A Childs Garden…..   It’s that time of year…we all sit down with paper and pencil in hand, and start to ‘map out’ &  dream…about this years garden! Why not sit down with our children and do the same?A garden is wonderful family time, and a great learning experience for young and old alike! Cultivate a love of gardening with your children, no matter their age, by letting them participate in the family garden!  Even better yet, give them their own ‘garden space’-this could be a container on the porch, a flower bed, or even a section of a larger garden space-that is all their own!  Gather paper, pencil and some gardening/seed catalogs and dream together!  Let them choose what they want to plant, teach them to work the earth, plant their seeds, and care for them.  This is “their” garden spot, and the will delight in watching the seeds they have planted, grow, through their care, and the look on their faces when they see the first sprig of green pop through the ground is priceless! Children learn so much by ‘doing’ and ‘watching us’ -  the time spent together is a gift in and of itself.  Let them experiment…so what if they plant only daisies or petunias because they are ‘pretty ones’, so what if their rows aren’t perfect (mine aren’t either)??  It is the learning experience and time together that truly count.  Even a 2 year old can plant seeds for starts in a paper cup, dig in the dirt and pick rocks out of the area, while older children can help prepare the garden area, plant, weed, water and PICKJ Now, if you are feeling creative or your children are a bit older, or have some gardening experience already, why not try something a little different?  If you happen to have the space, younger children would LOVE the idea of a “Sunflower House” or “Corn Fort”!  Plant Sunflowers in a ‘square’ (with one open side for entry) or plant corn in square designs, 4-6 rows deep… these make for wonderful childhood hideaways and memories!  A little bit older child might love to create a ‘butterfly garden’ or a ‘hummingbird garden’!  How about a ‘bean tepee’ or a Morning Glory fort?  My children love to make their forts at the base of evergreens, with some stumps or rocks they call it ‘their fort’—maybe your children are the same?  Maybe this summer they would enjoy a fort inside the garden area, or maybe they’d like to plant some flowers or veggies around their fort?   I am just betting a Morning Glory Tepee would be a HUGE HIT, and make a great place for tea parties!  It’s amazing all the things you and your children can do with dirt and sticks and seeds!  You can find all kinds of ideas on the internet, or at the local library (see references below) or at www.HomesteadBlogger.com  J As we all begin to plan for the Spring planting season, make it a family project, include the children they will love it!We include planting every year as part of our Homeschool lessons, whether its corn seed starts in paper cups, or a full scale garden~it is a teaching and learning experience every year!  Enjoy this ‘season before the season’ and plan on spending some time helping your children dream up their special garden!  It makes for priceless memories…all wrapped up in the pure simplicity of …A Childs Garden….ENJOY J      Some Great Books and Resources for Gardening with Children Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots~Sharon Lovejoy, GREEN THUMBS~Laurie Carlson, BEYOND THE BEAN SEED~Nancy Allen Jurenka, JMG:Junior Master Gardener Handbook, Steps to a Bountiful Kids’ Garden, The Childrens Kitchen Garden: A Book of Gardening, Cooking and Learning, Great Gardens for Kids, A Childs Garden : Enchanting Outdoor Spaces for Children & Parents, Kids Garden:The Anytime, Anyplace Guide to Sowing & Growing Fun , Victory Gardens Kids’ Book just to name a few

  Happy Gardening!Lisa