Tools and Materials:
Section off a corner of the garden or yard where a child can roam
freely. Provide high-quality small-scale tools such as a trowel,
cultivator, rake and hoe.
Step 1: Begin by setting aside a section of garden that
belongs to the child. It does not have to be designed or even particularly
attractive, just a place where the child can explore without the
risk of damaging your prized plants.
Step 2: Let the children choose what they would like to
grow. Most often, these will be plants they recognize, such as pumpkins
and potatoes. Plant with large seeds, such as beans, sunflowers
and nasturtiums, are easiest for small hands to sow. Though radish
seeds are small, children delight in the almost instant growth and
harvest. Or plant with a theme, perhaps a "pizza" garden
containing tomatoes and peppers as well as herbs such as basil and
oregano.
Step 3: Children love hiding places. Consider constructing
a teepee from tall poles and twine, to be covered with climbing
beans and flowers. (Be sure to leave an opening for a door). Or
create a special room: A circle of tall sunflowers with shorter
sunflowers or other flowers between them.
Precautionary Tips:
Many culinary herbs are attractive and have interesting scents.
Chives, sage, mint and basil are good choices for a child's garden.
Edible flowers, such as nasturtiums, pansies, violets and calendulas,
are also good. Avoid medicinal herbs like St. Johnswort (Hypericum)
and valerian, because they can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.
Since many other plants-even something as familiar as rhubarb leaves
are toxic, teach your child to consult with you before putting anything
from the garden into his or her mouth. Only a few are so toxic they
should not be used around children and pets. Two extremely toxic
plants are castor bean and precatory beans or rosary pea. Many other
plants are toxic in larger quantities and should be avoided in a
child's garden. These include: Angel's Trumpet, delphinium, foxglove,
morning glory, cardinal flower and sweet alyssum.
