Growing a Family Garden

By Pamela Stock

What makes gardening the perfect family activity? "Dirt!" shouts a gleeful Ely, 4, who always manages to find an excuse to dig when it's his turn to water the marigolds. His grandmother, Susan, is more philosophical: "It's exciting to watch something you've planted flourish under your care."

Cultivating a family garden -- be it vegetables, flowers or an arrangement of potted plants on the patio -- has something for everyone. Adults get the satisfaction of beautifying their surroundings, and young kids get to play in the dirt. Everyone gets to enjoy the thrill of success, watching the flowers bloom or the vegetables ripen. Plus, it's an excuse for the whole family to be outside together, without having to jump in the car.

Here are some tips on starting a family garden.

• Look up, look down
  Determining what to plant depends both on how much sunlight you get and what type of soil (rich or sandy, for instance) you have. Read the plant cards and discuss what will grow best for you with the staff at your local garden supply store.
  
  
• Everyone gets a plant
  Let each family member choose a plant or to call his own -- and to care for. Note: Some parents panic if a child's special plant isn't faring well and will even replace a dying one. Others talk to kids first about the possibilities that plants don't always grow, and say that the kids aren't as disappointed as parents fear. Remember too, while there are a few special plants, the whole garden is shared.
  
  
• Assign age-appropriate jobs and tools
  Young kids can hold the hose or watering can, older kids can tie vines to stakes and EVERYONE gets to hunt for ripe tomatoes and strawberries. Gardening shovels can be sharp, but small children can dig with plastic shovels.
  
  
• Dressing up is part of the fun
  My son wears his rain boots and plastic construction hat every time he heads outside with a watering can, which adds to the festivity. Wear sun hats.
  
  
• Add art
  Your kids can decorate the garden with found stones (painted, if you like) or pieces of broken flower pots to make the garden their own. Similarly, you can make your own garden stakes by painting wooden dowels or gluing pieces of rock to them.
  
  
• Keep it simple
  If the kids burn out on some of the maintenance the green thumb in the family insists on, let them play in other parts of the yard. Gardening should be fun, not a chore.

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