Hey guys! Here we are week 1 into kinderGARDENS. Thanks for the great response and all of those that have joined us on our little adventure! Here is a link to the first post and all the particulars on the contest.
As you can see on my sidebar I have started a blogroll with all the names that I have so far. Please is you want to participate and don't see your name over there let me know and I'll add you asap!
I have some exciting new to share this morning...
I have lined up two great guest writers for our series. First is Susan from The Blue Planet Garden Blog. She is a professional landscape designer who I have gotten to know since I've been blogging...she is knowledgeable, creative, and frankly a kick in the pants! She as also graciously agreed to be one of our judges. I am so excited to have Susan on board...she will be a wealth of knowledge for us!
Next is Rebecca. I was introduced to her through Susan and am thrilled that she will have a post for us too! Rebecca is from Gossip in the Garden and is also a professional designer who's articles have been featured as has her garden in Fine Gardening Magazine!
Thanks ladies for the help!
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So here we go...let's talk about getting kids into the garden!
When I was thinking about this first post I thought about all the things I would love to do to my garden to make it more appealing to my kids. Things I could share with you here. I sketched, doodled and made notes. I also dreamed of fairy castles made of Scarlett runner beans and fancy garden beds that looked like quilts...
Yes I was getting a little carried away...shocking I know!
What I forgot was...THE KIDS! I had not taken the time to sit down and ask them what interested them. What fun things they would like to incorporate into the garden.
After sitting down with them (ages 7 and within days of turning 3). They made it known that they were not even remotely interested in making a living quilt...sigh. No after much discussion we narrowed it down to they wanted a maze...a maze with a fort at the center. WHAT?
"Like a jungle trail mama. We can go into the maze and we can eat the walls. At the end we can sit down and eat lunch where no one can see us! I want cucumbers, peas, and berries in the walls"
"Me want tiger in jungle mama...me tiger...GRRRRR!"
Well alrighty then!
I must say that when I involved the kids they were so enthusiastic and animated about the prospect of having something in the garden that was their idea, their creation! What fun!
We are in the process of trying to figure out how to make an edible maze, Sweet Girl has made some sketches, so has the little one (of a sort), and I've added mine. Next week we will have the final design for you.
So here it is...your first assignment! Sit down and ask your kids what they are interested in. What would they like to see you do together in the garden that would make it fun and interesting for them to be there? Be prepared to some back next week and I will have our first link party so we can see what we all have planned for this summer of fun!
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I am going to try to share with you some resources each week for children's gardening.
Today I have a book that I love!
Roots, Shoots, Buckets, & Boots by Sharon Lovejoy! Grow a pizza garden, explore a sunflower house, or plant a moon garden. I own many of Sharon Lovejoy's books and this is my favorite! Creativity abounds here and you and your kids will certainly be inspired by her whimsical illustrations and fun idea!
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Lastly a bit of housekeeping. Some of you let me know that the last two buttons didn't work from last weeks post. I have fixed them and here are all three for you to choose from.
<center><a
href="http://sweetgrace.typepad.com/the_inadvertent_farmer/2010/04/kindergardens-let-em-get-dirty-childrens-garden-series-and-contest.html/"
target="_blank"><img
border="0" alt="Inadvertent Farmer"
src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/sweet_grace_boutique/kinderGARDENbuttonhorz.jpg
/></a></center>
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I will see you next week...can't wait to see what you all have planned!
