great article, Gabz! Loved the one yest from blam about seed saving.
The easiest way to get kids interested in gardening is to let them follow you around. Some of my best childhood memories involve doing just that—following my gma around, playing with her tools, watching what she did, picking fresh raspberries/strawberries, mimicking.
Children are great imitators, and that’s how they learn. I shadowed my parents in the garden and rode the tractor with dad while he was plowing/harvesting.
The garden center where I work is across the ballfield from the elementary school. The kids love to come over here, and we love to have them. You can tell right away which ones like growing things! As soon as they step inside the greenhouse, it’s immediately apparent. It’s either—Man, it smells so good in here or—it stinks. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground!
Give the kids their own place to plant/tend and let them have at it. Dirt is one of the greatest inventions ever! There’s nothing like walking barefoot in a freshly plowed field, or just working your hands into the soil. My hubby still can’t understand why I refuse to wear gloves!
Just ask Diane! We get paid to play in the dirt all day and watch things grow! How cool is that?!
Your hubby sounds like mine. I need to "feel" what I'm doing, not just se what I'm doing.