Page 4 - Bringing out the Potential In Our Children - Gardeners - Food Producers

Chapter 1: Choosing Your Spot and Ensuring Those

Beginning Successes

There is an old Chinese proverb which I have modified -

Give someone some fresh produce and they will eat for a day.
Teach them to garden and they will never be hungry.
They can have food to eat for a lifetime.

To start off you’re going to need a special spot for your child to start
growing in. This chapter deals with finding a good gardening spot and also

what it takes for successful gardening, bringing beginning successes that
will turn your child into a lifelong gardener. To set your children up for

success

● Start with a small plot that’s easy for them to manage. Make it a

spot of their very own even if that spot is just one container they are
growing in. You can always add more containers later or expand their

growing area when they are ready for more.
● Make sure they are involved in every aspect of the creation of
their garden. By everything, I mean EVERYTHING - from the
choosing of their gardening spot, planting and caring for their garden

and be sure it’s them who do the harvesting and bring in their goodies
to add to the table. No matter how small the contribution, it’s
important they see they can add to the family food supply and well-

being by providing food for the table.
● come prepared to help out a little 'behind the scene' with things
they may not be ready for yet. You may need to do some pest

control, or move the sprinkler around, perhaps some of the initial
breaking of the ground. Let them do whatever they are capable of
remembering that the child's 'ownership' of the plot is the main thing.
● Never rush things. Give your child lots of time to explore,

bringing out their sense of wonderment and curiosity. There is a
whole lot happening in the garden they’ll want to check out and you’ll