Gardening with children November 1, 2011

“What people do not understand, they do not value, what they do not value, they will not protect, and what they do not protect, they will lose.”– Charles Jordan
Why should we care?

I. Farming is their heritage.

Today, the general population is 3 to 5 generations removed from the family farm. If future generations are going to care about gardening they must be directly exposed to the process of gardening.

II. They live in a world filled with Nature deficit disorder (a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, refers to the alleged trend[1] that children are spending less time outdoors).

Urban children still read books that include farm animals, flowers, fruits and vegetables. They sing about old MacDonald. But it is rare for them to have been to a farm, met a gardener or to know the source of their food. With a farm failing in the U.S. every 6 minutes, we are in danger of the disconnect growing further.

III. It benefits their overall health

• Nutritional health –Little ones who help grow their own food enjoy feasting on the fruits of their labor, which means they thrive on a healthy and well-balanced diet. Remember, Children need to be exposed to a new food 10 to 15 times, or more, before tasting it. Just putting it on the table or child’s plate is a good start, even if they don’t touch the food right away.

• Healthy Exercise – Gardening is a preferred method of exercise for every age, gender, and culture. In fact, 45 minutes of gardening is equivalent to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. This will promote better sleep.

• Healthy Mind – Studies suggest that working outdoors with the Earth can help promote stress relief and healing

• Financial Health – every dollar you invest in an edible garden has the potential of yielding up to $25 worth of vegetables.

How do we go about it?
1) Research – for yourself & for your little gardener.
• There are books, curriculum & online sources for every gardening subject. Many are geared for the young. Involve your students in the learning process.
• Your local extension office should be your first stop for information on gardening in your climate.
2) Safety First –
• Fencing, Paths and Drives – Always know where a drive or path leads into the garden; consider fencing in & fitting a gate with a child-proof lock. Check any paths for uneven stones and keep them clear of debris and moss, which can cause trips and falls. If you have steps in the garden or steep slopes, again consider fencing these parts off, fitting gates and rails, especially for younger children.
• Greenhouses, Windows and Sheds – If you have a greenhouse, try to ensure it has safety glass fitted. Alternatively, fit plastic film to the outside of the glass, install a small picket fence to section the greenhouse from the ‘play area’ in the garden, or put up a secure trellis or panel to avoid balls or other flying objects from hitting it. Most houses have had their old single pane window replaced by double glazing, which is less easy to break, but the same may not apply to shed or summerhouse windows or doors. Consider safety glass, plastic film or somehow segregating the play area from building which have glass.
• Water Features – A young child can drown in only a couple of inches of water, so the golden rule is NEVER to leave a young child unsupervised near water, even a paddling pool. If you have a pond and young children, consider either fencing it off, covering it with special meshing, or even draining it and converting it into a sandpit or flower border instead.
• Machinery and Tools – Keep all electrical tools or garden machinery (eg lawnmowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, etc) out of reach of children and don’t use them while the child is with you in the garden. Always remove them and lock them away safely immediately after use. Keep any sharp or heavy gardening tools out of reach of children too – stepping on a rake might look funny in a comedy but not in real life! While children will benefit from using ‘proper’ gardening tools as from a reasonable age, use common sense in which to allow them and always show them how to use them safely, then supervise them. Keep gardening tools in good condition (eg check for splinters in handles, rust and loose heads) and lock them away safely after use. Don’t allow young children to use tools designed for adults.
• Chemicals and Weed killers – Keep all chemicals used in the garden securely locked away in the garage or the shed and preferably on a shelf well above the child’s height. Weed killer can kill more than just weeds. Don’t pour chemicals into containers which resemble something drinkable, eg coca-cola bottles, and always keep them well labeled. Only use when the children are not in the garden. I highly recommend babysitter or mother’s helpers on days with chemicals are being used!!
• Plants and berries – There are a number of poisonous plants , berries and flowers and it is best, especially with younger children, to ensure there are none of the really dangerous ones (eg. laburnum tree) in your garden. But to be on the safe side, teach young children not to eat any berries, leaves or flowers. As children grow older you can teach them about which plants are poisonous and which are safe to eat. Some plants, such as nettles, can sting, or cause small discomfort, and while we may wish to prevent any hurt from coming to our child, I think most of us realized by personal experience at some point in our childhood that nettles do sting and roses do have thorns!
• Sun and Insect Protection – An obvious one for both yourself and your children: remember bug spray, sunscreen blocker and hats for sunny days, and even on cloudy days during the summer.

3) Plan & Prep – Plan Big, Start Small!
• Choose your site & give your young gardeners their own too!
• Have soil tested – call your local extension office for information on how. (if site is near an old house, testing for lead)
• Give each of your gardeners their own space. A yard squared would be small enough to be manageable. Make plenty of paths so that they have easy access. Involve them in the planning & plant choice.
• Buy good quality hand tools & gloves in their size.
• Let go of your ideas. Rows may be crooked, plants may be mixed & it’s all good! The goal is to grow gardeners not just plants.

4) Plant – gardening is for all ages. No one is too young or too old.
1 years old & under
• Play in the soil with their own set of tools & buckets. Or even a simple set of bowls & measuring cups.
2 years old
• help with seedlings inside
• transplant them to beds outside once frost free
• help weed
• taste test washed & cleaned fruits & veggies.
3 years old (all of the above, plus…)
• start their own seedlings
• start learning when to harvest the veggies and fruit
• help direct seed the seeds into the beds
4 years old (all of the above, plus…)
• in charge of their own window box
• have their own raised bed
• water the gardens
• harvest the veggies and fruits on their own
• help prepare harvest for lunch or dinner
• help pick through, clean, and freeze berries
5 years old & older (all of the above)
• Have with canning & preserving
• there are many more curriculums listed on the resource page.