Grow a Family Garden!

What you need:

• Containers for city gardens: milk and juice carton, empty cans, empty bleach bottle, dishpan, plastic bucket, fish bowl, bushel basket
• Garden plot: a two-foot plot is big enough. Hint: Preparing soil is hard for young children.
• Child-size tools: watering can, hose, small shovel, old spoon and fork, small rake, digging stick, hoe and spade, sticks to label plants
• Seeds or seedlings (young plants)
• Water for your hose or watering can
• Soil for container gardens
• Fertilizer: compost, manure, chemical types

Easy foods for kids to grow:

• Beets,* carrots,* cherry tomatoes,* collard greens,* cucumbers,* green beans,* herbs,* lettuce,* okra, onion,* peppers,* spinach, tomatoes, zucchini
• In windowsill pot: herbs, seeds to replant as young plants in the garden.

*This grows easily in a container.

“I Can Grow Things!”

Most kids are proud of what they grow. Even when gardening is messy, your child is learning. He or she can help with almost any gardening task. It’s okay if the garden isn’t planted perfectly.

• Pick the vegetables or herbs we will grow.
• Find a sunny place.
• Make the soil ready in a container or in the garden.
• Plant seeds or small plants in the soil.
• Water plants when they are thirsty.
• Measure plants as they grow and vegetables form. Talk about it.
• Pull the weeds.
• Pick vegetables or herbs when they are ready.
• Wash the food.
• Make something to eat with your family. Use the food you pick.
• Eat and enjoy it!

No Garden?

Volunteer as a family to plant, help care for a community garden, or visit local farmer’s markets.

Tip:

In the city vegetables and herbs grow in a sunny place on the roof, fire escape, or balcony.

Nibbles for Health, Nutrition Newsletter for Parents of Young Children, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service