How to turn your kids into farmers and gardeners

My kids are only four and two. But you know what - they're already keen gardeners and farmers, thanks to a few tricks in gardening that I've stumbled upon.

I want to share them with you.

If you have kids, I hope you can teach your kids the joys of food gardening. My kids are loving it, and I get so much joy from learning with them.

• Have a garden, and get outside as much as possible in public gardens.
  Choose days when the weather is fine.
  Bring yummy food and drink with you.
  Play games outside, like Hide And Seek.
  Smell the flowers. Hug the trees.
  Go to the Botanic Gardens and feed the ducks.
  
  
  On your marks.
  Get set.
  No, Herman! Don't look at the camera!
  
  If it rains, bring the umbrellas and play with the kids in the rain.
  
  
  I'm glad you can't hear the soundtrack
  Sing "Singing in the Rain" together. It doesn't matter if you're a bad singer - I am, but my kids don't mind!
  
  All of this is teaching kids to love the outdoors from an early age. Get them running around, and run with them. It's fun - it really is!
  
  
  Hugs for the winner - and the loser!
  We have races up and down the Cherry Walk in the Botanic Gardens, and give hugs for prizes to the winner, and the loser!
  
  
• Take cuttings wherever you go.
  Take cuttings of herbs, flowers, trees - anything you fancy, wherever it is allowed. Put them in pots when you get home with the kids.
  
  My kids love these experiments, and they especially love watering them.
  
  
• Get a pretty watering can, and take turns watering the garden.
  We bought a beautiful tin watering can, in lime green, for only a few dollars from a discount shop.
  
  The kids love to take turns watering the garden - it's a game they love to share in.
  
  What might have been work has become a joy to them!
  
  
• Choose as many productive plants as possible.
  Kids might like flowers, but they LOVE strawberries!
  
  Grow anything that gives a good, fast, yummy yield! And grow it in pots - the kids find potted gardens so much more manageable, and kid-sized.
  
  My son goes out every day to examine his blueberries, checking to see if any berries have developed yet.
  
  I keep finding lettuce leaves missing from our baby lettuces - yet our kids aren't keen to eat the shop bought ones!
  
  
  Heirloom rocket
  The mint, rocket, and baby spinach all take a beating from nibbling kids, who can't seem to keep away from anything we grow ourselves! Growing these foods is promoting healthy eating!
  
  
  My son's baby strawberries!
  And my son is so proud of his baby strawberries!
  
  
• Ask the kids what they'd like to grow!
  I go to the garden center with the kids. When I'm choosing plants, I ask for input.
  My son wanted the blueberries. He's got them!
  My daughter wanted cucumbers, and now ours are growing from seed really well!
  Kids need to own a project in order to learn from it. There's no point teaching from books, but if they can get their hands dirty and help, they'll remember what to do and how to do it.
  

I think, in the years to come, knowing how to grow food will be one of the most useful skills a person can have. I think humanity is headed for tough times.

But even if we're not, what better way to teach kids about respect for nature, love for everything living and green, and healthy eating and exercise, than by doing food gardening and farming from an early age?

I love my garden time with the kids. It is a precious gift I never expected to receive. And for that I am grateful.

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