Source: Organic Veg Patch
Children love playing in the dirt. Why not combine fun with learning and get the little ones involved in the garden. A veggie patch is a great way to foster an early interest in gardening. It’s simple to set up, fun to do and the results are very satisfying (and tasty!) Veggie patches afford children the opportunity to grow something in the garden, even in winter. Older children can help to design and plan out the veggie patch. Veggie patches don’t need to take up a huge area. A courtyard or balcony can provide just enough space to get started.
First things first, invest in some tools for the children. Their little hands needs gloves and gardening implements that they can easily manage.
For veggies patches, it is best to use a raised bed, in case the soil is poor underneath or there is poor drainage. It also means less digging come harvest time. And, raised beds can make a very attractive feature in your garden. You can opt to make one yourself from recycled materials, but be careful in case some of the products you use have been treated in chemicals which can seep into the soil. Many DIY stores also sell raised beds, including colourful options for children. Or you can have a personally designed bed planned out by your landscaper, to flow in with the rest of your outdoor space.
The depth of the raised bed depends on what you wish to grow, but as a rule of ‘green’ thumb, don’t use anything less than 12” deep. The raised bed needs to be placed in a sunny part of your garden or balcony. Use some newspaper to cover the grass and cover with a good quality soil.
Once that is set up and running, the children can get involved in the planting. Mix it up by growing different types of vegetables including mixture or root, vine and salad greens. Potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, radishes, snow peas and strawberries as well as herbs with pleasant scents are always a hit with children.
If you are looking to create a feature piece for your garden, why not use stone instead of timber?
First things first, invest in some tools for the children. Their little hands needs gloves and gardening implements that they can easily manage.
For veggies patches, it is best to use a raised bed, in case the soil is poor underneath or there is poor drainage. It also means less digging come harvest time. And, raised beds can make a very attractive feature in your garden. You can opt to make one yourself from recycled materials, but be careful in case some of the products you use have been treated in chemicals which can seep into the soil. Many DIY stores also sell raised beds, including colourful options for children. Or you can have a personally designed bed planned out by your landscaper, to flow in with the rest of your outdoor space.
The depth of the raised bed depends on what you wish to grow, but as a rule of ‘green’ thumb, don’t use anything less than 12” deep. The raised bed needs to be placed in a sunny part of your garden or balcony. Use some newspaper to cover the grass and cover with a good quality soil.
Once that is set up and running, the children can get involved in the planting. Mix it up by growing different types of vegetables including mixture or root, vine and salad greens. Potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, radishes, snow peas and strawberries as well as herbs with pleasant scents are always a hit with children.
If you are looking to create a feature piece for your garden, why not use stone instead of timber?
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