A Gardening Conversation And Some Free Online Resources For Gardening With Children
By Denese. Filed in Homeschooling |
A Gardening Conversation With My Children
Me: “Do you like to garden?”
Abby: “Yes!”
Daniel: “No.”
Me: “You don’t like anything about gardening, Daniel?”
Daniel: “Just eatin’ the stuff you grow and tillin’ up the bed and hoein’ –it’s fun.”
Me: “What do you like about gardening, Abby?”
Abby: “I like planting the seeds and watching them grow –it’s fun! I like harvesting vegetables because we can eat them. If we didn’t harvest them, they’d just go to seed.”
Me: “Do you like everything about gardening?”
Abby: “Almost. I don’t like hoeing and I definitely don’t like pulling weeds, I don’t like harvesting peppers –they smell and make my fingers sting, and I don’t like picking tomatoes –I think they stink! Eeeuw.”
Me: “What do you like to grow?”
Abby: “I like to grow flowers because they’re pretty. I like to grow carrots because I like to eat them! I also like to grow cauliflower, the colorful vegetables and the viney vegetables (the ones that climb). I don’t like onions but I plant them for Dad. I like apples –we planted some of them this year!”
Daniel: “More peas.”
Me: “Is there something new you’d like to grow this year?
Abby: “Yes, cotton and red and blue potatoes –fresh potatoes,yum!”
Daniel: “No.”
Me: “Is there a gardening project you’d like to do?
Daniel: “No.”
Abby: “I’d like to make a scarecrow for our garden!”
Me: “Would you like to make a scarecrow for the garden, Daniel?”
Daniel: “Yeah!”
Guess what we’re going to do today. 
Children’s Gardening Resources
Need some ideas for gardening with your children?
Gardening With Small Children – a good article on gardening with your little ones.
Indoor Gardening Projects For Children –simple indoor gardening ideas for children.
Denver Master Gardener’s: Gardening With Children –gardening fun, projects, “All About Honeybees” and more.
KidsGardening.com –from the National Gardening Association. Includes a Classroom Projects Library and Parent’s Primer with info on; plants kids love, structures, projects, theme gardens and gardening safety.
Gardening With Children -Ohio Master Gardeners Resource Guide for beginning or expanding children’s gardening programs with tips on designing gardens for kids and planning children’s programs, downloadable pdf format.
My First Garden -website from the University of Illinois for 4th grade students to learn the beauty, the care involved in planning, nurturing and enjoying the benefits of gardens.
Composting For Kids -slide presentation from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, also available in pdf format.
Gardening Projects for Children –make mini hothouses, make photographic image cards and make a barometer.
Kid’s Garden Crafts –paint flower pots, make garden markers, wind chimes and more.
Winter Garden Project For Kids: Make A Hanging Carrot Basket
Something we’ve done that’s fun:
Go through the kitchen and plant a little of everything…
- grains -rice, beans, whole wheat, barley
- herbs –poppy seed, celery seed, peppercorns
- seeds and tops from fresh vegetables and fruits -avocado, pomegranate, and lemon seeds, carrot tops, onion bottoms
…then see what grows!
Happy gardening,
Denese
Tags: children, gardening, hands-on activities
