a small yield
I am an Earth-loving mother of two young girls. My oldest is 5 1/2 and my youngest is almost 3. We have a small garden in the corner of our yard where we plant and harvest some easy-growing vegetables. Our soil isn’t great, and I’m still learning how to garden successfully, so our yields have always been relatively small. Basically our garden veggies supplement rather than replace our grocery produce. But I am finding that I am mostly okay with this. For now.
For me, the most important thing about having a garden at this point in our lives is being able to teach the kids where our food comes from and how it grows. I want to give them the chance to see that they can contribute to bringing food to the table.
However, other than a mild interest in digging up potatoes last year my girls have never been interested in the garden, except for that fact that it’s a great place to find worms.
I have to say I’m really glad I’m not worm-phobic. Or snake-phobic for that matter, although the days of handling them and throwing them at people like I did when I was a kid are totally over. Now, I can be amused with them from a short distance. But I can handle worms. As long as no one pulls them apart, squishes, maims or kills them in any way, I’m happy to support my kids yanking them from their dirt paradise for a game of worm family; although, I do wish I could interest them in poking small holes in the dirt for planting some seeds instead of digging gaping holes among the lettuces for kidnapping some creeping invertebrates.
But I suppose that as long as we’re all outside, enjoying the good weather, and sitting among (rather than on) the plants, and watching (even if passively), little shoots grow into the food that eventually winds up on the table, I’m planting healthy ideas in their head that very well may end up as them planting vegetables in their own future gardens.
When I was very young my parents and grandparents kept gardens, and it wasn’t until very recently that I ever realized how much that impacted my own “green” values, how I eat and my reasons for raising vegetarian kids. So I suppose I can’t expect too much interest from my offspring right now either.
In fact, I think I should be grateful for anything that keeps them in the garden at all. So worms – thank you! Thank you for the joy you bring to my kids with your slimy, squirmy, worminess. Thank you for being my reluctant accomplices to keeping my kids interested in sitting in the dirt with me. Oh, yes, and keep up the good work with all the lovely things you do down there in the dirt amongst my beans and kale. You are appreciated!
This post is for the Green Moms Carnival being hosted this month by Green Talk.
Do your kids like to play with worms too? How else do you keep your kids in the garden?
Posted by Melodie Bloggie Stuff, Environmental Responsibility, My Values, Real Food Nutrition Subscribe to RSS feed
Our garden is one of the biggest sources of entertainment in the spring and summer months. Last year we planted Kamut. It was really amazing to see it grow from seed, into wavy wheat and then into our pizza dough. We live in town and have made the most of our little patch of land (we don’t have an acreage). It was such a great feeling in the summer to be outside with the kids, looking for something to do and gravitating to the sugar peas growing. I agree with you, giving children the opportunity to see how food grows and how good it tastes from your own garden is such a gift. And the worms, well, those are more fun than anything.
.-= Catherine´s last blog ..the best toy =-.
Hey BF Mom! Thanks for the visit. Glad I found you since I try very hard to be a green mama (and often fail, but I do try). Just did my first garden last year–killed more vegetables than I grew, but I did get a decent amount of tomatoes. Look forward to reading you!
Our family is in the process of trying to buy some acreage in the suburbs of Dallas/Fort Worth. We want to grow produce, raise goats for milk and chickens for eggs and meat. We want our children to value food rather than take it for granted. Sorry, I read you’re a vegetarian. Not trying to stir up any controversy here!
This post caught my eye because (gasp!) we actually raise worms. They live in two compost bins and make soil for our future garden. They are amazing little creatures and great to have around!
.-= Heather Dessinger´s last blog ..3 Day Potty Training With Lora Jensen: Day 1 =-.
@Heather – No controversy on my part. My husband eats meat as do most people I know and love. And I think it’s great for those who do eat meat to raise it themselves. Then you know what goes in it and are responsible for everything that happens to the animals. And I love ethically raised chickens who lay yummy rosy-orange’d yolked eggs! Yum!
.-= Melodie´s last blog ..March Love Links =-.
I brought Baby’s exersaucer outside today and he bounced excitedly while I planted some flower seeds, and when I dug up a worm, I thought of you (I read this b4 then but didn’t comment lol). I’m sure the birds were happy with me for uncovering worms! I want to grow an herb garden, but last year critters destroyed my herbs I grew in containers last summer, which was rather discouraging. So I’m trying wildflowers for now and am going to think about whether to attempt basil and oregano.
.-= Maman A Droit´s last blog ..Tuesday is Newsday =-.
Our little fella absolutely loves the garden. Last year we planted wild flowers and tomatoes. He was fascinated with the tomatoes; down on his hands an knees, peering thru the leaves spotting the first green tomatoes. Then watching them as they ripened. And the joy on his face as he ate them!
It’s a first step in teaching where food comes from, in this day when most people are are so disconnected from their food and its source.
Regarding worms, we have them working hard in our compost bin!
[...] Melodie of Breastfeeding Moms Unite gardens to teach her children about where their food comes from. And how do her kids feel about gardening? “However, other than a mild interest in digging up potatoes last year my girls have never been interested in the garden, except for that fact that it’s a great place to find worms.” [...]
So much fun to discover your site and to know that when I next discover a worm, I will think of you and say, “Thank you!” Thanks for joining us in this Green Moms Carnival!
Thanks for joining in the Green Moms Carnival!
I’m always “rescuing” worms and moving them to my garden haha.
.-= Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green´s last blog ..Happy Earth Day Celebration Week! =-.