by drawing pictures of plants and/or writing their names on the poster board plot map. Kids can practice measuring to scale—or simply get a sense of the concept—by drawing a scaled-grid of your allotted space. When creating a vision for a garden, it is not uncommon for kids to
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think of overly-dramatic concepts. Castles, waterfalls, and ponds are frequent requests. While these types of additions may be unreasonable for your home garden, it is important to hear these ideas and later consider how to create small or alternative versions. For example, construct a tepee from tall poles and twine and cover it with climbing beans and flowers. Building a
special room by planting a circle of tall sunflowers is another favorite and, in Colorado climate, easy to do. For a novice, planting a garden can be intimidating. But it’s actually a pretty easy project to tackle, and one that’s enhanced by having kids participate. Having a wellplanned garden will not only allow your family a more enjoyable season in maintenance but also later, in harvesting.
Involving the kids Let them choose Letting kids select which plants they’d like to grow creates instant buy-in. Most often, plants and foods they recognize, such as cucumbers, carrots, or pumpkins are the easiest options.
Give them ownership O’Connor says, “Get special, child-sized tools for your kids. Even little things like having their own shovel and spade can teach kids the act of ownership and remind them this is something they’re investing in.”
Big seeds for small hands Plants with large seeds are easiest for small hands to sow. Plants with large seeds that fare well in northern Colorado include beans, peas, and pumpkins.
Tweak their interest Tweak your child’s interest with seeds you know they can be excited about. For example, although radish seeds are small and fewer kids love to eat them, they offer almost instant growth and harvest.
Designate a spot O’Connor says, “If you can designate a spot for the child, that’s a great approach. The child can choose his own plants as well as take ownership in the caring and maintenance.” This could be a corner within the larger garden or a separate space altogether; even a few pots on the patio can be special and meaningful for younger children.