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Gardening with Kids: Our Hands-On Lesson

by | Uncategorized

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tips for Gardening with Young Kids | www.1dogwoof.com

A few weeks ago, our farm had their Open Farm day, so off we went to the farm for the first time this year! We were super lucky and had great sunny weather in the morning, after being overcast at dawn. The farm is on the same route we take to church, so we were offered a tip from the little talkative navigation expert in the back seat:

J: “Mommy, is this a weekend?”

Me: “Yes”

J: “Are we going to church?”

Me: “No, we’re going to the farm.”

As we near the light for the farm turn-off…

J: “Mommy! We’re on the same road as going to church! Look, the farm! Turn right! Here!”

I’d capitalize everything, but that may deafen you, as it deafened us in the car.

Since Open Farm day is a plant sale + meet up + CSA volunteer hours sign up + children’s activity, we first had to peruse the children’s activities to see if there was something that could keep J busy so I could choose my plants in peace. Unfortunately, he was having none of it. So, LM became the Super Veggie superhero for the day (find me on Instagram). And J walked around with me, trying to pick up every. single. 4 inch pot I was looking at.

Once we got home, we decided to take advantage of the nice weather and have some fun family planting time. I wanted to teach J how to work in the garden, aka “how to weed”. Plus, it was high time we cleaned up the raised beds in the backyard.

This year, we decided to not grow any large vegetable plants since we’ve had issues with tomato blight in the past, and are instead sticking with herbs and flowers. That means we won’t be eating Sungolds off the vine, but J can still come out and pick arugula, chives, cilantro, basil and lemongrass for dinner. And if our one sunflower grows successfully, we’ll have one big yellow puffball towering over everything else.

Tips for Gardening with Young Kids | www.1dogwoof.com

As Daddy got to weeding and tilling, J was trying to decide which gloves he wanted to use. We picked him out my smallest pair, but he only wanted one, a la Michael Jackson. Oh, and it was pink.

Tips for Gardening with Young Kids | www.1dogwoof.com

After countless instructions and distractions, lost shovels and lots (and lots) of flying dirt, we finally planted our seedlings into the boxes.

Tips for Gardening with Young Kids | www.1dogwoof.com

The boxes were so full of dirt from last year that we didn’t need to replenish with any new compost or soil, but as the season wears on, we may occasionally add nutrition as needed. Miracle-GroΒ has several different types of plant food available, but since these are plants that go directly into our food, we’ll most likely use their Organic Choice All-purpose Plant Food to help our seedlings grow big and tall. I can’t help but make the same comparison to our kids. Healthy food grows healthy kids, and our healthy food starts right at home!

Well, good thing we got down and dirty with the dirt. We all spent some quality time together outdoors, and then were stuck indoors later in the afternoon as the thunderclouds rolled in.

Did I learn anything from our first escapade in the garden?

Lesson #1: Just let it go. Like everything else in motherhood, you just gotta let it go. These are the moments, and one day, I’ll miss having dirt fly in my face and rubbed into my shirt.

Lesson #2: Leave a raised bed empty next year just for the kid to play in. They love dirt. And plastic shovels and forks are nothing compared to the real things.

Lesson #3: Make sure the yard is clear of dog poop and poison ivy BEFORE the garden shenanigans. You know, prevention tactics.

Tips for Gardening with Young Kids | www.1dogwoof.com

What are your tips for family fun in the garden? Share them here in the comments, or head to Gro Something GreaterΒ and share with a whole community of garden-minded folks.

More adventures (and flying dirt) to come! Well, at least I hope so, if my seedlings grow!

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16 Comments

  1. Melanie

    I love this post, but Super Veggie totally has me obsessed lol cute, cute!

  2. Amy Anderson

    Your little ones are so cute! My tip? Have the hose or sprinkler ready when done πŸ˜€

  3. ChiWei

    Great tip Amy! I bet J would LOVE that! So would the dog, I think….and the plants. Win win for everyone πŸ™‚

  4. ChiWei

    Haha, thanks Melanie! I love Super Veggie πŸ™‚

  5. keri @ shaken together

    My tip? We bought some plants but we also planted from seeds (which took longer) but my boys loved seeing those little tiny plants push their way through the soil and grow. πŸ™‚

  6. Tara

    Love it! And I totally agree, you have to just let it go when you’re gardening with kids. They have SUCH strong ideas about getting in there… and sometimes making a bit of a mess.

    I love the one-glove look – very stylish!

    I love growing herbs. I can’t wait to see how yours do this year! (I’m a bit jealous, too, no garden for this girl this year)

  7. Kara

    Great tips! I haven’t even started working in my garden yet this year.

  8. Leanne

    I love that you are teaching your little ones to help already. Great tips!

  9. ChiWei

    Thanks Leanne!

  10. ChiWei

    Me too! I definitely don’t have a green thumb so I can use all the help I can get!

  11. ChiWei

    When the goal for the day is to wear out the kid so he takes a nap so mommy gets a bit of quiet time, the garden is the way to go πŸ™‚

  12. ChiWei

    I figure if it makes him happy, a one-gloved mess is easier than me nagging him about trying to keep things clean. Boys will be boys, and that includes a lot of dirt, I’m learning. I’m hoping for a decent herb-y harvest this year!

  13. ChiWei

    We may have to try that next year! I know I always love seeing that first sprout come up all curled up and then unfurling to show the two baby leaves. Great idea, Keri!

  14. krunker

    It works well at work, hopefully more

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