One easy way to show children the wonderful powers of nature is to plant a backyard garden or to become active with a community garden. I think it is very important for kids to understand where food comes from. Many children these days think food just comes from the supermarket; all prepackaged and covered in corn syrup.
Growing food in your back yard is healthy, saves some money on the grocery bill, allows you time to spend time together as a family, and teaches kids how plants grow. Nothing makes me happier than to see my child picking carrots out of the garden and taking a bite. My neighbor's daughter even sneaks tomatoes out of the garden and eats them like an apple.
The entire gardening process is a valuable lesson for children. My son loves helping mom and dad prepare the soil, plant seeds, water the garden, pull weeds, and of course he really enjoys harvesting. Kids can also get involved in composting and seed collecting. Starting a garden in the spring is a great way to commit to teaching them about nature all summer long. The lessons your child will learn about growing food will affect your child for their entire lifetime.
A lot of us remember backyard gardening with our parents each summer. That time in the sunshine with them is something you never forget. So if you already garden, make sure to think of ways the kids can help out this year. If you don't garden, why not start a small garden this year. If space is an issue start with one tomato plant in a planter on the patio.
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