1. home and garden

Having Fun
Gardening With Kids
Gardening is a fun way for children
to learn about their natural environment.
Projects, ideas and resources
for the young gardener and their
families as they garden through the seasons
Community Resources
PRINCE GEORGE COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM
Communities in Bloom (CIB) is Canada's program for the improvement of the quality of life through beautification, community
involvement, environmental awareness, and heritage conservation.
This national program assists Canadian communities of all sizes
to improve their quality of life while encouraging community involvement and civic pride. Leisure Services Department, City of
Prince George (561-7600) www.city.pg.bc.ca
REAPS offers various forms of community outreach and public
awareness, including programs in the schools, garden workshops,
and other educational initiatives, where people can learn about
composting, recycling, vermicomposting, organic gardening and
many other environmental issues. www.reaps.org
DAVID DOUGLAS BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY
The society has established a Educational Display Garden on site
at the University of Northern BC (UNBC). An Annual Spring
Plant Sale starts the gardening season and is well received by the
public. The members of the society enjoy the benefits of early
summer Garden Tours and a Lecture Series.
www.ddbotgarden.bc.ca
COMMUNITY GARDENS Prince George strives to enhance community health and social well being by engaging people in their food
system. The gardening space, educational programs and public gathering
place provided by the Society, in partnership with the City of Prince
George, help to emphasize the central role that food, agriculture and sustainable living practices play within a healthy community.
contact: 250-564-3859.
Learning to garden will introduce your child to a
life-long skill, the love of nature, an understanding for
nurturing their environment and social interaction.
Growing a garden (large or small) develops a sense
of belonging and place. Children want to share both the
information they learn through gardening and the produce they
grow.
Approaching the garden as an seasonal activity - planting in the
Spring, care and nurturing during the Summer, harvesting in the
Fall - introduces children to the lifecycles of plants and insects.
Our northern Winter with its covering of snow offers time for
plants to lie dormant and the soil to rest. It is a time for reflection
on past season’s gardening activities and a time for planning gardening projects for the coming year. Including children in planning
their garden will spark their imaginations and create anticipation
for gardening as the winter passes.
There is only one garden “rule” for children; it must be fun.
Starting with a small project that a child can manage, with tools
that are appropriate and with a positive point of view will help to
make gardening a happy experience. The smiling face of a child
who has produced a plant from a seed is the reward. For children
and adults, it is a wonder to see a garden growing that you have
seeded, watered and weeded.
The act of gardening keeps the gardener in touch
with the seasons and nature. Through observations and
interactions as you garden with your child there are
teachable moments to see, feel, smell and taste nature.
Is there a better opportunity for your child to begin
life’s journey than in a garden?
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Tips for gardening with children
-Give children their own garden area. Whether a
raised bed, garden plot or container your child
can benefit from learning to maintain his or her
own space. Select a small garden area for children so that maintenance is easy.
-Place the child’s garden in the centre of the action within the family garden, setting the scene for success with good soil and full
sunlight.
-If your children have outgrown the use of a sandbox, turn this
space into a garden bed. Take out the bulk of the sand and add a
minimum of 6” garden soil above the sandy base. This place allows
children ownership and they can see how they themselves have
grown as they develop this new activity.
-Provide children with serviceable garden tools. The play, plastic
tools are for pretend and aren’t suitable for real garden work.
Small hand-tools such as a garden trowel can be easier for small
hands, as are short-handled spades and rakes.
-Ensure your child is included in all aspects of their
garden. There is much to learn from planning for
the garden area, selecting seed, planting and caring
for the plants.
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Tips for gardening with children
-Keep gardening activities to a short period of time. Changing tasks frequently
keeps children engaged and positive towards garden maintenance.
-All children enjoy being the centre of
attention. Encourage your child to show
off his or her garden to grandparents and
friends. Children feel good when they are
able to share and tell about their garden.
Garden Tip:
Row and Plant Markers:
An inexpensive package of wooden spoons from the dollar store
can make great markers. On one side of the spoon the young gardeners can draw a picture of the plant then print the name on the
other side. The handles can easily be pushed into the soil by the
plant for identification.
3
Tips for gardening with children:
-When possible, start from seed. A child will
learn more about plant growth from experiencing
the growth process as it begins. Learning about a
sprouting seed and nurturing that young seedling
is the beginning of all gardening experiences.
-Give a helping hand when needed. As much as
possible children should care for their own garden; however, an adult may be needed to move sprinklers, do a bit
of hoeing or decide when to weed.
-Visit other gardens in your neighbourhood with your children.
This is an opportunity to meet other gardeners and learn about the
types of plants that will grow in your area.
-Take a trip with the young gardener to a garden centre to see the
plants and seeds that are available for the garden.
-Record and celebrate the child’s garden. Help a child to keep a
record by taking pictures, recording the weather and when plants
begin to sprout.
-Most importantly keep the activities fun and creative. Allowing
for muddy fingers and stopping to inspect worms are all part of
gardening!
Garden Tip:
From the start encourage children to
wear sunscreen, gloves and a hat. These are must
have items, making for happy, healthy gardeners!
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Getting Started:
- Start with planning. As you decide
with your child where the garden will
be, talk about the need for healthy soil,
water and sun. Let the new gardener
feel the soil and dig in several places
with a hand trowel.
-Select the seeds and plants for the
garden. Children often like to grow
vegetables as their first garden project.
It’s an opportunity to talk about vegetables they like and to introduce new vegetables to their diet. The colour of the vegetables
may also determine what they would like to plant. Some easy-togrow herbs and flowers may also be added for colour. For small
children, consider easy-to-handle larger seeds like sunflower, beans
and peas.
-Encourage planting some varieties that germinate quickly, like
radishes and sunflowers This way young children won’t have to
wait too long to see their plants sprouting.
-Gather your tools. A trip to the hardware store may be in order
to select one or two tools that your child can use comfortably.
This is an opportunity to talk about caring for their tools and suggesting a special place to store them. Neatness counts and safety is
essential!
-Collect old clothes for wearing in the
garden such as worn garden shoes or boots,
shirts and pants. Children will soon learn to
wear their special gardening clothes and
dress for the weather.
5
Preparing & Planting the Garden
-Take a trip to the plant nursery - it’s
fun hunting for seed packages! Help
young gardeners choose quick-growing
seed. Remember, slow-growing seed
will not be successful in our short northern growing season. Later, bedding
plants can be added to the garden once
seeds have been sown and frost is not a threat.
-Discuss what nutrients are needed in the soil to grow healthy
plants. Just as we need healthy food to grow a healthy body, plants
need fertile soil to grow well *See page 9 for composting.
-After ensuring the ground is not wet and has warmed, enrich your
soil with compost or purchased composted manures (i.e. mushroom, cow, chicken), and level the surface of the planting bed.
Small children usually walk through a prepared bed however, with
a little guidance, an even surface can be attempted. Show how to
mark a straight row by using sticks or stakes with string attached
that will stretch the length of the bed.
-All sowing information is on seed package, take the time to read
it together. Pay attention to planting depth and spacing: don’t forget
to water after sowing.
-Each variety of plant doesn’t need its own
row. Try mixing vegetables, herbs and flowers
for fun. A visit to the grocery store or Farmers’
Market helps children see the connection of
growing seeds into vegetables.
6
Seed Germination (sprouting time) Children like to see
“instant” results for their efforts so include some seeds which will
germinate within a few days.
Germination Times for Some Plants In Days
Radish
3 to 6
Turnip
4 to 8
Peas
6 to 10
Maturation Times (time to harvest) Children are always anxious to harvest plants. Planting seeds that mature in a short time
period alleviates the wait!
Plant Varieties
Radish-Cherry Belle
-French Breakfast
Days to Maturity
25
28
Turnip-Early Purple
-Laurentian
58
120
Peas -Laxton Progress
-Lincoln
55
65
Swiss Chard- Bright Lights
55
Lettuce-Simpson Elite (Leaf)
41
-Parris Island (Cos) 7
75
Steps to Happy Transplanting
Children enjoy selecting plants for transplanting in a
garden bed, border or container. Seeing plants growing in their garden provides immediate satisfaction. Key to success is selecting
healthy plants and handling them gently.
Children need to know:
-weather is important. Seedlings can be damaged by frost if
planted too early in the Spring.
-avoid transplanting in the heat of the day; a cloudy day is ideal.
-to prepare for transplanting, dig a large enough hole to
accommodates plant roots, add a handful of compost and
wet with some water. Explain to your child that this is the
food that helps the plant grow.
-when lifting plants from their pots, show young gardeners how to cup their hands, gently holding the
plant and sheltering roots from the sun and wind.
-once plants are placed in their holes, gently pull soil
around the plants, lightly tapping down around
plants to hold in place. The budding gardeners are now on their
way to a summer of gardening.
Garden Tip
Did you know that weeds can be used as clues to soil conditions
within their surroundings? The presence of weeds such as nettles,
docks, dandelions, and brambles are an indication of highly fertile
soil. Others, like plantains and daisies, are often seen
in heavier, low fertile soils.
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Making Compost
Follow the compost “recipe”. Simply add the ingredients, stir,
then “bake”
Compost can be made from kitchen, garden and yard wastes. Collecting the materials and adding them to the compost bin is an ongoing summer activity. They’ll have nutritious compost for their
garden and take part in healthy outdoor activities as they collect
materials and keep turning the compost pile.
Select a bin. It could be wire mesh formed into a
circle and tied together at the ends. Add waste materials, both green (i.e. fresh grass clippings or
plant trimmings) and brown (dried plant material).
Help your child mix this. Next spread soil over the
top so it covers the mixture. This is important because it has the soil microorganisms and animals
that do the work of making compost. It also helps the surface from
becoming too dry.
Ingredients:
Kitchen Wastes like:
-vegetable/fruit peels and seeds
-egg shells, nut shells
-coffee grounds and teabags
Note: Do not add meat scraps, bones, dairy products, oils or fat.
Yard or Garden Materials
-straw -ashes -wood chips -shredded paper-grass clippings
-sawdust-leaves -plant materials from the garden
9
Making Compost continued…
Adjust the moisture in the compost. Add dry materials like straw,
shredded paper or sawdust if the compost is soggy. If too dry add
water. The materials should be damp to the touch but not so wet
that drops of water come out of it when squeezed.
As more layers are added, stir and lift the pile (a pitchfork
works great) so the compost will get warm in the middle. As the
pile “bakes” it begins to shrink as the wastes begin to turn into
compost. Mix the materials every week and your compost should
or ready to use within one or two months.
The compost will likely contain a few worms. Children love to add
worms to a garden. Explain that worms help the soil by burrowing
and adding their wastes.
Use this compost in the garden to feed the soil and the plants.
Worms Can Make Compost too!
REAPS is there to help you compost
- See inside front cover for contact information.
10
Garden Activities
Flower Presses: Pressing flower petals, leaves and other parts
of plants is a fun way to identify plant structures. The pressed materials can be used in a garden journal
or made into bookmarks and cards
(with white glue to stick them on your
project).
The time-honoured practice of pressing flowers in a heavy book between
newspaper is as effective as a press,
however a flower press made from
wood is more portable. Cut 1/4” plywood into two 8x11” pieces.
Have on hand newsprint or tissue paper and some light cardboard
that has been cut to the size of the press. A few wideband elastics
will hold the press together once the plant material has been placed
inside.
Using the press:
Place cardboard then a piece of newsprint onto a
piece of plywood. Small flowers and individual
leaves press well by placing the material face down
on the paper. This way they are less likely to move
as you add more layers of paper and plant material.
Place the paper and material into the press then
layer with one or two pieces of paper. Over this
place a piece of light cardboard.
Repeat until the press is full then add a last piece of
cardboard and wrap rubber bands around the length
and width of the press. Drying time will be at least
three weeks.
11
Growing Plants Indoors
Beginning gardeners can be introduced to growing plants in their
kitchens. These activities can be a starting point to understanding
how plants grow.
Grow dried beans (navy, kidney, lima) from your pantry
-put beans between two sheets of wet paper towel in a dark
place
-when they sprout, plant them in soil
-as they grow taller, give them a stake to climb on
Grow a citrus plant with little fruits from orange or
lemon seeds.
-collect and dry seeds for a day or two
-plant them in moist, rich soil
-place popsicle sticks in soil around edges of
pot and cover with clear plastic (this will
keep in the moisture and allow light in). Place on windowsill
-remove plastic when leaves begin growing
Sweet Potato Vine
-suspend a half of a sweet potato in a glass of water with
toothpicks or wooden skewers
-add water from time to time and watch for
a leaf to appear
-the vine may even grow flowers!
12
Garden Activities
The Backyard Bird Feeder:
Materials:
Birdseed
Clean dry plastic soda bottle (with cap)
2 wooden spoons Small eye-screw
Length of twine for hanging the feeder
Mark a dot 4 inches from the bottom of the bottle with a
permanent marker. Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and mark another
dot (opposite to the first dot). Cut a round hole on each mark so
that a wooden spoon handle can be pushed through the bottle. Repeat by making holes another 2 inches below the first cuttings. The
holes need to be larger than the spoon handles so the birdseed can
flow out onto the spoon. Place these holes so that the two spoons
will be crossed. Push the wooden spoons through the holes; add
birdseed to fill the bottle. Thread the eye-screw in the centre of the
bottle cap; screw in place on the bottle. Thread the twine through
the eye-screw and hang the bird feeder on a tree limb. The birds sit
on the spoon feeding from the holes in the bottle.
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My Garden Journal
DATE______________________________
TEMPERATURE____________________
WEATHER_______________________
What I did in my garden today….
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
I especially liked………
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Insects in my garden…
____________________________________
_____________________________________
Tips for journaling or recordkeeping: This is an opportunity for
young children to track their success and challenges. Recordkeeping will help with observations of plant growth. A record can be
kept in a scrapbook, small notebook or more elaborate scrapbooking binders with pictures. Pressed leaves or flower petals remind
young gardeners of their adventures. Some gardening stickers and
drawings add cheer and personalize this keepsake.
14
The Vegetable Garden
….the healthy harvest
Children enjoy helping with the harvesting of
vegetables whether it is in their garden or the family
plot. This is the time to dig into the soil and reap the
rewards of caring for the garden. This is also a great time for learning about wholesome fresh foods. A harvest of fresh carrots
(maybe one saved for the first snowman’s nose), potatoes and other
root vegetables is an exciting time for a family.
A trip to the Farmer’s Market during the Fall harvest is a
wonderful educational adventure in choosing foods for the family
meals. Here is an opportunity to purchase healthy foods which are
grown close to home. A weekend visit to a farm may be arranged
as some vendors open their farms at this time of the year for
farmgate sales.
Once the vegetable harvest has been collected preparing it for
storage is the next step to handling foods safely. Selecting the best
vegetables can be a family activity full of learning for a young
child. Finally, having a part in preparing and cooking food from
the garden completes the season of growing.
Healthy Recipes for Kids to Prepare:
Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip:
Blend: 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese, 1/4 teaspoon
lemon pepper, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice together
in a blender or bowl.
Wash and prepare carrots sticks, cucumber slices,
broccoli florets and cauliflower pieces for dipping.
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Healthy Harvest Recipes for Kids
Breakfast Zucchini Muffins
Garden Pizza
Makes 12 muffins
Preheat oven 450 degrees F
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced
2 cups whole grain
biscuit mix
2 tablespoons pizza sauce
2 eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Wash zucchini, remove ends
and shred using large holes on
the grater.
8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano
1 medium yellow pepper, diced
1 medium pizza shell
3 tablespoons grated parmesan
cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
cheese
Dust the pizza pan with 4 tablePlace shredded zucchini bespoons yellow cornmeal. Place the
tween 2 pieces of paper towel
pizza shell in the pan and place on
squeezing to remove water.
the lowest rack of the oven. Bake
until crust starts to brown on the
Mix eggs, sugar, applesauce,
bottom. Remove from oven and
zucchini and vanilla together.
spread pizza sauce over crust. DisStir egg mixture into biscuit mix
tribute vegetables and herbs over
and add cinnamon.
the crust. Sprinkle with parmesan
and mozzarella
Oil muffin tin and fill 2/3 full.
cheese. Bake until
Bake for 20 minutes or until
vegetables are tender
brown on top. Remove from
and cheese has
pan and cool on a rack.
16 melted.
Microwave Potato Chips
Stuffed Potatoes
1 1/3 pounds of unpeeled Yukon
Gold potatoes or red potatoes,
sliced thin
Pierce 2 large potatoes with a
fork, place in microwave on
medium, cook turning halfway
through the cooking time ( 1520 minutes).
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt.
Slice potatoes into
thin (1/8 inch)
rounds. Toss in a bowl with oil
and salt. Make sure all the potato slices are coated with oil.
Coat a microwavable dish with
cooking spray.
Place the potato slices in a single layer on the dish. Do not
cover.
Place in the microwave on high
for 2-3 minutes until some slices
start browning. Turn the slices
and microwave another 2-3
minutes or until crisp.
Transfer chips to another plate
and allow to cool completely.
(They become more crisp as
they cool.) Repeat with remaining slices. Store in an airtight
container up to 3 days. Note:
these chips have 8 grams less fat
than regular chips.
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Brown 8 ounces of lean ground
meat in a skillet until red colour
is gone, remove and set aside.
Place 1 cup chopped broccoli
florets in skillet with 1 cup water, cover and simmer until
done. Drain and mix in broccoli
with the meat.
Cut the cooked potatoes in half,
scoop out the inside. Place the
shells in a microwavable dish.
Mix the cooked mashed potato
pulp and meat mixture with
1/2 cup low fat sour cream, 1/2
cup shredded low fat cheddar
cheese and 3 thinly, sliced
green onions.
Fill the potato halves with the
meat mixture. Sprinkle more
cheddar cheese on top. Season
with salt and pepper to taste.
Microwave on High until the
filling is hot and cheese melted.
Garden Activities
Plant Identification Even at a young age children can start learning the basics of botany.
Play a game of botany eye spy. “I spy with my
little eye a leaf that is shaped like a heart!”
Point out and examine the flower, leaf, stem
and roots of plants. Learning to identify plants from their flowers
or leaves is a starting point for all gardeners.
When harvesting plants from the garden or picking flowers
point out the differences in the shape of the leaves or petals. The
vegetable garden with its root vegetables is a great learning place
for observing the roots of plants as they are being harvested.
As young gardeners are introduced to growing plants, opportunities arise to talk about plant names and the parts of the plant.
Make a Bird Bath in five minutes:
This birdbath is easy to put together and is
a nice addition to a child’s garden. It is an
opportunity to talk about the importance of
birds by the garden. The benefits that the
bird provide from eating insects to depositing their wastes.
Overturn two different sizes of terra-cotta pots, stacking them in
garden. (A 12-inch pot atop a 16-inch pot works well.) Set saucer
atop containers. Fill the basin with water to attract birds. Remember to change the water each day so mosquitoes are unable to grow
in the water. Add a few rocks for bird perches. If there
is a cat in the household, this project has to be kept out
of its reach!
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Wheelbarrow planters
Supplies Plastic scoops from laundry detergent,
two milk jug caps, glue, potting soil, grass seeds or
dried lima beans
Activity Detail Take the plastic scoop from your
powdered laundry detergent and wash it very well.
Then, glue on two clean gallon milk jug lids, one on each side. This
should look like a tiny wheelbarrow. Next add potting soil and let
the kids plant a few seeds. Grass seeds or lima beans work very
well for this project because they grow so fast. As the plants grow,
be sure to talk to your children about the different parts of the plant
and how plants grow. With older children, you can make a growth
chart and measure how much your plant has grown each week -great for learning to measure and graph.
Make A Butterfly Garden
Helping the kids create a butterfly garden is another
good way for them to watch butterflies in action. To attract butterflies to the garden, choose some of their favourite plants. Butterflies prefer fragrant, bright colours and flowers that provide adequate landing sites. Native plantings are generally best, as they are
not only adapted to the area but also to the butterflies. Specific
weeds may also be on their menu such as clovers, dandelions and
buttercups.
Besides a variety of plants, butterflies need water. In fact, they enjoy gathering in puddles as well as basking in the sun. Therefore,
you should provide a shallow dish of water in the butterfly garden.
Also, place some flat stones in the sun for them to land on. If desired, you could also provide them with an orange or red-coloured
sponge soaked in sugar solution. This helps supplement butterflies
when flowers are no longer at their peak.
Butterfly gardens are great places for kids to watch,
draw or photograph the various butterfly species that
visit. Make sure the garden is located in an area for
easy viewing.
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Flower Garden Puzzle
V T
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HONEYSUCKLE
IRIS
LILAC
ORCHID
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SAGE
SUNFLOWER
TULIP
VIOLET
ZINNIA
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Websites with Children’s Gardening Activities:
Canadian Botanical Conservation Network
www.rbg.ca/cbcn
www.icangarden.com
www.gardeningwithkids.org
www.danthegardener.co.uk
www.coolkidsgrow.com
www.thekidsgarden.co.uk
www.kidsgardening.com
Compiled and distributed by
Prince George Communities In Bloom Committee