2006-Feb-22 - A Child's Garden & Homestead Blogger ENEWSLETTER :)
If you didn't get your copy of the Homestead Blogger Enewsletter in your email box.....you missed out!!!!!
You can sign up here, on my blog, or on the main page of Homestead Blogger :) Here is just one of many wonderful articles that ran....(well, this is my article--LOL!) but there were tons of great articles....as always! ENJOY!
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
Lisa Barthuly resides in Washington State with her husband Marc, daughters Mercy & Cassandra, Cooter the dog, and Whitefoot the kitten. The Barthulys have recently moved to a brand new 'homestead' where they hope to be blessed with more children, and critters! They are a Christian, homeschooling family, which works from home for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, as well as their cottage business, "Our Little Homestead Originals" that makes hand poured all natural soy & beeswax candles and various other homemade creations!
Email Lisa at OurLittleHomestead@Hotmail.com or Lisa@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
Visit us at www.HomesteadBlogger.com/OurLittleHomestead and stop by the Merchant Village when it opens on Homestead Blogger, and visit their shop...
"Our Little Homestead Originals " & stop by www.HomesteadBlogger.com/HomesteadOriginals ;)
Comments
2006-Feb-22 - Untitled Comment
Posted by crewchief
Hmmm, I didn't get my newsletter yet. This is a great article. We are planning our garden this week. I LOVE the idea of a corn fort.
