GARDENING

CRAFTS, GARDENING, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Make DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs with Kids
- April 15, 2019
One of our favorite outdoor crafts is to make DIY wildflower seed bombs. Not only are these DIY seed bombs easy enough for kids to make in under an hour, but they’re good for the birds, bees, and butterflies in your area. They only require a few ingredients and have the added benefit of letting kids get their hands really messy! Make these and let your kids “seedbomb” the neighborhood or give them as homemade eco-friendly gifts to teachers, neighbors, family, and friends. Everyone will love watching the seed bombs grow into a beautiful patch of colorful wildflowers.

Guerilla gardening with seed bombs

Did you know that “seed bombs” originated in New York City in the 1970s? People use to make these tiny “green grenades” of native herb, flower, and vegetable seeds and then “bomb” large vacant lots where it was illegal or impossible to plant. They called it guerilla gardening! It’s definitely caught on and now seed bombs are still the main weapon guerrilla gardeners use to grow flowers in bare spots, creating pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators. Seed bombs enable seeds to be sown in hard-to-reach places and locations where the gardener is unable to adequately prepare the ground for traditional gardening.

Bomb responsibly

I’m sure you already know better, but make sure you bomb responsibly. Do not drop seed bombs on private property or in protected parks. Try to stick with spaces that have been neglected or local public areas that could use a bit of rewilding. You may want to check local ordinances before bombing around your town or neighborhood. Also, make sure that the seeds you use are local and native to your area. You wouldn’t want to introduce any new or invasive species of plants or flowers into your local ecosystem with these seedbombs.

Benefits of wildflowers

Growing a patch of colorful native wildflowers not only adds beauty and charm to your space, but they provide many benefits to the world around us. Wildflowers are native to the area where they grow, meaning they’re conditioned to thrive there. They require less water and fertilizer, are less prone to disease and are more tolerant to pests. They also provide critical habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects and wildlife, which is important for ecosystem function and pollination. Wildflowers can also improve soil health, prevent erosion, improve water quality, increase yields and enhance forage conditions for livestock. When choosing seeds to use in your seed bombs, make sure you use wildflowers that are local and native to the area they’ll be planted to avoid introducing invasive species.

Make your own seed bombs with kids

Wildflower seed bombs are surprisingly easy to make and so fun! They only require a few ingredients and about an hour to make. They are definitely messy though, so be prepared to have a tub of water or a hose somewhere close to rinse your hand. My kids loved this project and the sensory feeling of squishing the clay between their fingers. They also loved gifting their homemade seed bombs to our neighbors and friends. We can’t wait to see patches of wildflowers sprouting up around our area soon!

What you need to make seed bombs
- Air dry clay (we used this clay for the bombs pictured here, but we’ve also tried this one and it works just as well)
- Potting soil or compost
- Native/local wildflower seeds
- Water
How to make wildflower seed bombs

Step 1: Mix the ingredients

Mix together about 4 parts clay to 1 part potting soil. You don’t have to be exact, but you want more clay than soil so the bombs hold tightly together.

Add your wildflower seeds to the clay mixture (we also added some sunflower seeds). Be sure to only use seeds that are native to your area and not invasive. Native plants will grow better and support more wildlife than non-native species. Not all of the seeds will sprout, so it’s best to have an assortment of flower species and varieties.

Step 2: Add water

Add a little bit of water at a time and squish with your hands until everything is mixed and about the consistency of thick cookie dough. This is definitely a good job for the kids! Make sure not to use too much water or it gets gooey and runny. If you use too much water, add more soil.

Step 3: Roll into balls

Once everything is well mixed, roll the clay into balls about the size of a golf ball. Set them on a tray and let them dry completely until hardened. This may take a couple hours or a couple of days, depending on the humidity levels where you live.

Step 4: Bombs away

Once dry, package your seed bombs in small envelopes or bags to gift to friends, neighbors, teachers, or family members. They’d make great gifts for Earth Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Teacher Appreciation, or just because.

A few extra tips for making seed bombs

We made these seed bombs on a pretty chilly day. This led to our clay being very hard to squish/mold initially and made our fingers very cold! We ended up using warm water in our mix, which helped tremendously. So, if your clay is really hard or cold, try warming your water for the mix.

If storing your seed bombs to gift or use at a later date, just be sure to keep them in a cool, dry, dark location to prevent them from germinating.

If you want to package them use as gifts, I found this cute printable label, which I printed on cardstock and attached with washi tape.

When to bomb

The best time to get out there and start slinging your wildflower bombs in the spring. Check your local weather and try to get them out just ahead of some rain and choose a sunny spot. That will give them the best chance of growing. If there’s no rain coming, maybe add some water. Plant your seed balls anywhere in need of some beauty and color. Hopefully, in a few weeks, you’ll have the beginning of a beautiful patch of your own native wildflowers!

Not interested in getting dirty?

If you’re not into getting your hands dirty, or perhaps you can’t get your hands on all of the ingredients you need, there’s another option! Seedbombs can also be purchased. Seedles makes a really cute and colorful option. Or you can purchase a large pack of 50 native wildflower seed bombs.

Have you ever made seed bombs?
BOOKS, FALL, GARDENING, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER, URBAN NATURE, WINTER
Creating a Nature Window for Bird Watching
- January 7, 2019
If you’ve ever taken the time to observe birds in your own backyard, I guarantee you’ll find them fascinating! Birds are incredibly social, intelligent, crafty, clever and funny. They are such a joy to watch. Over time, you can even get to know the local ones and their personalities. Today, I’m thrilled to have Nichole from Luckey Wanderers here sharing how she created a Nature Window in her home for watching and studying birds with her family. What started out as an easy way to observe local birds has turned into a passion project for the entire family. She’s here to share her experience and give you tips and advice for creating your own nature window.

How the nature window began

The most beautiful rhythm has developed in our home over the last year. It all began with a bird-focused nature study for my homeschooled children, which grew into an ongoing observation that we as a family enjoy daily. It all started through happenstance. I happened to enter a contest on a social media site. That happened to be through our state chapter of the Audubon Society. Then, I happened to win! We won the most wonderful beginner bird watching kit, with bird information, along with a suet feeder, handheld hummingbird feeders, and some native plant seeds. The rest is history!

The beginning of a beautiful friendship

I entered the contest because we were studying birds for our fall term nature study. I thought the prize would pair well with our study. Within a few days, we had our suet feeder up, full of fresh food. (Suet is a cake made from animal fats and bird seed, usually in a square form.) The suet feeder hung from a pole just off our deck, observable from our kitchen window. Then, we hung a hummingbird feeder from a nearby tree and waited.

We spent the next few days watching and waiting for birds to arrive. During each meal, our eyes were drawn to the feeders. The first hummingbirds soon showed up and we all screamed in excitement, which scared the darling little creatures away! Thankfully, they are persistent and came right back.

My husband brought home another feeder for different food, sunflower seeds this time. These quickly grabbed the attention of the squirrels. Squirrels are acrobatic little buggers, and we soon had to find a way to keep them from getting into the feeder. After a bit of research, put a metal slinky over the pole, which seemed to do the trick. It also gave us one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen! An unknowing little bird flew onto the slinky expecting a solid landing, but instead, he bobbed up and down helplessly on the Slinky for a minute or two. Sadly, I was not recording this, but my children and I laughed about that for at least a week!

All birds, large and small

We were all surprised how many birds began to show up at our feeders. In our yard or nearby, we had a family of downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, cardinals, and American bluebirds. They came with such regularity that we could almost tell the time based on when we would see them. We watched that window at breakfast, lunch, and at our family dinners. The children excitedly gave a daily report to my husband about what we had seen each night at dinner.

Mid-winter, I had the great delight of seeing a pair of Indigo buntings fly through; pausing only briefly in our trees. The sight of them lingers in my memory. It’s a sight that I would not have seen if we hadn’t spent the previous few months attuning our attention to our little slice of the natural world sitting just outside of our kitchen window. And as winter warmed away and signs of spring began to show, we began to see the baby woodpeckers and baby cardinals accompany their parents to the feeder. It was such a special sight!

Variety is the spice of life

It wasn’t long before we decided to expand our nature window to include other species. My husband and son took to the garage to build a wood home to hang on the tree. While this was originally intended for birds, a squirrel took up residence. Watching its little face peering out of the circular hole melts me every time. We allowed what was left of our raised bed gardens to grow wild! Soon, they overflowed with native grasses and plants. Of course, this attracted pollinators and insects of all kinds, which help the birds.

Due to our location, we are quite lucky to see a wide range of species fly through. Our city lies directly in a migration path, which gives us the opportunity to see a variety of birds. I didn’t realize that before, but now we want to be prepared for it. We have plans to expand our bird feeders to attract Baltimore orioles, my husband’s favorite bird. From what we have heard, oranges should do the trick. We are also doing our due diligence in researching native plants and plan to fill our yard and garden with helpful and purposeful plants. A bird bath is also on our to do list!

So much more than just a nature study

Over the course of the academic year, we were thrilled to see so many birds come and go. My children delighted at spying the brilliant red flashes of the ruby-throated hummingbird. My camera found a new home: on the window sill waiting for moments to snap photos of the birds that passed through our yard. We started checking off lists for the species of birds we spotted. My children colored in their bird coloring books when they saw a certain species. They delighted in imagining that Jenny Wren came visiting our home regularly, thanks to the wonderful book The Burgess Bird Book for Children.

Our nature window is a continually evolving and changing thing. It started with a simple bird feeder placed where we could see it from our kitchen table and has become a full-on observation station. We have a windowsill full of bird guides, checklists, nature finds, jars of found bird feathers, nature journals, binoculars, magnifying glasses, nature journals and colored pencils.

Choose your own nature window

If you homeschool or just have curious littles at home, I highly recommend creating your own nature window. It’s brought so much joy to our lives, I’d love to pass the love and experience on to you. To begin your own nature window, take a few days and observe your household patterns and the layout of your home. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Where do you eat your meals?
- Which room does your family gather most often?
- Where do you spend time relaxing?
- Where do the kids study?
Once you have considered those things, choose your window based on where you’ll have the most opportunities to observe the happenings outside. And while a window is not necessary for setting up bird feeders (you can do that anywhere), it will allow you to observe your feeder from inside the house regardless of the weather.

Start simple

We started with a simple, double-sided suet feeder. There are many recipes available for making your own suet feed, however, for simplicity’s sake, I prefer to buy them in bulk from our local retailers. The Audubon website has a recipe available for vegetarian suet if you’re interested. Next, add a feeder with traditional bird seed or sunflower seeds.

A hummingbird feeder is another wonderful way to observe wildlife from your window. There are a variety of window hung feeders, although ours is hung from a tree. While I buy other types of bird food, making hummingbird food is quite simple. It’s also far better for the birds than store-bought. A basic formula is made from 1 part sugar to 3 parts warm water. Mix until dissolved and allow to cool. Do not add any dyes to the water. Dyes are not necessary and can be harmful to hummingbirds.

Certify your space

One easy way to assure that your yard or nature space is set up well for wildlife is to certify it. You can certify your space through the National Wildlife Federation website. I certified our yard about two years ago, just prior to starting our nature window. It is a very easy (and very educational) process that will help you look at your yard from an animals’ perspective. The certification process will show you how to make simple changes that will positively impact the wildlife around you.

Your yard will first need local native plants. The best practice is to try to stick with native to your area plants. These plants will help support the wildlife around you. If you have questions, speak with a master gardener in your area or find a local chapter of your native plant society. Both of the organizations are great resources for learning about what to plant. You’ll also need a source of water and places to build shelter, in addition to a food source.

The National Wildlife Federation has provided a wonderful program in their wildlife habitat certification process. Our family learned so much through it and are continuing to reap the benefits daily, through our nature window observations. The cost to certify is minimal and includes a wonderful sign to acknowledge your work. Certifying your yard would be an excellent family project, as there is something for everyone to help with.

Let it evolve

Allow your window to morph into your own over time. Find what works for your family and what types of nature excite you and your children. Then, place things in or outside of your window that fuel your passions. In a world dominated by screens, this family past time of observing the natural world through your own window will have a profoundly positive effect on relationships, learning, and even your own peace of mind.

Recommended reading

Here are a few book recommendations to keep near your nature window.
- A Bird Guide – Audubon/Peterson/Kaufman – any of those guides will do well to help with identifying your backyard birds in you’re in North America. You can also get some free local guides from your local chapter of the Audubon Society. I would recommend having a broad spectrum guide as well as a more specific local guide.
- A Bird Journal – This can be as simple as a piece of paper where you log what you see, or a birders journal which has lists to check off what you see and when. We like this one from the Audubon Society.
- A local or regional guide to the natural year – there are some wonderful books out there that will guide you through a season in your area. A simple internet search using the keywords “the natural year” or “seasonal guide” should render some helpful books.
- The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady – this book is a beautiful nature journal containing poetry, nature observations, and drawings. Not regionally specific but a jewel of a book to have in your nature window.
- A book of poetry – a collection of great poems by famous poets on birds. This is handy to pick up and search for a certain topic and any poetry collection will do. Try this one.
Window to the world

Our little nature window (well it’s actually a large window) has become an enduring learning opportunity for all of us. Our attention has become fined tuned to the natural world that exists even beyond it within our little patch of the city. We are amazed by the flickering red of the ruby-throated hummingbird and now recognize the woodpecker we hear in our treetop. We know which birds like sunflower seeds and which bird species favor the suet feeders. This nature window has become a profoundly powerful tool for focusing our attention, feeding our souls, and teaching lessons to our entire family.

Nichole is a homeschooling mama to two incredible adventurers. She has been married to her best friend for nearly eleven years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a gypsy-hearted, fearless, road tripper, known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Favorite family activities are hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety). She swims competitively and enjoys showing her children what it means to live a healthy life. Coffee is her drink of choice (all day long, and black). You can find her in the woods, probably up a creek, jumping off waterfalls.

You can find her at the following locations:

Instagram: @coleyraeh
Blog: Luckey Wanderers
GARDENING, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How To Design A Backyard Dinosaur Garden & Mud Kitchen
- November 5, 2018
Have you ever wanted to create an outdoor play area for your children? Today we have an incredibly creative New Zealand mom of two here giving us all the details on how to design a backyard dinosaur garden and mud kitchen for kids. From idea inception to reality, Catherine and her husband designed and built a fun and unique space for their son to play. This dinosaur garden and mud kitchen combines his love of dinos with getting dirty. It incorporates natural elements and fosters independent play and creativity. Perfect for kids of all ages and can adapt as the kids get older.

Creating a dinosaur garden

When our son was turning 3, we wondered what to give him for his birthday. Our family values experiences and gifts that are not just toys. In theory, this a lovely idea. However, in reality, it can often leave us scratching our heads to come up with a special gift to mark the occasion. My husband and I focused on our son’s areas of interests and the things that have been quite sustained in his play. While there are many things our busy, curious 3 year-old is interested in, we decided to hone in on two of his favorite things: dinosaurs and playing outside in the water and mud!

We wanted to combine these two passions into a flexible play space that could evolve and grow with him, but we weren’t quite sure how to go about bringing those ideas together. I turned to good old Pinterest to do some research and create an inspiration board. I found some beautiful images of sensory gardens and natural play spaces for children. Many of these spaces incorporated the same elements we were thinking about. Thus, the idea for a dinosaur garden with mud kitchen was born!

Coming up with a plan

In our vision for a flexible play space we wanted to encourage:
- imaginative play
- sensory experience
- exploration of natural resources (e.g. wood, rocks, plants, water, dirt, etc.)
- language development
- independence in his play (not relying on us to play with him)
- social play opportunities (when friends visit)
Planning began in earnest, which to be fair was the exciting part of the process for me. I love dreaming, researching, collecting inspiration and drafting plans! Our budget for this project was fairly tight (under $200) for the entire space and all materials. While we were really inspired by the elaborate setups we saw online, we knew that we had to be resourceful with things we already had or that we could buy cheaply.

Location, location, location

One of the first things we did was to pick out a location for the dinosaur garden. I think this was a really important part of the process because the size and scale of the space guided our decision making on the design of the garden. Originally, I envisioned a large scale garden, complete with water feature and all the bells and whistles. However, we quickly realized that this would encroach too much of the rest of our yard and would go beyond our budget. We reined in our design to fit the space we chose and planned accordingly.

Designing our space

After we picked out the location for the garden I drew up a design plan. We knew we wanted to have varying levels, greenery, mud, and water. We also wanted to include open-ended resources such as rocks and tree stumps in the space to encourage imaginative play. This sketch was the first of many plans we drew up as we talked through the practicalities of bringing our vision to life.

Adding natural elements

Once we had a rough idea of the design, it was time to get resourceful. We looked through our garden and garage to see what materials we already had that we could incorporate into the garden. Around our property, we have many large pebbles and stones. We decided to paint them and use them in the garden. The rocks promote color recognition, counting, physical strength (moving them around) and imaginative play (i.e. they could be used as dinosaur eggs). We also found old bricks that we could use to build a mud kitchen. This would compliment the dinosaur garden.

Our final list of materials for the dinosaur garden and mud kitchen included the following items:
- pebbles
- bricks
- plants (ground cover)
- sheet of wood
- wood pieces
- soil
- sand
- paving stones
- acrylic paint
- coat hooks
- kitchen utensils
- dinosaurs
Prepping the garden

My husband created 3 mounds of dirt onto which we planted various types of moss and ground covering plants. We visited our local garden center and easily found the types of plants we were after. We bought about 15 plants (5 per mound) of various sizes. Some plants were more expensive than others. We tried to purchase the cheapest, hardiest ones we could.

Around each of the 3 mounds of dirt, my husband created a central space and miniature pathway. These paths wound around the mounds and give our son plenty of space to be in amongst the garden. He covered this small pathway with sand to create a different texture and to combat the issue of the space becoming overly muddy or waterlogged.

To paint the rocks, I bought 5 test pots of paint from our local hardware store. I asked at the paint counter for advice on what kind of paint to use. They recommended a general purpose acrylic paint. I didn’t want to have to use multiple products to paint the rocks, so this was an easy one-step solution. My only preparation was to wash and dry the rocks, then apply 2 coats of paint!

Adding a mud kitchen

We decided to create a mini mud kitchen next to the dinosaur garden so that water and mud could be used in the imaginary play. To create the mud kitchen, we built 4 stacks of bricks approximately 5 bricks high and placed a sheet of wood over the top to create a table top. Above the mud kitchen “sink,” we screwed a coat hook rack to the fence to hang various utensils. In front of the mud kitchen, my husband laid 2 large stone pavers with a brick border. This stable surface is perfect for the children to stand on and prevents the area from getting water-logged.

Future plans

We wanted to create a space that our son could enjoy and get a lot of pleasure out of right now, but also give ourselves the opportunity to add and adjust the garden as he gets older. The structures and creations are not permanent and everything can be moved or added to in the future. We have a large tree next to the dinosaur garden that I would like to encourage the children to use more in their play. We may try to incorporate the tree into the space (a small platform perhaps) as we see how it’s used. Over winter, we plan on creating and adding some bird feeders to hang in the trees to attract bird life to our garden. We have also thought adding other sensory elements to the space such as a natural wind.

Words of wisdom

If you’d like to create your own outdoor play space for your child, my parting words of encouragement to you is to go for it! I suggest you start by considering the age and interests of your child and come up with an idea that is “unconventional” and customized for your little one. There are so many possibilities and the inspiration is endless! Overall, our project was straightforward and simple to execute. At the end of it, we felt like we had created something really unique and special for our son. It gives us so much pleasure seeing his genuine love and enjoyment of the space and will provide endless hours of unstructured outdoor imaginative play.

Have you ever considered creating an outdoor space for your child?

I’m Catherine, wife and stay at home mum to two beautiful boys who are 3 years old and 10 months old. We live in New Zealand and spend our days outside playing in the garden, reading and visiting the zoo. I’ve dabbled in photography since I was 17, but I’ve been properly using my Canon DSLR camera for about 2 years now. You can find me most days on Instagram @everydaymamma sharing my thoughts on photography and being a mum, come and say Hi!
GARDENING
Gardening with Kids
- May 9, 2017
Gardening may sound like a lot of work and a time commitment, but it doesn’t have to be. Gardening can be as hard or easy as you want it to be, and surprise…it’s also really fun! If you’re considering starting a garden with kids this year, you’re in the right place! Gardening is an amazing way to connect kids with nature, spend time together outside, instill a sense of responsibility in your child, help develop patience, and more! There are so many amazing benefits of gardening with kids, and we’ve got some great tips below on how to make the experience fun for everyone and how to get them involved in the process.

Starting a garden with kids

A few months ago I decided that the kids and I would plant a garden this year. I used to have a small garden in the backyard before there were any children in my life (oh, glorious free time!), but busy spring months at work and having two summer babies put my gardening on hold for a couple of years.

This year, I decided to give it another go. I knew that it would be a really fun project for the kids to “help” me with and a great way to teach them about nature, food production, and responsibility.

Start small with the space you have

If you’re new to gardening, start small with just a couple of plants. Plenty of fruits and vegetables grow well with just a little nurturing. You also don’t need a huge amount of space. While a large plot is ideal, lots of plants can be grown in containers on your back porch or windowsill. It’s not too late to start a garden now. A variety of plants can be planted in May to produce this summer and fall.

How to involve kids in garden prep and planning

Planning and prepping for your garden can take a lot of time and effort, so involve your kids from the beginning. Here are a few suggestions for ways to get them involved from the get-go.
- Read a few books with them on gardening to familiarize them with the process.
- Let them scope out the backyard with you to choose the perfect spot for the garden (somewhere that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day and good drainage).
- Let them help you measure your plot and build any necessary containers, raised beds, trellises, or fencing.
- Go to the store together to pick out seeds or starter plants. Talk to them about options for your garden, and let them choose at least one plant that’s theirs.
- Discuss how many plants you can fit in your garden space, where they’ll go, and make a map of the garden so they can visualize it.
- When you’re ready to prep, let them help measure the distance between plants (applied math!) and plot out where the plants will go.
Let them get dirty

Half the fun of planting a garden is getting your hands in the dirt – let your kids help! This is definitely the most fun part of gardening for kids. Once you’ve picked your spots for your plants, let them help with prepping the soil and digging the holes. Show them once how to do it and then supervise the planting of the seeds and/or plants.

Teach them to be gentle with the plants and roots. Show them how to pack the soil around the plant to support it. Let them use real tools and be part of the process. Obviously, older kids will be more helpful with this part than little kids. But either way, it’s a great way to get them directly invested and involved.

Grow foods that kids will eat

I know I’m not alone when I say that my kids have a hard time eating vegetables. It doesn’t matter how we prepare them or how much we tout their nutritional value, my kids just aren’t eating them. But, growing our fruits and vegetables in our garden this year made a big difference!

It’s no surprise that by allowing kids to take responsibility for the veggies in the garden, kids will feel incredibly proud of their bounty and more likely to partake in consuming it! Let your kids choose at least one variety of plant as their own. Whether that’s their favorite fruit or vegetable, or just one that has a funny name (arugula!).

If your kids are not familiar with the plants/fruits/vegetables, take them to your local farmer’s market to show them the options. Then, you can purchase a few seed packets for them to try growing at home in your garden. Chances are, even if they weren’t huge fans of the vegetable before growing them on their own in the garden, they will be once they taste fresh picks straight from their backyard.

Plus, when kids pick and harvest the vegetables in your garden when they ripen, it turns veggies into a reward! How genius is that?

Some of our favorite plants (which are also relatively easy to grow): strawberries, snap peas, zucchini, beets, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, carrots and kale.

Make gardening a learning opportunity

Nearly everything about gardening is a learning opportunity for kids. From when to plant (and why) to where to plant (and why), planting a garden is all about teaching children about nature, growth, and food production.

When it’s time to get your garden going, start some seeds indoors in small containers that are easily accessible to kids. This allows the kids to learn about how plants grow from seeds with soil, water, and light. They can learn how to use a grow light to replace the sun that plants would get outside or why placing plants near a window is important.

Gardening is also a great way to teach children about the symbiotic relationship between birds, bees, bugs, worms, and plants. Once your plants are outside, explain how certain animals/bugs will help your garden and how others could hurt it.

Teach them to be gentle with the plants and how to handle and harvest the produce carefully. Allow your kids to be a part of the process and learn from the plants that thrive and those that fail.

Gardening teaches responsibility

Planting and tending to a garden gives you a lot of opportunities to give your kids responsibilities. By including your kids in the process of planning and planting your garden, they’ll feel like it’s their garden, too, and take ownership of it.

A great way to get your kids involved in the family garden is by giving them daily and/or weekly responsibilities for the garden. My kids are 2 and 4, and they love watering the plants and checking to see if they’re growing. Every day, they check on their plants and water them with spray bottles (which keep the plants from being majorly over-watered).

They are very proud of their plants and want their garden to grow.

Making gardening fun for kids
- If you’re creative, have your kids make their own plant markers from stones or popsicle sticks.
- Let them measure the plants weekly with a tape measure (my kids LOVE tape measures) and keep a chart of how tall they’re getting.
- Allow them to decorate the garden with fairies, gnomes, princesses, Transformers, Minions or whatever else they’re into right now.
- Give them their own gardening gloves and tools.
- Allow them to help with the sprinkler and watering.
- Reinforce the notion of encouraging plant growth by working with nature and allowing your kids to interact with the bugs and worms that surround your plants. Let kids dig up worms from other areas of your yard and transplant them into your garden. Treat an aphid problem naturally with ladybugs.
- Come up with new recipes that incorporate the food from your garden and let the kids help with cooking.
Gardening with kids

Our garden is still a work in process. The excessive rains and flooding in our area have damaged a few of our plants, but the rest are hanging in there. I’ll keep you updated on the progress throughout the summer. I’m taking bets on whether or not my children actually eat a single thing we grow (other than the strawberries), so let me know if you want in on that action!

Additional resources on gardening with kids

If you’d like more information on gardening with kids, here are some additional resources and recommendations:
Do you garden with your kids?
What’s your favorite thing to grow?

About the author

Sara (@sara_mccarty) is the Founder of Run Wild My Child, a resource website, online community, and podcast all about getting kids off screens and outside, one adventure at a time. She’s a mom of 3, wife, and corporate securities lawyer. She grew up in the country, but now lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and is determined to raise her city kids to be as wild and feral as possible. You can usually find her family exploring a creek, fly fishing, hiking, duck hunting, camping, canoeing, biking, or geocaching. She’s passionate about reading, photography, plants, coffee, cooking, and key lime pie.