Why is gardening with kids important?
According to the CDC, “school gardening, especially when used to enhance nutrition education programs, is associated with increased intake of fruits and vegetables among students.”
• Potato bags – Available at local garden centers—easy to start, easy to move, and easy to harvest: just dump the bag! See them here.
• Raised beds on wheels or plants in small boxes – These can be moved out of the way of play areas or moved into or out of the sun as need be. Wire or plastic hoops with fabric row cover or bird netting can protect the plants from deer browsing. You can even plant in window boxes for an early-season indoor garden or attach them to fences during the summer.
• Wild Garden Ecology Ideas – Plant sunflowers, columbines, and other pollinator-friendly plants on the property; make toad habitat (a clay pot laid on its side in a shady part of the garden); set out winter bird feeders and a winter water source; in spring provide nesting materials for birds; build and set up bat houses. See our Wild School Gardens resources page.
• Perennial Edibles – When only a small amount of garden space is available consider plants that are relatively easy to care for, such as perennial edibles—currants, raspberries, etc. Plants with thorns and most aromatic herbs are less likely to be eaten by deer—although thorns make it a little trickier for children to help harvest!
• Edible Weeds – Share a whole new appreciation for our local weeds with kids by learning about the edible and medicinal uses of weeds—see Katrina Blair’s book The Wild Wisdom of Weeds (available at Maria’s bookstore or order here). Just be sure that the weeds were not sprayed with herbicides if you eat them.
For more small space gardening ideas, check out our Pinterest board at:
https://www.pinterest.com/gettingserious/small-space-gardening/
