Most kids love the outdoors and playing in the dirt. So creating a kid-friendly garden at home is actually a no-brainer. In addition to growing flowers and some of their own food, gardening allows your children to enjoy more quality time outdoors. Since this is most likely their first garden, I would suggest encouraging young gardeners to grow herbs. Kids will love tasting their garden as it grows.
>> Sweet basil has floppy, fragrant leaves and makes a very tasty pesto. Kids will love this herb on homemade pizza.
>> Mint grows so easily that sometimes it’s hard to contain, but it has a wonderful, refreshing fragrance and flavor that tastes like toothpaste. It can be used in drinks and is good as a tummy settler.
>> Lemon thyme has a fragrance and flavor that youngsters will love, like lemonade in the summertime.
>> Sage has pretty blue flowers. This herb will remind kids of turkey and Thanksgiving.
>> Pineapple sage flowers smell and taste like chewing gum and will attract butterflies to their garden.
>> Stevia, sometimes known as sweet leaf, has a sweet cane flavor. Kids will enjoy sampling this herb as it grows
Why not make seed bombs to toss in the garden? Kids will enjoy this fun and messy project from start to finish. You will need a large mixing bowl,
some air-dry clay (found at any art supply or health food store), compost and seeds.
« Mix approximately five handfuls of peat-free compost to one handful of seed to three handfuls of clay. Combine the compost and seeds thoroughly, then mix in the clay. You might need to add a little water so it all sticks together. It should have the consistency of biscuit dough.
« Shape the mixture into egg-size balls.
« Dry the seed bombs in a warm, dry space. They’ll need to sit for at least 3 to 4 hours. Overnight is ideal.
« Store them in a cool, dark place, but not for more than a few weeks.
Photos: Mark Fonville
[P. Allen Smith, host of two public television programs, is an award-winning designer and gardening expert. He is the author of several books, including Seasonal Recipes from the Garden.]