Our Frugal Garden

My kids love planting their very own garden! Since the kids were about 18 months old, my mom has bought them their very own cherry tomato plant to grow and care for. For a few years, they would plant them in pots and put them on the deck. Last year they decided they wanted to plant a BIG garden. So... to prepare for their garden, the kids decided that they wanted to paint rocks with the names of everything they were going to plant in their garden! They went out in the yard and gathered all the rocks that they wanted to paint! Then we planted a garden together as a family!

The kids were so excited about planting a garden and taking care of it. They went out and checked on it several times each day. At first they didn't realize that it doesn't happen overnight. It sure would be nice if it were that quick and easy though!

Planting a garden is so much more that just a garden.  Not only is it fun for the kids but it's also a valuable learning experience. It teaches them responsibility: they have to water, weed and care for the garden in order for it to grow. It teaches them about home farming and it's benefits: fresh, organic vegetables that are delicious and healthy! It teaches them about community: they enjoy filling their wagon with their fresh picked vegetables and walking to the neighbors house to share their veggies of love! It teaches them about teamwork and family: look at what we can accomplish when we work together as a team. Plus, it's fun to spend that time together with them!
 
This weekend we picked the last veggies from our garden...