How do I get the children interested in the garden?

[Rachel Butler]

There are many ways to interest children in the garden. A successful children's garden allows whimsy and welcomes the discovery of a variety of "treasures." The quickest way to engage children in the garden is to give them a part in its design. You can design a garden around a literature theme such a "Peter Rabbit" or "Planting a Rainbow" garden. Or you can design a garden to be a particular type of habitat, such as a butterfly garden or a bird garden. Another concept for the garden is to focus on a food product, as in a Pizza Garden, a Stone Soup Garden, or a Stir-Fry Garden. The design of the garden involves: deciding on a design concept, deciding on what you will plant and how the plantings will be arranged, and then planting the garden. You can also decorate the garden with child-made objects and signs. Another way to sustain interest in the garden is to plan for your school's harvest and feast days, and to have daily garden "reporters" who investigate the plants' progress and then report to the class. You can also include garden reports in the school newsletter. - Courtesy of kidsgardening.org.

Kids are our greatest treasure! It's up to us to give them the tools they need to grow and flourish!

Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.  ~Neil Postman

Keep it green-
Rache

[Elvia Padilla-Medel]

I think most people realize that kids are naturally interested in and excited about a garden. It's innate! I find that I don't have to do anything special. My kids love learning about real gardening, they love the excitement of waiting for the goods and then of harvesting and cooking. We also take pride in growing our own food, and they get into it.

[mon]

OH, a Peter Rabbit theme sounds so awesome, as does the butterfly one.

[Rachel Butler]

my niece, Avery, really fancies herself a photographer and budding film-maker. She will be in Austin next week and I think we are going to have her start her gardening documentary.