By Vanessa Richins

When I was a tiny child, I remember proudly bringing home a paper cup full of dirt and bean seeds.

I would watch anxiously for the first peep of the stem pushing through the soil.

Years later, I still enjoy watching new plants grow.

Gardening can teach children so many skills. They learn about science, patience, math and more. You don’t have to wait until summer, either. There are many gardening projects that can be started indoors year-round - especially inviting in the bleak winter months.

- Pop Bottle Terrarium

My friend Chris McLaughlin is a Master Gardener and 4H instructor. She has made soda pop bottle terrariums with Read the rest of this entry »

By Cindy Naas

Those of us involved in the urban farming movement already know the benefits of growing our own.

The next step is to make sure we pass this on to the next generation.

Dorset Cereals, a UK-based company, has stepped forward with a winning idea to address this issue.

Dorset Cereals produce various organic cereals filled with good things. Their concern for children now extends to the Edible Playground Project.

An edible playground is a place for schoolchildren to grow all manner of fruits and vegetables. In the Edible Playground website are tips not only for getting started with creating a child’s veggie garden, but also Read the rest of this entry »

By Cindy Naas

Part of the motivation for putting in a vegetable garden in my city garden was to show my children how their food grows.

I wanted to pass down the my father’s love of gardening to my sons, and so I have always made sure that each child gets to grow something every summer.

It’s amazing, too, how quickly a child who hates veggies will gobble down a plate of green beans if he grows them himself. Growing veggies can be good for your child for so many reasons.

Here are a few good choices for teaching beginning gardeners how to grow things they can enjoy:

1. Radishes- these germinate Read the rest of this entry »