Get Started Gardening with Kids

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Get Started Gardening with Kids"

Beryl Anthony
5 years ago
Views:

Get Started Gardening with Kids Do you want to garden but fear you lack a green thumb? Not sure how to begin? Feel too busy to start and maintain a garden? Fear not.

2 Get Started Gardening with Kids Do you want to garden but fear you lack a green thumb? Not sure how to begin? Feel too busy to start and maintain a garden? Fear not. Even if you ve never gardened, or only have space for containers, there are simple and fun ways to get your family gardening together. You ll enjoy growing your own food and flowers, spending quality family time outside, and helping provide food and shelter for local wildlife. The most important step to ensure gardening success is to keep your tasks small and manageable. This guide will help! If you only have an afternoon here or there, take one step at a time. Have some weekends and long days? Take a few steps now and some later. Once your garden is going, you ll want to visit regularly to water, weed, feed and enjoy it. My Family s Garden Checklist: 1. Plan Space, type of plants, soil, pick a day to start. 4. Plant Follow packet instructions for seed spacing. 2. Shop Buy any seeds or plants you need, tools, or soil. 3. Prepare Get your garden space ready before planting. 5. Maintain Don t forget to water! 6. Enjoy! BeOutThere.org/Garden

1. Plan Choose your spot. Try to pick an area that gets good sunlight. Got shade? Don t worry plenty of plants do well in shade. Read seed packets and ask your local garden center for recommendations.

Look at your neighbors gardens for clues as to which plants do well in your area.

3 1. Plan Choose your spot. Try to pick an area that gets good sunlight. Got shade? Don t worry plenty of plants do well in shade. Read seed packets and ask your local garden center for recommendations. Think about the type of garden you d like to grow. Flowers? Vegetables? A little of each? Choose based on your sun/shade conditions. Look at your neighbors gardens for clues as to which plants do well in your area. You might want to plant a theme garden, like a pizza garden or a butterfly garden, or engage in a fun project, like growing a sunflower house. See Fun Gardening Projects for ideas. Kids love to have ownership of the garden. Think about designating certain plants or a specific area of the garden for children and have them make a sign that identifies the garden or area as theirs. Try not to bite off more than you can chew. A 10 x 10 foot, or even smaller, garden should be plenty. Got a patio or balcony? You can grow plenty there, too. See Small-Space Gardening. Know your soil type. Some soils will need additives (also known as amendments) to help water reach the plants efficiently. Bring a soil sample to your local garden center to find out about yours. Be sure you have easy access to a hose or other water source. Plan some paths so you can get around to water the plants, and borders to keep things neat. Small Space Gardening Gardens don t need to be large or even flat. Explore patios, pass-throughs, balconies or decks. Don t forget to think vertically grow a vine, such as tomato, cucumber, clematis or sweet pea, up a trellis. If you re gardening in containers, get the largest ones possible, to allow room for roots to grow and help ensure that the pot doesn t dry out. If the containers don t have adequate drainage holes, add netting or pieces of broken pottery to the bottom of the pots.

4 2. Shop, Swap & Borrow Get some basic tools A shovel, pitchfork and rake will help you dig and loosen the soil. You might want to get some kid-sized gardening tools, too, so your helpers can dig right in with appropriately sized equipment. Don t overlook everyday items that are right in your house measuring cups and spoons, wooden spoons, and other kitchen items can be helpful in the garden. Gloves, sunhats, clogs and kneepads may help keep you comfortable. Bring a soil sample to a local garden center to see if you need soil amendments or fertilizer. If you do opt to use fertilizer, try to choose an organic one (there are many types available, from mushroom compost to liquid seaweed). You can also use homegrown compost. These are much healthier than chemical fertilizer for the food you grow, the local wildlife you attract, and the gardeners. See if a local garden or gardener has extra compost, or start your own. Buy a hose if you need one. Small space gardeners will need containers and dirt. Learn more about composting and wildlifefriendly fertilizers: Choosing what to grow is especially fun. You can start with either seedlings or seeds. Seedlings, or bedding plants, give your garden a head start and instant color. Seeds are more cost-effective than purchasing bedding plants. There is also something extra satisfying about growing a plant from a seed. Let your kids pick some of the plants to grow, and make sure those grow in the right conditions for your area. When growing food, be sure to choose something you want to eat! Looking for a way to save money? Try growing seeds or transplants from a neighbor s garden. Looking through catalogs of heirloom vegetables might lead to new choices for your family and, possibly, expand your kids palates. -Kim Moldofsky, The Maker Mom

wildlife you and your kids will get a close-up view of creatures, and your local wildlife will thank you! Learn more about gardening for wildlife: www.nwf.

5 3. Prepare Consider growing plants that are native to your region. In addition to being at home in your soil and climate and generally needing less care and water than other plants once established, natives provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other wildlife you and your kids will get a close-up view of creatures, and your local wildlife will thank you! Learn more about gardening for wildlife: Large Seeds for Little Fingers Try these easy-to-plant seeds, which are large enough for little fingers to handle, and sprout and grow relatively quickly: beans, gourds, nasturtiums, peas and sunflowers. Use a pitchfork or shovel to loosen the ground, preferably down to about 8 inches. Clear the surface with a heavy-duty rake. Break up dirt clods and pull weeds. These are fun jobs for those who like to dig, move, and get their hands dirty, so don t skimp on these chores. Add soil amendments, compost or fertilizer if your soil needs it. Always water the ground thoroughly before adding amendments and wash hands after handling. I like to keep an area of dirt where my 5-year-old grandson can dig any time of the season. Sometimes he says he s looking for worms, but other times, he just likes to dig. Kids love to dig in the dirt, so let them! -- Holly Ambrose, Tropic Home and Family Sue Dawson

Follow packet instructions for seed spacing and conditions. Give each seed or seedling lots of room to spread out and grow.

Lay some paths in your garden, which will make it easy to water, weed and harvest without stepping on plants.

Water gently and deeply, so the water soaks through to the growing roots of the plants and newly planted seeds aren t washed away.

If a plant droops during the day, or the soil feels dry more than a couple of inches down, it needs water.

6 4. Plant 5. Maintain There is something truly wonderful about placing a seed into the ground, and then watching it grow, making this is a super-fun job for kids. Follow packet instructions for seed spacing and conditions. Give each seed or seedling lots of room to spread out and grow. Try to anticipate plant height and put the tallest ones into the back. Lay some paths in your garden, which will make it easy to water, weed and harvest without stepping on plants. Hook up your hose if you don t already have a water source. New transplants and seeds like lots of water. Water gently and deeply, so the water soaks through to the growing roots of the plants and newly planted seeds aren t washed away. Once your plants are established, you will probably need to water every 1-2 days when the weather is sunny, more in hot weather or with containers. If a plant droops during the day, or the soil feels dry more than a couple of inches down, it needs water. Have kids poke a finger into the soil to see if they think a plant needs water. And definitely enlist them to water! That s another job kids love. Feed or mulch about six weeks into the growing season, if needed. Some gardeners mulch by covering the soil around the plants with a thin layer of newspaper, leaves or wood chips, to help prevent weed growth and help the soil retain moisture and nutrients. Periodically pull out weeds and cut back any growth that has died or become unattractive. If you have pests, practice organic pest control.

6. Enjoy Enjoy the fruits, vegetables and flowers of your labor and harvest what you ve grown! There s nothing like eating food right out of your garden or baking or preserving it.

7 6. Enjoy Enjoy the fruits, vegetables and flowers of your labor and harvest what you ve grown! There s nothing like eating food right out of your garden or baking or preserving it. Have kids choose a recipe they d like to make from the harvest and make it together. Got a lot of crops? Have a farmer s market or a garden exchange with neighbors. Have kids give garden tours to their friends to reinforce their sense of ownership and pride. Gardens can be fun places to play and create. Set up an area for crafts, tea parties or a mud-pie kitchen. Most kids love to observe bugs, birds, worms, butterflies and other wildlife. Spend some time watching for animal visitors. Add a bird feeder or bird bath to the garden if you d like to attract even more wildlife than the plants are attracting. ly/157oywe My daughter (11) has been having lots of fun using the digital camera outside, taking close-ups of plants and animals. -- Cynthia Walker Pickens I have discovered that kids really like animals & bugs. The way to get them to appreciate & be part of the gardening process is to first educate about the species, then the habitat. Laura Sampson, NWF Volunteer Habitat Steward

Fun Gardening Projects Plant a Sunflower House Kids love playhouses, and what better way to create one outside than with bright, cheery and easy-to-grow sunflowers?

8 Fun Gardening Projects Plant a Sunflower House Kids love playhouses, and what better way to create one outside than with bright, cheery and easy-to-grow sunflowers? As the sunflowers grow, they ll create the walls for the playhouse. Find a large, sunny space. Determine the size and shape of the house. Buy sunflower seeds. Look for tall, bright flowers with large heads. Use the instructions on the packet to determine how many seeds to buy per foot, and then purchase extra, as you ll be supplementing the initial planting. Mark the boundaries of the house with string. Use a spade to dig a shallow furrow for the seeds. Don t forget to leave space for a door! Plant the seeds according to package directions, making sure to leave room for the sunflowers to grow and spread out. Cover gently with a layer of dirt, then water. Water regularly. Sow extra seeds between existing plants every few weeks, to extend the life of the playhouse. I let my granddaughters paint my pots on the porch, however they want to. Just give them paint, brush and smock and let them paint away! Marie Zeamer Chittester

Plant a Pizza Garden You can grow just about everything needed for a pizza right in your own garden and then harvest and eat all the items baked in a pizza.

Decide how you d like to divide your space. Pizza wheels can be divided into four, six, or eight spokelike spaces, which will resemble pizza slices.

You can mark off areas with string or rocks. Choose your pizza-garden ingredients and purchase or swap seeds or seedlings.

9 Plant a Pizza Garden You can grow just about everything needed for a pizza right in your own garden and then harvest and eat all the items baked in a pizza. All you ll need to add is the dough and cheese! Determine the shape of your pizza garden. Some are round, like a typical pizza, and others are rectangular or square. Decide how you d like to divide your space. Pizza wheels can be divided into four, six, or eight spokelike spaces, which will resemble pizza slices. You can divide up rectangular, square, or other shaped gardens any way you d like. Consult seed package directions for seed spacing. Tomatoes, especially, need plenty of room. You can mark off areas with string or rocks. Choose your pizza-garden ingredients and purchase or swap seeds or seedlings. Most anything that comes on a pizza can be grown in a yard or a large planter box. Try tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, spinach, basil, oregano, onions or garlic. Maintain your garden, using the steps above. Harvest your ingredients and make a real pizza, using homemade dough, instant dough (available in markets), or English muffins for your crust. Rather plant flowers? Make a decorative pizza wheel by planting bright red flowers all around to represent tomato sauce, a sprinkling of yellow flowers all around to represent cheese, spots of pink flowers for pepperoni, and some green leafy plants for spinach or peppers. Looking for more fun family projects? Visit: BeOutThere.org

Grow Your Initials Think outside the line and plant something children can claim as their own their initials! Choose seeds such as leafy greens, which come up quickly and fill out nicely.

Most greens have fine seeds, which will be planted in a close, continuous line. Cover with a thin layer of soil and gently water.

10 Grow Your Initials Think outside the line and plant something children can claim as their own their initials! Choose seeds such as leafy greens, which come up quickly and fill out nicely. These include lettuce, chives, radishes, cress and various grasses. Lay string in the shapes of the letters you like, and dig a shallow furrow beside it. Plant seeds according to package directions. Most greens have fine seeds, which will be planted in a close, continuous line. Cover with a thin layer of soil and gently water. Grow and Eat a Rainbow Try to choose plants that represent every color of the rainbow red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Harvest and arrange them in a rainbow shape before eating. Grow Food (or a Catnip Toy) for a Pet Growing food for an animal companion is especially rewarding and fun. If your pet isn t used to a particular food, introduce it slowly to make sure the food agrees with the pet. These are some fun pet foods to try: Rabbits usually like carrots, dandelions, grasses, nasturtiums, parsley, basil and mint. Hamsters usually like carrots, cucumbers, grasses and lettuce. Iguanas usually like collard greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, parsley and red hibiscus. Cats, of course, like catnip. Don t feed catnip to cats. Harvest and oven- or air-dry the leaves. Crumble into an old sock and tie with twine for a play toy. Looking for more fun family projects? Visit: BeOutThere.org

Fun Gardening Projects Test Your Soil ph Next, test for acidity. In the other jar, add distilled water and stir. Then add a few tablespoons of baking soda. Stir, and then let it settle.

11 Fun Gardening Projects Test Your Soil ph Next, test for acidity. In the other jar, add distilled water and stir. Then add a few tablespoons of baking soda. Stir, and then let it settle. Is this mixture fizzing? If so, the soil is reacting to the alkaline baking soda and is acidic. And now for the mud volcano Were your results a bit of a letdown? If your soil is neither highly acidic nor highly alkaline, this experiment won t produce a lot of fizzing bubbles. Neutral soil won t react at all. But you can still make a mud volcano: Pour the vinegar mud into the baking soda mud and stand back! Confirm your results. Expand you study of ph by purchasing a soil test kit or reusable meter. Test a fresh soil sample, and compare to what happened when you used the vinegar and baking soda. Then try testing soil from other spots in the yard or at a park. Gardeners often analyze their soil to know whether it is too acidic or alkaline for the plants they want to grow. You can do it using regular baking soda and vinegar and enjoy a fun chemistry lesson, too! Fill two glass jars with soil. Use about the same amount of soil for each jar, filling about half way. First, test for alkalinity. In one jar, add enough vinegar to make loose mud, and stir. Let the mixture settle. If the mixture is fizzing that is, it s making lots of bubbles and even a hissing sound the soil is reacting to the acidic vinegar and is alkaline. Pour the vinegar mud into the baking soda mud and STAND BACK!

Join the Be Out There movement National Wildlife Federation s (NWF) Be Out There is a national movement to give back to American children what they don t even know they ve lost their connection to

12 Join the Be Out There movement National Wildlife Federation s (NWF) Be Out There is a national movement to give back to American children what they don t even know they ve lost their connection to the natural world. With a wealth of activities, events, and resources, Be Out There reconnects families with the great outdoors to raise happy, healthy children with a life-long love of nature. Join us and take the pledge to Be Out There BeOutThere.org/Join BeOutThere 2013 National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Center Dr, Reston VA 20190

Creating Your Organic Garden:

Creating Your Organic Garden: Organic Gardening Creating Your Organic Garden When Choosing What To Grow You Should Consider... Tending To your Garden Advantages To Organic Gardening Organic Garden Quiz Quiz Answers Organic Gardening