Getting started with seeds

Getting started with seeds

Starting a gardening journey with young children doesn't take a look of effort. Our family started by enhancing our outdoor space with easily grown seeds that could be planted directly in the soil, eliminating the need for equipment like grow lights or indoor seed trays. Here are some basic suggestions, that have worked for our family, to begin your seed-planting adventure with your little ones:

Select Seeds Together: Take your little explorers to a garden store and let them participate in choosing the seeds. Witnessing the array of colors, feeling the textures, and inhaling the various aromas can be an exciting sensory experience for them. By involving children in this decision-making process, they feel invested in the project's success.

Preparation: Transform your outdoor space into a sensory wonderland by involving your children in soil preparation. This could be as simple as clearing the top layer of grass and loosening the soil with toy excavators. While enriching the soil with compost or purchased soil can enhance growth, it's not always necessary. If you do add soil, my personal recommendation is Benson's, a choice first recommended by a knowledgeable garden store employee ages ago when we started our journey. Preparation can be spread out over several days, making it manageable and enjoyable for everyone involved (as well as a way to make it to naptime every day!)

Planting: Refer to the seed packet for instructions or embrace spontaneity and use the "chaos method" (just planting the seeds anywhere) as you guide your little ones in planting the seeds. Digging rows or holes and placing the seeds in their designated spots can be a fun activity for children. Once planted, cover the seeds with soil, water gently, and discuss the expected germination timing and subsequent daily care.

Daily Care: Establish an exciting daily care routine for the kids. We check on the garden each evening after dinner, watering when the day's heat has subsided, and eagerly observing any signs of growth. Their enthusiasm and curiosity blossom as they witness the emergence of seedlings, and they eagerly assist in watering, grasping the watering can and attempting to pour.

By involving our littles in each step of the gardening journey, we not only nurture a passion for nature but also instill essential life skills and create cherished family moments. Remember, starting a garden with little ones doesn't have to be hard! It's as easy as selecting a single seed packet. So, let's get our hands dirty, plant those easy-to-start seeds, and witness the flourishing of both our garden and our littles' curiosity and joy!