Growing a Gardener

Growing A Gardener – by Rebecca Stott-Savage

As I sit here mulling over a subject matter for my first blog, I can’t help but think it slightly serendipitous that the great-granddaughter of a gardener, the grand-daughter of a gardener and the daughter of a landscaping entrepreneur, despite her best efforts , would end up making a living knee deep in peat moss and loving every minute of it. 

Whether your interest in gardening is hereditary or self-adapted, it doesn’t matter.  If it’s something that you feel passionate about and you want to share it with your children this blog has some ideas to get you started.  Please keep in mind : not all gardeners are born , some must be nurtured and grown. 

How do you introduce a child to the world of gardening? A great place to start is with a common interest.   Gardens offer so much variety that a child can easily become overwhelmed.   If your child is attracted to bright colours, colour combinations, shapes  and sizes planting their own annual or perennial bed would be a good option.   If your child is more into creepy crawly things like worms and toads and tadpoles, you could build a small pond.  Don’t forget to include some fish! For the junior horticulturalists and future chefs, a vegetable or herb garden would be best.  For the nature lover, crack open some peanuts, set out an orange slice, mix up some sugar-water and watch the wildlife flock to your backyard.

Whatever you decide to do with your little ones, be prepared with all the necessary resources for your activity.  There is nothing worse than having to wait for the fun to start.  For any young gardener I would suggest a pair of gardening gloves, some clogs a hat and some shades.  It helps to dress the part and to be well protected from the elements.

Also, involving the kids in decision making helps them gain a sense of accomplishment.  Ask them what kinds of vegetables they would like to plant or what colour of annuals they want to see grow.  Having recognition for their involvement will keep them coming back for more. With a little bit of paint or a gardening marker you can easily indicate on a rock or a board which garden is theirs or which row of peas they planted.  

Gardening with your kids is a fantastic way to get them outdoors and active. Every visit can be a new learning experience and a new opportunity to bond with them.  It is a gift that my great-grandmother passed on to her daughter.  An appreciation my grandmother gave to my father.  A love my father gave to me.  And a --- I am sharing with you. Here’s a great idea that we recently tweeted and received a lot of feedback about:  http://gardentips.co.za/gardening/getting-your-kids-involved-and-interested-garden

If you’ve got the kids, we’ve got the seeds!

“Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children” – A Kenyan Proverb

My step-daughter Renée & I in the garden some years ago.