Harbingers of Spring

Research has shown that "Background knowledge is the glue that makes learning stick." Why not take the opportunity to teach our children not only about gardening, but also about new words they can learn along the way? 

Yesterday, my grandkids and I took a late winter tour around the yard looking for signs of spring. We found daffodils peeking their heads above ground, strawberries with new green leaves venturing forth, and garlic just starting to emerge after a long winter nap (around here we plant garlic in the fall). 

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But then we looked up and saw the buds on one of our three magnolia trees. The word that came to mind was "harbinger." As a teacher, I know the importance of developing a rich vocabulary in our children, and as a gardener, I realize how many chances there are to teach new words to kids while they are learning where food comes from and what a magical place the garden can be.

So continue to find opportunities to teach new words to children while you are in the garden. Keep a list of the words as they come up and post it somewhere the kids will see it often. Empowering kids with new knowledge will make them feel special, because they are!

While We Wait . . .

It can be hard to wait for the seeds to start sprouting, whether you decide to try winter sowing or  you decide to wait until the soil and weather are ready for direct sowing in the ground. In the meantime, show the kids what is happening underground after you plant the seeds by making a seed viewer.  We used a pea seed for this. It should take about 6-7 days in a sunny windowsill before you start seeing some action, and then each day you will see miraculous growth continue to take place. It's fun!

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The old scout motto "Be Prepared" is a great life lesson, one of the many lessons Mother Nature can teach us when we partner up with her. Towards the end of February, every once in a while here in the Midwest we are blessed with a calm, warmer day in the 50s, a sure promise that spring will indeed come soon! Since planning ahead is essential to any gardener, start to teach your children about the importance of taking an inventory of your supplies during those occasional spring-like days. Clean out the garage or storage shed, lay out all the stakes, trellises, and garden tools to make sure you will have everything you need as soon as spring arrives. The kids can help with the sorting and the sweeping, but they will tire of the chore long before you do. Never underestimate the value of modeling for your kids. By completing the task, you will be proving to them that to enjoy the fruit of our labor, we indeed need to "Be Prepared."

All About Seeds!

Look what arrived yesterday right before the snow started falling!! It's always fun to open the package with the kids and show them the actual seed packets they picked out from the catalog (see post from 1/23).  But now what?

Here in Zone 5, it's still too early to plant, except for those seeds we can safely winter sow in February (see winter sowing series from 1/29 to 2/1). However, this is a PERFECT TIME for kids to begin to build their knowledge base of seeds. 

Seeds are incredibly interesting! Here is an online activity series that gives great information on the parts of a seed, what seeds need to germinate, edible seeds, and other great information on this amazing structure! For example, there are directions on How to Make a Seed Viewer.

Here is the one we made together! We used a pea seed.

For preschool children, start by reading a few picture books like Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson. For those who are school ages 5-8, here is a link to blog post that gives you other great book suggestions for teaching children about seeds.

Another idea is to have the kids "help" you sort the packets into categories. Here are a few ideas:

• put the seeds in order alphabetically (this is an easy way to find the seed packet you're looking for!)

• separate the squash into "winter" and "summer" types

• put all the sun loving plants in one pile and the shade tolerant plants in another

• separate out all the "nightshades" (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes)

• make a pile of the climbers (pole beans, cucumbers, etc.) and another pile of low growing plants

• separate out all the herbs . . .

The list of possibilities goes on and on . . . And once your seeds arrive, store them properly until planting.

Day 4: Winter Sowing Series

The is the last of a four-part mini-series on winter sowing! I sure hope you will give it a try this winter! I'd love to hear from you on how it's going!

Day 3: Winter Sowing Series

Today I will demonstrate how to prepare the potting soil, plant the seeds, and where to place the jugs. Now is certainly the time to involve the kids! (UPDATE JAN. 2021) Since making this video, I have come down with arthritis in my hands, making working with duct tape more difficult. I take an alternate route now for closing the jugs. I buy plastic wrap either from Costco or the light green plastic wrap that is sold in the moving section area of Home Depot. You will see this demonstrated in the video and on my posts on IG and FB.

Day 2: Winter Sowing Series

Enjoy today's video for the next step to take in How to Winter Sow. However, for safety reasons, please make sure YOU as the ADULT do this phase without the kids. Please make sure you read yesterday's post first, as all steps are sequential. Tomorrow? Winter Sowing Day 3.

Day 1: Winter Sowing Series (Updated Jan. 2021)

When I moved to this yard almost six years ago and started making garden plans, I didn’t have any grow lights, and the process of buying them, setting them up in my basement, and finding room to start all the plants I wanted to grow seemed overwhelming. So when I heard about winter sowing, I was intrigued. Oh, and by the way, you read my first sentence correctly — I moved here for the yard, the best I could find within the limitations I had for budget and location. The “house” . . . well, it came with the deal. But I digress. 

Winter sowing is a method generally attributed to Trudi Davidoff and has steadily grown in popularity as an alternative to starting seeds inside using grow lights, seed trays, and the like. Winter sowing is exactly what it implies — an outdoor method of planting your summer garden anywhere from December through April. Outside. In milk jugs, which act like little greenhouses. After you get set up, Mother Nature takes over.

To better understand winter sowing, I joined a few facebook groups on the topic, searched the internet on the practice, and finally concluded, “What the heck? Let’s give this a try!” That was three winters ago. I figure if I can do winter sowing with my grandkids, you can do it with your kids, too! 

In the next several posts, I will be giving you a step-by-step blueprint, a lesson plan, of sorts. As a veteran teacher, I relate to that format! Winter sowing DOES take preparation, and since this is all about gardening with kids, like any good teacher who wants to make a lesson successful, good preparation is required.

For Day 1, gather the materials. If I were you, this first year do anywhere from a few jugs to a dozen, or just gather as many jugs as you can. Next year, if you like it, do more. 

Sound like a plan?

Tomorrow, we will take Step 2, which you'll need to do when the kids aren’t around. The kids should NOT be anywhere near you during THIS PART of the preparation process! But I’ll cover that tomorrow.

See you then!

(If you want a bit more background on winter sowing, this gives you a brief overview).

Want to build garden memories with your family? Click here for a free resource.

Fairy Gardens -- Not Just for Girls!

I am all about creating memories with kids in the garden. I feel it is how we "embed" the "gardening code" into their lives so that they will grow up wanting to garden someday. One of my favorite memory-creating activities with my grandkids is providing a space for them to have miniature gardens, or as they are commonly called, Fairy Gardens. I put together a 4-5 minute video below to get you started. January and February is the perfect time to start planning for these miniature gardens and gathering what you need. When a nice warm day arrives in March or April, the kids will want to get outside to set up their gardens. Here are links to lihe resource books I mention in the video: Miniature Gardens by Katie Elzer-Peters; Fairy Gardening 101 by Fiona McDonald; Fairy World Crafts by Kathy Ross.

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• Want Ideas On How To Preserve The Garden Photos You Take With Your Family To Make The Memories Last A Lifetime? Click Here To Get The Free PDF “7 Ways To Use Photos In The Garden To Build Family Memories.”

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Start Gardening with your Kids!

I'm SO GLAD you joined me today! Whether you're a new gardener or an experienced one, I hope this is a place where you'll find some fun and easy ways to help you garden with your children! This is my first blog entry, and you may read it shortly after I launched this new website. I hope you will return often as I continue to add new entries, gardening resources, and great ideas on the topic of gardening with kids.  

I suspect you are already interested in fresh, organic food and try hard to serve healthy meals to your families! Great! You probably attend farmers markets or belong to a *CSA. If so, I encourage you to choose this year to take things to the next level by sharing the joy of growing YOUR OWN organic food with your kids! 

• What could taste better than to grow fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at home or as a part of a community garden?

• What better way to show kids where food comes from than to walk outside and pick it?

• What better way to encourage our kids to embrace healthy eating habits than to model for them how much fun it can be to grow food together as a family?

That's how I started -- in my grandmother's garden (see About page for my story). I now garden with my own grandkids, and believe me, if I can do, YOU CAN DO IT! Today is January 3, and here in the Midwest, it's freezing cold. But it's time to start planning for the growing season ahead.

Sooooo, are you ready? Let's get growing!

*CSA (Community Sustained Agriculture)

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• Want Ideas On How To Preserve The Garden Photos You Take With Your Family To Make The Memories Last A Lifetime? Click Here To Get The Free PDF “7 Ways To Use Photos In The Garden To Build Family Memories.”

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