Starting a garden is a lot of things. A hope. A commitment. A reconnection with nature and your food. While certainly challenging at times - here's looking at you every plant I've tried to grow ever - with any luck your tastebuds will thank you later. Starting a family garden is no different. It is these very things, along with some other perks. A bonding experience. A learning process for your children. A chance for families to spend more time together outdoors. You know, all those good things.
So, if you're curiosity is piqued, let's dive in and figure out how this might work for your family. Here are some tips for starting a garden along with your kids, from a self-disclosed only slightly green thumb mom, who enjoys the process as much as what she actually grows.
01. Start Small
There is a huge variety of garden types. They can be very simple or incredible elaborate. Start small, even just in a pot, with a single plant or two. You can grow from seed or buy plants further along in the growth process. Pick what feels manageable for you and give it a whirl.
02. Pick Plants with Kids in Mind
When you're deciding which plants to grow, focus on the foods your kids already enjoy or want to try. Better yet, have your kids help you plan and pick out the plants. Our favorites were plants where we could pick the food and pop it into our mouths right off the vine - like cherry tomatoes or blueberries.
03. Get Kid-Size Equipment
Have equipment you plan to use in the garden? Get a matching pair for your kids in their own size. The smaller items aren't only adorable, they're also practical for little hands.
04. Explain Why It's Important
Give a little background. Why grow our own food? How does the process work? Why does it take so long to become something we can eat? Ask your kids these questions and more to get their minds thinking about it all.
05. Invite Kids to Participate
As you make gardening part of your rhythm, invite your kids to take part. Place their gardening equipment next to you as you tend to your plants. Ask them if they want to be responsible for a particular task. Kids may be as attentive as you, completely disinterested, or want to stop over to investigate in between play. Let them explore on their terms and gauge the success at the end of the whole season, rather than on each time you garden.
06. Let Kids Harvest the Food (or talk do overs)
Now you've gotten to the good stuff. You've worked and waited all season for this. Congratulations if you've had food grow! Let your kids enjoy the harvest, with basket in hand. Let them pick it off the vine and eat it. Let them help plan a meal with it. Chances are, it's never tasted so good. On the other hand, if you haven't had success, I feel your pain. This is a great opportunity to talk lessons learned, challenges in growing food, and plans for the next season.
07. Have Fun!
A garden is work, but it can also be great fun. It's messy and wet - a recipe for most kids to get silly - and it invites an ecosystem into your backyard. There's so much to explore with new bugs, pretty plant designs and critters that try and share your food with you. Break out the magnify glass or camera, start a gardening journal or read books about gardening together. Find how to make it fun and enjoyable in ways that work best for your family.
Gardening can be a boom or a bust, but I find when we focus on the process along the way, we are always grateful for the experience of having tried our hand at growing a plant. It can be special for kids, as much as it can be special for adults. A beautiful connection between us and the natural world.
