Use the Garden as a Teaching Tool

When I was teaching I never suggested any of my students attend summer school. The students that need the extra help usually are unsuccessful in the normal classroom and forcing them to spend their vacation time in the same discouraging environment (they could add to the ordeal sweat and discomfort since the building wasn't air conditioned) would not have been to their benefit. So, you ask, what does this have to do with a garden? Everything! It's always been a dream of mine to institute a summer school community garden program.

The garden is a wonderful teaching tool if it is made available. You have to read seed packages, space rows, learn how various plants grow, and learn problem solving. Reading, math, science, and even some history of the plants and folklore can be taught. A city lot that was seized by the county for back taxes could be used, saving the city money that upkeep would cost. Best of all the children would learn practical skills in an environment where outside voices could be used, and study could be done without normal forced study. Who knows? They could even fall in love with nature and the beauty of growing things.

You can use the same concepts with your own children, no matter what age or developmental level. These ideas can be used just for fun and the joy of gardening, or as a teaching tool. Start with simple plants that give immediate rewards. Leaf lettuce and radishes are super fast growers and need the cool of the early spring or late fall days. This is an excellent place to start for young gardeners. Bib lettuce and Romaine are also easy.

You can broadcast the seed, that just means scatter, but when working with children it is a good idea to use a homemade distribution system for a few at a time. The seeds are very, very tiny and somewhat difficult for small hands, and large hands for that matter. Roll paper in a tight cone and glue. The bottom of the cone should be closed. A snow cone holder is good if you have one. Now, make a hole in the bottom of the cone, that is slightly larger than the seed and allows one or two seeds to pass at a time. Fill it with seeds and use a well-placed finger to hold the bottom shut, moving it only when you want a seed to fall. Most children can easily control the seeds with this. I haven't ever used an eyedropper but would imagine it too, could work.

The lettuce varies on spacing by variety, and you should follow the directions on the packet. A very thin layer of soil is necessary to cover the seed. In this instance more is not better.

Lettuce needs cool weather to grow and actually shoots up a flower if it is too hot. Because it grows rapidly and can be cut for salad, the kids get to see the fruit of their labor early in the gardening process. It is the gardener's first reward.

Radishes are similar to leaf lettuce. They grow fast. You can teach the children about different plant parts just by using these two plants.

If you just want a few of each type of plant, try potatoes. A shriveled potato that would be tossed can be planted instead. Cut the potato in quarters, making certain there's an eye or two on each. The grocery store variety of potato isn't as good as purchased eyes, but you don't necessarily want to buy that many "seed potatoes".

If you have one mound of potatoes, spacing is no problem. I till the soil beneath the mound, prior to planting. Make a big circle, 3 to 4 feet across, and space the potato quarters around it, on top of the soil with the cut side down. Put four inches of soil over the potatoes in a mound shape. As the stems appear add another two to three inches. They grow best if the mound is not much over six inches tall from the seed. When the stems grow through this and are about eight inches tall, mound another three to four inches. You don't want the sun to hit the tubers and turn them green. That green is toxic and bitter. (Yes, I've eaten it, but then I eat my own cooking and am still here.)

You can dig some early potatoes and keep a couple for later.

I highly recommend tomato plants. They are fun and easy and don't require a lot of work. You should have a cage instead of stakes for easier care. As they grow you train the plant to climb the cage for support. Buy several types of tomato sets if you can, the variety is interesting and kids love the idea that there are big ones and little ones, yellow ones, orange ones, and of course, red tomatoes.

More plants that really are great kid plants.

Herbs: Try lemon balm (hard to kill and smells just like lemon), chives (goes with the potatoes), mint (keep it in a container), cinnamon basil (fantastic smell and great in chili), fennel (see my article on fennel), and oregano (another hard to kill plant).

Vegetables: Pumpkins (Must have at least one. See the articles on planning a garden in the winter), Sunflowers (The giant kind. Also see the article mentioned), green beans (bush beans are best), carrots, and cucumbers. Zucchini is an excellent grower but you will get sick of it by the end of the season. It just keeps producing more and more of those club shaped vegetables, even after you're tired of using them. Try a loofah squash and make sponges with your child later.

Fruit: If you can find first year yielding strawberries, it's fun to make a strawberry pot. These are also good for a kid garden. Cantaloupe and watermelon are hit and miss and not really great for a newbie.

Most annual flower sets are relatively easy. Bulb types of plants such as daffodils and tulips are great but need to be planted in the fall. The flowers herald the arrival of spring and are a good sign that it is time to start planting potatoes.

Check out the other articles at my site on gardening for more information on growing, using and preserving (I freeze not can) the produce.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/577801/planning_a_flower_garden_considering.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/577787/choosing_plants_by_sun_requirements.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/531629/winter_garden_planning_get_seeds_in.html

The memories of my daughter as a child, helping me in the garden are still held warmly in my heart. They were the only reason that I didn't run away from home when she was a teenager.

I want to thank Catherine Leigh for bringing up the idea of an article about gardening with your child. Thanks Catherine, it's appreciated.