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Gardening with your kids is a great way to get them outside, spend quality time with them, and has many benefits for your child. Starting a garden with my little one is on my goal list for this year, so I am doing some research and sharing it with you!
Benefits:
Boosts the immune system (playing in the dirt is good for them!)
Boost the brain through discussing/practicing math and science while gardening
Increases brain-boosting vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients through your child eating the produce grown in your garden.
Increases physical activity
Increase your child's calm and focus
Promotes team building
Promotes communication
Provides a sense of purpose and responsibility
Provides an opportunity for children to gain respect and responsibility for the Earth
Improved mood
Better learning experiences
Decreased anxiety
Increased self-esteem
Steps to Building a Garden:
So I am writing this for beginners, for someone who does not have an existing garden and has no experience gardening. (Because that's me!)
Step 1: Make a plan.
What do you want to grow? Vegetables? Herbs? Flowers? You will want to make a plan so you know what kind of light and water they need, so you know where to plant them.
Need growing guides to find that information? Check out these resources:
Consider how much light and space your chosen plants need!
Tip: If your children are old enough, let them help you choose what to grow! Since my little one is a bit young for this, I am going to choose some vegetables I know he enjoys such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peas.
Step 2: Choose Where to Put Your Garden
Most vegetables need 6 - 8 hours of full sunlight. So it is important to observe your yard/gardening space to determine the best spot for your garden to get the sunlight it needs.
Be sure when doing your plan you find the amount of sunlight your plants need. Additionally, some plants do better if there is a trellis or fence to grow on.
Gardening will be easiest if you choose a flat space in your yard. You may also want to make sure that your hose can easily reach the space.
Step 3: Prepare the Space
Clear out weeds and grass (sod) to create a flowerbed or build a raised flowerbed. For directions on creating a flowerbed, check out this article from The Spruce. If you prefer a raised flowerbed, there are so many different options, online, at Walmart, at Home Depot, etc.
When planning your vegetables, check out how much soil depth they need to grow the best.
Step 4: Prepare the beds
Loosen the soil in your beds before planting any seeds. You can do this with a shovel. The soil should be moist enough to form a loose ball, but dry enough to fall apart when you drop it.
Often the soil in our backyards is not sufficient in nutrients for growing. So you can add 2 - 3 inches of compost to the soil. You can purchase this at Lowe's or Home Depot.
Step 5: Start Planting!
When planning, check out when your chosen vegetable should be planted for the best results. Many need to be planted after the chance of frost has passed. You also need to know how deep the seeds should be planted, and how far apart.
You can get a head start on growing by starting your seeds indoors and then moving them to the outdoor garden. You can buy the appropriate containers to do this (flats) at gardening centers.
For an easier method to get your garden started, buy young plants and transplant them to your garden.
Step 6: Water
Seedlings need water daily, but less once the plants start to grow larger. The growing guides can help you know how much to water. You will also need to pay attention to the weather. If you are not sure if they need water, feel the soil 3 - 4 inches below the surface. If it is dry, it is time to water. Be sure to water slowly and deeply so the water soaks in.
Tip: The best time of day to water is in the early morning.
Step 7: Maintain
Be sure to keep your garden watered and weeded. Also, be sure to harvest your produce as soon as they are ready!
Tools Needed:
Garden gloves
Hand pruner
Shears/scissors
Watering can
Hand Trowel
Sprinkler/hose
Garden Kneeler
Shovel/spade
Other Tips:
Start small, so you do not get overwhelmed
Grow foods your family loves to eat
Be flexible with your kids - if they become focused on a bug, that's okay. Talk to them about the bug. The goal is for them to have positive associations with gardening
Let your kids choose what to grow
Choose projects that will work for your kids age and abilities - have reasonable expectations
Failure is a learning opportunity - what a great opportunity for kids to learn resiliency and persistence
Leave your kids a designated dig space - kids love to dig and it's good for them!
Make the garden joyful - you may need to assist (a lot) with the garden, but it shouldn't become punishment or a chore they want to avoid- embrace their preferences when gardening so they have positive associations
Set time aside for kids to explore and have free play in the garden
Bring toys into the garden and encourage creativity and imagination
Have fun! Your kids are more likely to enjoy it if you do
Okay, so to be fully honest I am a little nervous about this! I do not have a green thumb. So I created this digital planning tool to help me get everything planned. Check out this Garden Planner!
I hope you have so much fun playing in the dirt with your kids!
Remember Mama, you are doing a great job! You got this!
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