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My goal in working with children’s gardening programs is to open their eyes to a world within the flower-filled outdoor classroom and try to make the experience an event they will remember for a long time.

When working with an urban gardening program for elementary school children, it is important to understand what makes a successful vegetable gardening program for children. One must first recognize that a child’s gardening goals are different from those of an adult. Middle and high school gardening programs differ from those for younger children in methods and curriculum presented. The primary goal of children when gardening is discovery and experimentation. In other words, they don’t measure success by the quantity or quality of a harvest; it is the reward of experiencing the process. Children use all five senses to explore and discover the garden environment. Vegetable gardening for kids will not only stimulate their senses, but will also create a lifelong connection to nature, to making healthier choices, and to protecting our environment. Children are curious about the wonders of nature; They enjoy learning by doing and will love playing in a garden designed especially for them. A child-friendly gardening program should be presented and planned as a fun learning activity surrounded by a world of discovery. Whether you’re working with one child or a dozen of them, you’ll find these tips helpful for customizing your gardening program.

As previously mentioned, children’s interest in gardening differs from that of adults. Adult vegetable gardening aspirations fall into three categories, all based on the “green thumb factor” they have; a sustainable source of freshness, the economic factor, health and organic nutrition. These three goals can be incorporated into a curriculum for a balanced gardening program for children. When presenting the gardening curriculum, it works best when presented as “lesson moments”.

1. Define the goals for starting this club for young gardeners. What do you hope to achieve in this garden situation? Will it be a place for silent meditation, science classes, the creation of a farmers market, or a place for healthy eating? This knowledge will help you decide what type of garden environment you want to create, e.g. B. Native Plant, Heirloom, Organic, Herbal or Display.
2. Rely on the experts. Borrow gardening rules, tips, and techniques from successful community gardening programs in your area. The most successful community gardens are supported by a dedicated group of people. This is the time to bring together a group of like-minded teachers and supporters from your circle of influence. Local master gardeners, agricultural offices, botanical and organic garden organizations and nurseries can provide guidance and support.
3. Give the children their own garden space for ownership. This gives the children a sense of ‘ownership’ of a familiar space and encourages engagement and responsibility for the garden project. Whether you’re using raised beds, repurposed containers, or a traditional plot, be sure to give kids their own separate garden area and encourage them to get their hands dirty.
4. Make the garden appealing to the senses, colorful blooms add to the visual; aromatic plants that appeal to the nose and products that can be eaten straight from the bush. Choose a variety of vegetable plants that work well with your region and growing season. It would also be great to add some edible flowers for color and herbs for scent. Children will be fascinated by the different shapes and textures. To get you started, plant easy-to-grow vegetables like cucumbers, collards, zucchini, lettuce, beans, peas, summer squash, peppers, and Swiss chard.
5. Prepare young gardeners for success with the best soil and light conditions available. This is part of the planning strategy. In urban environments it is common to find dilemmas such as poor ground conditions; Pollution, gardening in awkwardly shaped areas surrounded by asphalt or cement. Keep in mind that most vegetable gardens need at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. It also helps to have easy access to water. Don’t be discouraged if your garden plot has too many obstacles, this may be a sign to consider container gardening.
6. Start the garden with seeds. Children will learn more by seeing the growth process as it begins. This is an important part of the discovery process; They will notice the root system and make their own observations of plant development and life cycles. The care given to germinating the seed and tending to the young seedling is a valuable part of the gardening experience. Seeds also develop into healthier plants when started indoors in a warm room. Once the real leaves have sprouted, they can be planted in the garden bed, depending on the growing season.
7. You may need to help out “behind the scenes”, “cheat a little”. You don’t need to know about every little problem you fixed. You may need to go outside before or after the program session to remove snails and insects from the vegetables. Check regularly for pests, but do not use pesticides. Children should not be exposed to toxins. Instead, remove bugs by blasting them with water. Replace some equipment that has been severely damaged by mishandling; Replace seeds in beds that have been improperly planted. The most important thing is that the children feel they belong in the story. A good result in gardening based solely on the children’s efforts is secondary.
8. Use the allotted time wisely. Set a fixed start and end time for the sessions. Switch up the activity to get kids excited about gardening. Gardening time for children should be in the cool of the day. Include gardening, games and craft time activities in your schedule. Keep in mind that children may not always be ready for all gardening tasks. Not all children enjoy all gardening tasks. There are some who don’t like planting outside in the dirt, even those who may be afraid of insects. The inclusion of garden-related activities gives your children the variety they need. This ensures that the children look forward to future sessions and influences behavior in a positive way
9. Garden tools and equipment are a necessity. When you provide children with tools, you recognize the importance of their work. There are also many kitchen utensils that can be converted for the garden in the garden tools category. Hard plastic kitchen utensils make excellent gardening tools; They can be used like a shovel or spade. We use drinking water bottles for watering containers. If necessary, let them use your hand tools under close supervision. Using cheap plastic gardening tools is worse than no tools at all; They break easily and discourage any user.
10. Engage them throughout the process, from seed to table. The garden is a place for teaching moments with children. Children learn better when they understand the context of their work. They will learn that gardening is a fun activity, a place to make friends, as well as a place to contribute to the community. Gardening gives children an opportunity to learn an important life skill that is overlooked in standard school curricula. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental awareness by exploring how nature works. Environmental Sciences Plant life cycles and seed germination are easily taught in the outdoor classroom. So are math, creative writing, reading, social studies, nutrition, observation, and the visual arts. As well as planting and tending their garden beds, make sure they are actively involved in harvesting and preparing their vegetables for the table, no matter how modest the yield.

A vegetable garden for children opens their minds to a ‘world class’ learning experience about plants and flowers.

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