If you follow my blogs at all, you’ll know that I love gardening. I’m not always fantastic at it, and I am often experimental. However, I always approach it with a deep enthusiasm. Gardening is one of my true loves.
I remember gardening as a child. I have a 2 foot wide patch of soil that I could dig in. This seemed to me to be a vast territory, and I remember planning out exactly what I would plant. One year, I ordered seeds from a seed project for children, and I planted them. I don’t remember whether anything grew particularly well, but I do remember the excitement of learning about each plant.
As an adult, I live in a terribly expensive city. Many families here live in apartments or townhouses where garden space is very limited. While those who live in more rural or affordable areas may have no problem getting land for a garden, here, it’s very challenging.
Gardening is a wonderful experience for a child. It’s about the beginning of life and the end of life. It’s about watching things grow and change over the year. It’s about learning where your food comes from. If you’re like me, and you want a garden but don’t have one, where can you get this garden to share with your child?
First, look around your home. A garden doesn’t need to be large. Is there a little deck where you could grow flowers? Lettuce? This year, most of our salad is coming from our deck.
Next, look at the areas around your townhouse or apartment. Is there space for a planter? A community garden? We have an underused little trail behind our townhouse. I got permission to plant berry bushes in there.
Finally, look at your community. Are there community gardens nearby? Is there a community center that might like to host a garden? How about a garden share in a neighbor’s yard?
You don’t need vast tracts of land to grow a garden with your child. What creative solutions have you found?