[1]
Gardening is top priority this year. Over the years I have been very diligent about planting a garden [2] each spring with my three boys. Working together to create a vegetable garden has always been an incredibly rewarding process. One of my missions as a parent is to help my children understand that there’s a connection [3] between the food they eat and the earth that grows their food. A garden is a perfect place for that lesson.
[4]Not much can compare to watching children tirelessly dig and craft a garden. However, after 6 years of this gardening ritual we gave it up. Our garden space was growing smaller and smaller each year as the trees grew in and the sunlight decreased. I was also finding it difficult to find the time to make our garden work.
Last year was our first year without a garden and we all really missed it. So this year the plan is to bring our garden is back and make it the best one yet.
Gardening in the Spring
If you are interested in planting a garden here are a few tips to get you started:
- Scout out the perfect spot. I’m going to need a new spot this year. Sunlight is one of the most important elements in growing a vegetable garden. Most vegetables need an average of 6 hours of sunlight. Your local climate will dictate which plants will grow well in your garden.
- Test your soil. Different types of vegetables require different types of soil. You can buy an inexpensive kit to test the PH of your soil. Once you have tested the soil you can determine what’s needed to enrich your soil. Having quality soil in place will help your garden grow.
- Use compost. Create a compost pile or use what you already have. Compost piles provide excellent nutrients for your garden soil. They also are a great spot for dumping your banana peels, grass clippings and apple cores.
- Buy organic seeds. Try to avoid buying conventional seeds since chances are those seeds came from a genetically modified crop [5]. There’s also a good chance that conventional seeds were sprayed with pesticides while growing on the parent plant. If it’s too chilly out to plant consider starting your seeds indoors [6].
- Have fun! Turn gardening into a family affair. Your garden doesn’t need to be perfect- enjoy what it has to offer.
Looking for a few more ideas to make gardening a fun event with your baby? Healthy Child Healthy World has a few extra tips.
Are you going to plant a garden this year? What tips do you have?
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