Fun and Easy Veggies to Grow with Kids!
Springtime not only brings blossoms but also signals school farming time! Is there a better way to introduce the concept of food sovereignty to kids than by growing food together? We wrote this article to help you in this fruity adventure. You'll find all the resources you need at the end to start your garden, whether at home or in the classroom.
Why grow food at school?
According to Farm to School BC, “School farms have the capacity to:
Increase academic and professional opportunities
Improve mental, physical, and social health
Practice Truth and Reconciliation through land and food-based education
Build the next generation of farmers
Contribute to food security
Increase food literacy”
What to grow?
By gardening together, you also keep the kids away from screens while teaching them about patience and sustainability (among many other perks). Convinced yet? Here are some fun and easy options to consider:
1. Cherry Tomatoes:
Cherry tomatoes are perfect for little hands to plant and pick. They grow quickly and produce an abundance of sweet, bite-sized fruits that kids will love to snack on. Plus, they can be grown in pots or containers with limited space.
2. Strawberries:
Who can resist the sweet taste of freshly picked strawberries? These juicy fruits are delicious and easy to grow in containers or hanging baskets. Kids will enjoy watching the strawberries ripen and eagerly await the moment they can pluck them from the vine.
3. Carrots:
Carrots are another excellent choice for a kid-friendly garden. They're fun to harvest, especially when kids discover the colorful variety of carrots available, from classic orange to purple and yellow. Carrots can be grown in raised beds or containers, making them perfect for small gardens.
4. Snap Peas:
Snap peas are a tasty and nutritious snack straight from the garden. These crunchy pods are easy for kids to pick and eat, making them a popular choice for young gardeners. Snap peas are fast-growing and can be grown vertically to save space.
5. Radishes:
Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables, making them perfect for impatient little gardeners. Kids will love watching the radishes sprout and mature in just a few weeks. Plus, radishes come in a variety of shapes and colors, adding visual interest to the garden.
6. Sunflowers:
While not a vegetable or fruit, sunflowers are a fantastic addition to any kid-friendly garden. These towering flowers are easy to grow from seed and will delight children with their bright blooms and impressive height. Plus, sunflowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding to the garden's biodiversity.
How to get kids engaged?
Sophie and Juno have been growing tomatoes, spinach, and strawberries for the last two seasons now. Sophie will share with you her strategies to get the kids engaged! The first choice activity is, without a surprise, “getting muddy and dirty” …for the pleasure of the laundry machine.
Do
Let them play in the mud. Gardening is fun, and while we might tend to forget how much fun it is to be dirty, well, this might be your argument #1 to get your learners engaged in growing.
Digging is most likely the second most fun part of growing. Give them clear responsibilities “Dig me 10 big holes where you can put a full hand”
Take time to stop and look at worms and insects when you find some! Juno is sometimes a bit scared of bugs and worms, and gardening is the perfect place and time to get to know and love these little creatures!
Let the kids eat from the plants when it’s harvest season. You might get less food back to your kitchen, but your new gardener will want to help you even more next year.
Choose Kid-Friendly Plants: Opt for easy-to-grow plants like sunflowers, tomatoes, or herbs (see list above!) Plants that have visible growth progress or produce edible fruits are more exciting for children.
Make sure they understand that gardening tools are tools and not toys. However, they will appreciate the responsibility here too.
Turn gardening duties into games
Embrace Creativity: Encourage kids to decorate plant labels, make garden signs, or design garden layouts. Let them express their creativity in the garden.
Be Patient: Understand that gardening with kids may not always follow a strict timeline or be perfectly organized. Allow room for exploration and learning at their pace.
Don’t
Expect kids to be clean. They won't. Spare yourself the anxiety crisis by making sure your learners are dressed appropriately
Underestimate their joy of watering. Your carrots might end up swimming in a pond. Building a watering calendar is a great learning adventure
Don't Overwhelm with Information: Avoid overloading kids with too much information at once. Keep instructions simple and age-appropriate.
Don't Use Harmful Chemicals: Avoid using harmful pesticides or chemicals in the garden, especially when kids are involved. Opt for organic gardening methods to keep the environment safe.
Tips for Gardening with Kids:
Involve them in the planning process by letting them choose which vegetables and fruits to grow.
Make gardening fun by turning tasks like planting and watering into games
Teach them about the importance of soil health, watering, and sunlight for plant growth.
Encourage exploration and curiosity by allowing them to touch, smell, and taste different plants.
Celebrate their successes and learn from their failures, turning every gardening experience into a valuable lesson.
Resources, lessons, and connections with the Curriculum
Are you ready to jump to the next step? We have collected some great resources to help you on your new growing adventure.
🥦 Live It Earth Food Security Program 👉 https://app.liveit.earth/en/programs/food-farming-and-food-security
🥦 Live It Earth Inquiry Guide https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ORv9Yu5FiTelwXMVwacpTUTyCsO6GxD0Dy3iFwx3k38/edit
🥦 Lesson Plans by Farm to School
🥦 Growing a School Farm https://farmtoschoolbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/09/Farm-to-School-BC-Lesson-Plan-Saving-Garden-Seeds.pdf
🥦 Activities &STEM
https://www.weareteachers.com/classroom-gardening-ideas/
🥦 School garden : A tool kit for high school to grow food from September to June https://farmtoschool.phabc.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/12/SchoolYearGardenToolkit-HighSchool.pdf
🥦 Connecting the Garden to the Classroom
