Image via Wikipedia

It really saddens me to see how people mistreat nature. It’s not any new but years ago we were not as informed but today there is just no good excuse.

What can we do about this lack of respect for our planet?  Well I have it figured out. We don’t have to look any further than our children.

I grew up on a farm and we grew our own food, meat, vegetables and fruit. I was involved as part of the family. Today I love to see the children’s involvement with environment-friendly activities.

One such nature-loving activity that children could easily get their hands on is gardening. Our son was started as soon as he was able to walk with falling on his face every few steps.

Why should you consider gardening for your children?

Here are a few benefits that gardening could provide your children with:

1.  Science – In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plant’s life cycle and how human’s intervention can break or make the environment.  They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed.  This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.

I learned that if I didn’t pull out all the weeds in our garden there would be less food for me because the weeds need food and would steal it from the vegetables. I never did like eating dandelions so I would pull them out.

2.  Life – I remember getting so excited once I saw the dirt in our garden give way to little shots from all that we planted.

Watching a kernel of corn turn into a plant and then give us back more corn was awesome.

In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. I will admit that I didn’t think I would love gardening in later years as it just seemed like too much work when I was a kid. I would much rather run around and waste energy that way rather on my knees weeding the garden, but I didn’t mind pulling things out that I could eat, like radishes and carrots.

I think making gardening a life lesson is important so that the kids don’t just think you’re making them work. Let gardening simulate their little minds and show them how caring for something, like a plant can help you in life.  All I got was if you don’t work you don’t eat, plain and simple.

3.  Relaxation – Studies have shown that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group.  More so, it stimulates all the five senses.  Believe it or not, gardening may be used as therapy to children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes.  It helps build one’s self-esteem when taught correctly.

4.  Quality Time with the Family – As a parent you can come home from a stressful day at work and a simple walk through your garden can lower your stress level in just minutes.

Kids are the same, they build stress through their days at school and need an outlet that is healthy and productive. Gardening does this but only if it’s made to be fun and rewarding.

Take the time to talk with your kids while gardening but make sure it’s never discipline. Don’t take the love of gardening and turn it into a task. It took me a lot of years to get over that aspect of gardening. It was always a chore as a kid and I didn’t get a lot of joy out of it.

Let kids become aware of their environment’s needs. And one way to jumpstart that environmental education may be through gardening.  Make it something they want to do all through life and maybe their lives will be less stressful and our world will be one big garden.

Related articles by Zemanta

• The Spirit of Gardening
• Gardening Advice

Tweet This Post

I have always loved roses but I have found that growing a beautiful rose garden isn’t always an easy thing to do. I spent for a long time just wishing I could grow roses then I found this an ebook with 101 tips for growing your own rose garden . Now I can have great looking and healthy roses, just like our neighbours.

More than 25 years ago I was an employee of Sears and sold roses through their garden department. I loved that job but then computers became popular and my life changed, but that’s a story for another day.

Selling roses is how I met Patricia, who would later become our lawyer. She and her father would come in all the time and buy roses and more roses.

Now we have a home with a property big enough to enjoy some rose gardening so I am learning what I need to know so that we can have some beautiful roses as part of our flower garden.

Not everyone is comfortable growing their own roses so they don’t but this little ebook has the answers and tips that will give you the confidence to plant your own roses, care for them correctly, pruning included and even how to cut them for your own bouquet and arrangements.

Knowing how to fertilize, water and prevent diseases will give you the confidence you have lacked in the past. If this sounds like I am talking to myself well I am. We didn’t have any confidence even though I work in a garden center. They never taught me how to grow them, just to sell them.

If you have an interest in growing your own rose garden then you need to read 101 Tips for Growing and Enjoying Your Own Great Rose Garden.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Gardening: Getting the best from your roses
• Are You A Rose Enthusiast?

Tweet This Post

Image via Wikipedia

Who doesn’t like the taste of fresh vegetables right from your garden or even from a friend’s garden if they give you gifts. We have a few friend that garden and just yesterday one of those friends gave us a little party for the taste buds in a basket. Mmmm-mm Good.

She even gave us an eggplant. You will have to excuse me but I have never had a fondness for egg plant but it was a gift and it was fresh from the garden. I decided to use some of the veggies, grill them a bit for some extra flavour and then make a nice fresh soup.

I like to eat zucchini raw on a plate or in salads but grilled zucchini just rocks. The flavour that slight charring does puts in so much flavour.

I also put the tomatoes on the grill as well and then once they had that tasty grill marks but not quite cooked, I popped them into the soup.

It’s been a long time since I have had a bowl of vegetable soup that was so fresh and refreshing.

BTW: Dear, if you happen to read this before you get home tonight I saved you a bowl, I think.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Discovering Your Inner Green Thumb with an Indoor Vegetable Garden

Tweet This Post