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Gardening with children
Posted by: Pippa Greenwood, 03 April 2008, 11.42AM
I really look forward to the school holidays, when I finally get my two children to myself. No hurrying, no homework - just time to do the things we want to do, like being outside for as much of the day as possible.
They're both very outdoorsy and would regard being sat in front of the TV for hours on end as a very unkind punishment. Give them fresh air every time; as long as the weather is not too vile they'll be out 'doing' at every opportunity.
Gardening is high on the list, and they're great at it too. Like every child (and indeed most adults too) they love the 'planting pretties' side of gardening. They're forever growing flowers for their plots (currently polyanthus and more polyanthus!). But they also seem to thrive on hard graft. Just a few days ago I decided to dig up part of our 'lawn' (yes, the tamed pastureland is diminishing again!). Lifting turf on heavy clay is not the easiest job, but they both instantly joined me.
My seven-year-old digs like a turbo-charged trooper - cutting through the turf and barrowing it up just as fast as me. Her brother, usually the first to get digging (he did all the digging for a 20kg sack of daffs I received for my birthday!) eyed up the turf and nabbed it for re-turfing work in front of his own greenhouse. By dusk, after barrowing manure up from the pile at the bottom of our steep, long drive, we were all exhausted. But also very satisfied and happy...
The secret to gardening with children? Start them early and arm them with decent quality and very sturdy gardening tools, designed for kids (or in the case of my leggy son, a border fork and spade as he's outgrown the kids' tools). Proper tools for proper workers. Not the bendy, brightly-coloured junk that is easier to find. My children love the feel of soil - if they don't kit them out in proper kids rigger-style gloves. That's what I'd call a sound investment!
Comments
penny from Sohar in Oman
08 April 2008, 10.40AM
Sarah @ St. George's School Gardening Club
19 April 2008, 10.54PM
maddie age 12
29 April 2008, 07.36PM
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