Gardening Projects for Kids

Posted by AmyStults | 0 comments

Gardening With Children

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. ~Genesis 1:11-12

Gardening is a fun and exciting activity that all families should be involved in. You can play, work, learn, and bond with each other. Allowing a child to grow their own garden (even a small container garden) is a great way to help children understand what people did for food before grocery stores. Requiring the child to assist with the weeding and watering teaches him or her responsibility. Gardens are bursting with life…there are few places more befitting for a family to spend time learning about and worshipping God.

The first thing you should do before you begin your garden is discuss the four elements plants need to grow: soil, seeds, sun and water. Scripture is full of stories that involve gardening – the creation of the Garden of Eden, how Adam and Eve were punished and had to grow their own food, the parable of the olive tree, the tree of life, the parable of the sower, the parable of the mustard seed. Spend some time reading these stories to your children, explaining along the way that just like human life, all plant life is created by God. God is the sun and water that gives life to the plants.

Grow a Pizza Garden
Section off a small portion of your yard and plant your favorite pizza topics, such as – tomatoes, onions, garlic, mushrooms, chives, eggplant, green onions, bell peppers, spinach, oregano, basil, thyme, and sage. Imagine how yummy this ENTIRELY homemade pizza will taste! Your children will take much pride in their hard work when they taste their creation.

Did you know…that the first pizzas were nothing like the pizzas we make today? The first pizzas were simple circles of herbed and oiled flat bread. Spanish explorers introduced tomatoes to the Italians chefs, one of which created a tomato, mozzarella cheese, and basil pizza (the 3 colors of the Italian flag) to honor his queen.

The pizza garden activity was taken from the book Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots.

(You can also create a Salad Garden by planting lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, cauliflowers, and herbs to make salad dressing.)

Grass Heads

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30

Materials needed:
Nylon socks
Grass seed
Potting soil
Small plastic containers
Elastic bands
Googly eyes
Pipe cleaners

Instructions:
1. Place 1 tbsp. grass seed into the nylon sock.
2. Place enough soil on top of seed to create a ball the size of a softball.
3. Close the open end of the nylon with elastic band and cut off all but 2 inches of the excess dangling nylon.
4. Attach eyes and decorate face with pipe cleaners or markers.
5. Place grass head on top of container (have excess 2 inch nylon dangling into the container.)
6. Pour in 1/2 inch of water in bottom of the container every couple of days.
7. Spray water gently over grass seeds on top 2 times each day.
8. The grass will grow up like hair!!!

Window Beans

Materials Needed:
A bag of white beans
Paper towels
One zip lock bag

Instructions:
1. Wet one paper towel and out it in the baggie, along with 5-10 beans.
2. Zip up the bag but make sure to leave air in.
3. Hang the bag in your windows and watch the beans grow.
4. Later you can transplant to pots.

Grow Your Name
Get a long box and fill it with potting soil. Trace names or initials in the soil. Place grass seeds in the trench and lightly covered them with soil. In a few days you will be delighted to see your names sprouting!

Carrot Sprout
Core out the top of a carrot and put a hole on both sides to attach a string. Hang from the window or ceiling in a sunny place have the child put water in the top of the carrot where you cut it out and watch the magic in a few days keep it watered.

Root Viewer
You can fascinate kids by potting plants or herbs into a clear container. This allows them to see how the roots sprout down into the soil and the plant sprouts up into the sunlight. Here are some excellent instructions from How Stuff Works to build your own Root View Box.

What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches. ~The words of Jesus in Luke 13.

Backyard Composting
Compost improves the condition of and adds valuable nutrients to soil. Simply obtain a bin made from plastic or wood. All you need to do is add the right ingredients and nature will do the rest. You can throw in any of the following: leaves, straw, grass clippings, paper towels, lettuce, tea bags, coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, egg shells…the list goes on and on. Any material that was once living can be thrown into your compost bin. However, do NOT throw in any meat or dairy products. It is best to maintain a balance between nitrogen rich items (i.e. grass or lettuce) and carbon rich items (i.e. cardboard or paper.) Your plants will thank you for the added nutrients.

Helpful slideshow to explain composting to young kids:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/kid1.html

If you need a more detailed explanation for older kids, check out How Stuff Works:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/composting.htm

Enchanted Lands

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Edible Bean Teepee
A bean tee pee is very easy to make and best of all, is a shady and delightful playhouse. Acquire 6-8 twelve-foot long wooden stakes or bamboo poles. Arrange them in teepee style in a 5-foot circle, pushing the ends into the ground. Be sure to leave enough room for a small entrance. Tie the tops of the teepee together with heavy twine. Plant pole or string beans seeds around the base of the teepee. In a couple of months, the teepee will be covered with beans, leaves, and vines!

Sunflower House
A house made of sunflowers is another enchanting playhouse. Mark off an 8’ x 8’ area of your yard and dig a shallow trench around this squared off area. Drop in various types of sunflower seeds (you can buy them in various heights.) Be sure to refill the trench with a mixture of soil and compost. Sunflowers grow very quickly so within a couple months you will have a secret hideaway.

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. Jeremiah 29:5

Amy is a devoted wife, Classical homeschooling mom to a six-year-old Superhero and the co-owner of Heart of the Matter. She has a passion for genealogy and is aspiring to be a Proverbs 31 lady. Be sure to visit her blog at Milk and Cookies.