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Edition 26 - May 2023
Teaching Children To Garden

Raising the next generation of gardeners is a gratifying experience. Adapting gardening practices to engage them will get children of all ages enthusiastic about soil, seeds, harvests, and ultimately the nurture and care of our environment. This is why Coast of Maine Brands created our  "Growing Good" Soil Donation Program to help inspired children to garden while connecting teachers to local retailers to support their education efforts.

WHAT GARDENING TEACHES KIDS

Gardening is a valuable skill for children to learn, and it involves much more than simply cultivating plants. Gardening can teach children…

  • The value of commitment and following through on a long-term task to complete a goal.
  • Patience while waiting for plants to mature and produce.
  • Hand-eye coordination and refined motor skills to manipulate tools and seeds.
  • Planning and organization to create a garden and master the tasks necessary to flourish.
  • The science of water cycles, ecosystems, weather, climate change, ecology, insects, and more.
  • Cooperation and how to work with others to manage and tend a more extensive garden.
  • Healthier eating habits and a better knowledge of how food gets to the table.
  • Confidence and a sense of accomplishment with a well-grown, productive garden.

With so many skills connected to gardening, teaching children to garden can enhance many areas of their well-being and give them skills that can be used throughout their lives.

Organic & Natural Planting Soil

Teaching children to garden will, in many ways, have a tremendous impact on their lives and on the well-being of our planet. Soil is our most valuable environmental asset, and Coast of Maine® provides our current and future gardeners with organic soil and soil amenders to encourage beneficial biology for bigger blooms and more bountiful harvests. Because a healthy planet needs healthy soil to sustain healthy life.
CLICK HERE to SHOP  Planting Soil for Acid-Loving Plants.

CLICK HERE to SHOP  Planting Soil for Tomatoes and Vegetables.

CLICK HERE to SHOP  Planting Soil for Roses and Flowers.

HOW TO ENGAGE KIDS IN GARDENING

Adapting gardening to their skills and interests is the key to encouraging children to garden from an early age. Fortunately, there are many ways to plant the seeds of gardening interest in young minds.

Start at the Beginning
Involve children in planning and planting a garden from the beginning to fruition. Emboldening children to choose where a garden should be located and which plants should be grown will help them feel invested in the project. That ownership will give them the freedom to explore and learn and the passion for seeing the project through to completion. Visit your local garden center together to shop for seeds, seedlings, new tools, and garden accessories they can be excited about.

Keep it Small

A large, complex garden may be overwhelming to a young gardener. However, a smaller plot, such as a single row, a dedicated flowerbed, a raised bed, or even just one container, can become their very own garden and personal gardening space. This will let them tackle gardening tasks on a more comfortable scale that they can manage. 

Choose Kid-Friendly Plants
Allowing youngsters to choose their plants is a great way to encourage their gardening interest, and kid-friendly plants such as watermelons, pumpkins, carrots, and sunflowers are all fantastic choices. Let young gardeners select flowers in their favorite colors or foods they are already familiar with to engage their interest and keep them looking forward to each new development in the garden.

Incorporate All Senses

A child will expect a garden to provide tasty food eventually, but incorporating all their senses throughout the garden will excite them even more. Choose fragrant herbs and flowers to complement the garden, foliage that may make unusual sounds in a breeze, and plants with different touchable textures, shapes, and colors to add variety to the space. 

Provide Proper Tools
Most garden tools aren’t sized for tiny hands and may be awkward for younger gardeners to hold and manage. Instead, opt for specially sized tools designed for kids, which will have smaller handles and easier grips. Tools in fun colors or bright patterns can also keep kids excited about gardening, and having their own bucket or basket of tools will ensure that young gardeners are fully vested in all gardening activities. And don’t forget child-sized gardening gloves and an appropriate garden hat for sun protection as well!


Add Fun in the Garden

Make the garden a fun place for kids by adding extra touches such as a quirky garden gnome, themed garden flags, or energetic pinwheels. These simple decorations can help kids make the space their own and bring extra color and activity to the garden. Making personalized plant tags, steppingstones, row markers, or other garden accessories can be fun craft projects that help kids feel empowered in the garden space and will teach them about additional garden tasks and why they are important. Growing a green bean teepee is also great fun!

Share With Friends
Turn gardening into a play date by inviting friends to help with outdoor tasks, such as weeding, planting, watering, mulching, and more. Turning the task into fun will not only encourage children to complete garden chores but may also inspire more children to take up gardening. Other ways to share gardening with the next generation include introducing a children’s garden or gardening group to a local church, school, or community center.


Go Beyond the Garden

Reinforce gardening lessons by moving beyond the garden. Involve children with cooking the produce they raise, including making jams, jellies, salsas, pickles, and preserves, and remind children that they contributed to these delicious treats whenever you enjoy them. Teach children how to compost spoiled produce and plants that are past their prime. Consider entering their best produce in a county or state fair to recognize their efforts.

The more methods you use to get kids involved in gardening, the more interest they will have, and soon they will build lifelong gardening habits beneficial to them and their environment.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

Learn why it is best to go with Coast of Maine®
when planting a nourishing garden with children.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY VIDEO

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