Teach a child to garden

If for some reason you were not able to teach your child how to start gardening, then maybe in the 2021 growing season you can. Here are some very simple ways to engage your child:

— Ask if they are interested in learning about gardening.

— Share with them every step in the process.

— Start at the beginning by looking through catalogues and selecting seeds.

— Show them how to grow squash, watermelon and cantaloupe in a container.

— Provide a calendar that is separate for gardening tasks.

— Mark dates on the calendar for starting certain seeds, frost-free dates and so on.

Above all, give them responsibility. Naturally, the responsibility you assign each child will differ with their age. Responsibility to do certain small tasks you know they can handle, such as watering the newly planted squash seeds and marking the calendar when they have watered them. That way everyone knows.

Make clear and simple explanations for why you are doing certain tasks when you are doing them. Children are inquisitive and imaginative. Encourage these qualities by helping them explore. What happens when you do not plant the onion bulb deep enough or with the basil end facing the soil surface. Let them plant one onion bulb incorrectly and use a stake to mark it. Watching and wondering what will happen is half the fun. When the onion sprouts along with the others is when you explain geotropism to them.

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