Gardening with Kids

Gardening with kids is a great way to spend family time together, gives kids a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, and just as important...get them out of the house, away from television, and into world of nature and fresh air. Who knows?, it may just encourage them to "eat their veggies". Kids and gardening go hand and hand. Most kids love to get dirty, are fascinated by watching things grow, and what kid wouldn't be excited over bugs and butterflies?

Check out MacKenzie's Garden for some great products for kids and those young at heart!

To get your kids involved in the garden here are a few tips:

Give them a little area of their own. Let them choose the plants, and require them to water and tend to the plants. This way they can say it is "their garden" Don't expect perfection, and don't expect them to follow all the rules of spacing, thinning, etc. Remember that this is supposed to be FUN!

Buy some kid sized tools.

Garden without pesticides so kids can pick and eat. (Spray with the hose first)

Let them explore. Kids attention spans are short, so allow them to go off and hunt bugs, or chase butterflies.

Plant a fun theme garden. Try a butterfly, ladybug, or hummingbird garden. Use this to learn about larvae, caterpillars, butterflies and beneficial insects.

Add interest to the garden by planting some flowers. Sunflower stalks make great teepees, and the flower heads can be saved for the birds.

Now go out in the dirt to play!

Plant a Pizza Garden

Planting a pizza garden is a great way to get kids interested in gardening.

Plants for the pizza garden include:
Sweet Basil
Roma tomatoes
Rosemary
Green Pepper
Oregano
Bunching onions
Parsley

Pizza Sauce Recipe*

Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup minced onion
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce

Directions:
Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion, onion powder, garlic and oregano until clear. Stir in tomato paste and tomato sauce; reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Let cool and spread over prepared pizza crust.

* allrecipe.com