Children in the Garden - Moondance Organic Gardens

Mornings filled with the art of growing, ecological explorations, planting, seeding, weeding and chickens!

2 Afternoons with professional artist JoAnne Hoftyzer (BFA) teaching acrylic painting and sculpture.

2 Afternoons with Pat Robinson, (Creative Artist) exploring nature creatively through an Aboriginal and African adventure.

What a wonderful experience to eat a fresh pea off the plant, pull a bright orange carrot form the soil, go treasure hunting for potatoes. It is a very conceptual idea to plant a seed and think that a great big green plant will result. Children are drawn to explore, get their hands in the earth, feel, taste, examine and dig lots of holes. Childhood experience in a garden is often what pulls them back to gardening later in life, gives them a sense of the security in nature and shows them an essential interconnection between the plant world and human existence. But lets not fool ourselves it takes time and attention to help the plants grow and produce the best that they can. Remind you of anything?

	Size, Location: This is definitely a case where bigger is not better. Keep the garden area small to start. Yardstick/Metre stick square size works well with some small stepping-stones near the middle. Large containers make awesome easy care gardens. Have the children make a sign for their garden, make a fence or consider a raised bed garden. The closer the better. Consider a water source. Look for a location that has 4 or more hours of sunlight.
	Planting: Large seeds like peas, beans, pumpkins, potatoes, sunflowers, four o’clock work well. For smaller seeds such as carrots, radish, lettuce, consider buying seed that is already spaced in seed tape, a small hand seeder or let them spread and thin later. Seed packages have lots of info about depth, spacing and needs.
	Tools: Children really appreciate child size tools. Lots of stores carry them now, check out www.gardenscape.ca online. I really like the garden bandit for weeding. Serving spoons and forks work well and can often be found at Goodwill. Old measuring cups are cool and easy to handle. Kid size gloves get them in the grove or take a bucket of water out to clean up after (Lee Valley “Kindest Nail Brush”) is a bonus. www.leevalley.ca Have a convenient storage spot for tools, a bucket with handle does the trick.
	Weeding: Just like brushing teeth, weeding is necessary for healthy growth. Weeds often out compete, taking water and minerals from the plants we are trying to grow. Weeds make excellent mulch (only before they flower, otherwise you get all their seed). For children under 6 yrs old you will need to be hands on with them to point out what needs to go and more importantly what needs to stay. Look for little plants that are all the same or in a row. Lead by example and get your hands in the earth. Limit the time to 5-10 minutes, 2xper week and you should be weed free!
	Watering: Plants need lots of water when starting off. Have a watering schedule. For containers make sure there is good drainage, good potting soil and compost works great. Mulch (4-6”, 10-15cm) around the plants when soil is warm to the touch. This keeps moisture in and weeds down. A watering wand on the end of a hose is a nice soft rain for the seeds or plants.
	Harvesting: Praise children from start to finish, as the harvest is congratulations in itself. Bring out pictures taken from planting time. Review your growth chart with the kids. Harvest seeds from the flowers for next year.

The Why’s: Plants provide a non-threatening way to interact with others, a great way for children to get to know one another and have fun. With adults, gardening has a very cathartic effect, reducing blood pressure and engaging them in the present. The analogies between plants and people provide and exceptional opportunity for learning whether it is facilitated or experiential. Gardening provides an amazing opportunity for learning:

I’ve come to the conclusion that gardens and kids have a lot in common, they both take time and patience, but the more you lavish on them, the better they turn out.” (Family, Owl Magazine, April 2001)

Gardens are an awesome way to experiment, play in the dirt and make the world a better place. Most of all….Enjoy. Here’s to growing gardens and children.

Kim Keckes - Owner & Inspiration of

Moondance Organic Gardens

8285 5^th Line, Angus, Ontario, L0M 1B1

(Corner of 5^th line and 25^th Side Road)

(705) 424-2606

Natural Skin Care from BLISS NATURALS

In support of Healthy living for the mind, body and soul.