SPRING GARDENING LET'S GET THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED
With the smell of freshly mown grass (hopefully this weekend!) and the longer evenings now upon us, what better way to banish those winter cobwebs with the family than to get involved in some active gardening.
Spring is the perfect time to plant a garden with your children, being good exercise, educational, a great bonding activity, as well as being great for self-esteem.
SET A THEME
Try planting a small plot or manageable pot around a certain theme – for instance a ‘salsa garden’ with hot peppers, onions and tomatoes; a ‘pizza garden’ with tomatoes and herbs or why not try a ‘butterfly garden’ with bright flowers, etc.
MAKE A GRASS SNAKE OR SCARECROW
A grass snake can be brought to life quiet quickly - fill a sock with dirt and grass seed, place it in the sun and keep it damp. In 7-14 days, the ‘snake’ will have ‘hair’!
To make a scarecrow, take a large piece of cardboard and let the children lie down and make a funny pose. Trace around your child and then cut the scarecrow out.
Decorate him or her with yarn, waterproof markers, old pieces of clothing - whatever you have on hand and then stake it in the ground.
USE PROPER TOOLS
You’ll soon find that little hands will need the right sized tools or they’ll be frustrated – remember, “toys” are not sturdy enough.
BUTTERFLY FEEDER
To attract butterflies, take a plastic pot saucer, sand and some cow or horse manure (if you can get your hands on some!) and an overripe piece of banana, apple or pear. Place sand and manure in a saucer with small amount of water and add fruit. Wait for the butterflies to come!
EDUCATIONAL
To make the most of the growth of your family’s project, why not use a digital camera to record progress in the garden and learn more about nature and photography. Place a rain gauge in the garden. Study the insects that come and what they do. Read about vegetables, fruits and flowers on the Internet.
Be sure and don’t take “the sun” for granted. Water, sun and good soil are what gardening is all about. Remember, the garden will need to be tended and this teaches responsibility. It needs to be watered, fertilized and weeded, so establish a regular schedule for tending the garden.