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April 22nd is Earth Day and there’s no better way to celebrate than to get outside and get some seeds in the ground! Whether you are an avid urban farmer or an apartment dweller, gardening with your child not only nurtures their love for nature but fosters lifelong healthy eating habits as well.
Over the past 5 years, Canadian Organic Growers has witnessed the power of gardening with children through their Growing Up Organic school garden program. My own experience with Growing Up Organic has taught me that the benefits of gardening with children and youth are literally countless, that we reap far far more than we sow—pun intended! Vegetable gardening with children is the most successful strategy I have witnessed to get them excited about eating healthy fresh produce and interested in learning about how to prepare meals. Immersed in the cycles of nature, the garden is also a place for learning about life, where food comes from, and the beauty of nature. As a family activity, it’s also uniquely suited to helping children develop life skills such as patience and cooperation.
Not sure where to start? You first organic vegetable garden can be as simple as a container on the back deck or balcony. Fill it with quality potting soil, rather than soil from your yard, to enhance drainage and then find a sunny spot. Most vegetables require between 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, but some, like lettuce, are happy in partial shade. Organic seeds are available from several local producers; check out the Cottage Gardener, for example, for some beautiful heirloom varieties.
Some additional tips:
- Don’t worry too much about the harvest, this is about the experience! Let your child participate in the planning process and have a space in the garden, or on the balcony where he or she can grow his or her own seeds and develop a sense of ownership.
- Choose easy seeds to avoid disappointed faces: peas are great for tiny tots, and bush beans, kale, spinach, radishes, and beets are also pretty easy. These vegetables are all fairly frost-hardy and can be sown outside as of mid-April (perfect for Earth Day!). They also don’t take very much space and can easily grow in containers.
- Children love to water, but watering can be tricky! Punching some small holes in the plastic cap of a water bottle is a great way to create a gentle watering tool for younger children. Water regularly, but avoid watering in the heat of the day—mornings and evenings are best.
- Go with the flow, every moment you spend in the garden will be an opportunity to discover new things as the garden changes. Don’t enforce too much direction: children are the best guides of the garden! If today we don’t get to watering and instead discover a worm, so be it! The lessons they draw from these experiences will be the most memorable and meaningful.
- Use organic principles by avoiding chemical pesticides and fertilizers to make your gardening experience safe for you, your child and the planet. For organic gardening tips see: www.cog.ca or www.organicgardening.com
About the Author: With a background in Environmental Studies, Alissa Campbell started her involvement in Growing Up Organic in 2010 through her graduate studies at York University. It was a perfect way to share her love for gardening and good food with children and youth across Ottawa and plunge into the field of environmental education. Since 2007, Growing Up Organic has helped nearly 30 schools across Ottawa establish organic gardening programs to meet curriculum goals while providing students with an opportunity to develop healthy eating habits and a sense of environmental stewardship. For more information about GUO and the programs offered visit: www.cog.ca/ottawa/growing-up-organic or visit our blog at www.growinguporganic.blogspot.com
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Do you garden with your kids? What benefits have you noticed? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
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