Tomorrow is the first day of spring! That means it's time to start thinking about gardening. Many of us do not have time to maintain a full garden of fruits and vegetables, but with a few simple resources and tools, any of us can learn about the process by germinating seeds. It's a fun and inexpensive way to spend quality time with our children. Today, I'd like to share two amazing books that will show you and your children step by step how to begin all levels of gardening activities.
The first one, by Cindy Krezel, is called Kids' Container Gardening. I absolutely love this book! Children of
all ages will love the simple projects and ideas it contains. There are activities for any season that can be done at minimal cost, and most of them can be done without a backyard! This book will show you how to:
-use reusable containers and peat pellets to germinate seeds
-make "vegetable hanging baskets" and other gifts for mom and dad
-create a butterfly garden in a pot
-make "pot people" and "worm boxes"
-make "garden aquariums"
-make Venus flytrap and sand art terrariums
That's not all this book offers, though. The author also provides "cool facts" about worms and Venus
flytraps, as well as many wonderful gardening tips and tricks. There's something in this book for everyone.
A nice companion to this book is Cindy Krezel's 101 Kid-Friendly Plants: Fun Plants and Family Garden Projects. It's important to select plants and flowers that are not poisonous, especially around children and pets. This book will help you to make safe choices, and will provide you with even more gardening ideas. For additional information about gardening with children, you can visit www.kidsgardening.com.
After a cold, dismal winter, I am excited to get started on some of these fun projects! Have a great last day of winter, and if you'd like to share any gardening ideas or resources, please do.
