Celebrate the beauty of spring by making a magical fairy garden all your own

Your little one is no stranger to enchantments: from peering under rocks to fashioning wings and wands, the kingdom of the fairy is a magical place perfect for budding imaginations. What better way than to combine a love of the fae with a little small-scale gardening, of the little people, by the little people, and for the little people! We’ve got an easy tutorial on how to make a fairy garden for kids right here. For more seasonal fun, try a different gardening project for kids or giggle at a few spring jokes.

What You Need to Make a Fairy Garden for Kids

a succulent fairy garden for kids
Sara Olsher

A garden pot. Preferably one that is wide and/or bowl-shaped, so you have more room for all the tiny things, but any will do. Don’t forget the potting soil!

Plants. You can use annuals like lobelia, violets, or marigolds, or use succulents/sedum or other dwarf ground covers. If you want to get elaborate, get some bonsai trees. If your garden is indoor-only, look for teeny-tiny house plants, which you can pick up at a garden center for only a few dollars. Be sure and water the plants when you bring them home and before planting.

Shortcut: no plants or place to really grow them? Try a little florist moss for a woodland effect without the woods!

Little Things. Here’s where you can get creative. Decorate your fairy garden with little items found or created. Pinecones trees, stick teepees, and stones for benches or garden paths all give the fairy garden an au naturel feeling. Many nurseries now carry miniature “fairy house” items, but you can scour your toy boxes for the just-right accessory: a petite teacup could become a fountain or reflection pool, little flags from hors d’oeuvres designate fairy territory, large marbles become garden globes. We love this popsicle stick house (and table and chair set). Also, try aquarium stores for tiny castles and similar structures. And don’t forget LEGO bricks! 

Create Your Fairy Kingdom

a jeweled fairy garden for kids
iStock

Fill your pot with soil. If you have any larger “structural” items, such as a tiny house, put that in place before you plant. Designate an area where you will put your garden path. Most of the smaller items can be added after, or in some cases, on top of the plants.

Make sure your plants have been watered but aren’t still soaking wet.

Tip: Layout your plants and larger garden decor in the pattern you’d like before you remove the plants from their pots. That way, you can rearrange them a bit before deciding exactly where they’ll go.

Plant your plants with enough space in between them for them to grow. As a rule of thumb, plant the largest plant you have first (i.e. the bonsai tree) and anything that might trail over or creep a bit closer to the edge of the pot. Before you accessorize, be sure you are happy with the placement of your plants. You can move them a bit after planting if necessary, but it’s best to avoid this too much as it will traumatize the plants and they may not thrive.

Tip: If you aren’t using live plants, you still need to create an elevated surface in your pot. If you prefer to skip the dirt, you could try using small pebbles to create a relatively flat surface on which to create your garden.

Now place in an area where fairies are sure to visit: garden, deck, porch, bedroom windowsill, or dresser near a window.

 

Every year, we dedicate a day to acknowledging, appreciating, and preserving our planet. Earth Day is a beautiful way to teach children the importance of keeping our world healthy and clean. This year, Portland has a whole host of events planned for getting out into the communities we love and cherish to do our part in keeping our environment happy. Bringing the kids along to these events is the perfect way to help them understand the importance of protecting our ecosystem, as well as having a little outdoor fun! Need help finding out where to go? No problem – scroll down to see our list of 2022 Earth Day events for kids!

Clean-Up in Northwest Portland

SolveOregon via Instagram

Let’s face it – we live in a city, and in a city there is trash. We might not always have the time to stop and pick up some of that garbage we see on our daily commutes, but this April, we can make time. Bring the kiddos out to northwest Portland to spend a Saturday morning cleaning up the neighborhood! The Hostel Cafe is acting as the hub for this Earth Day tradition, and they’ll have you covered. SOLVE Oregon will provide the bags, the litter grabbers, the gloves, and the refreshments – all you need to do is show up in your best pair of walking shoes, but you can bring all of your own materials if you’d like!

Where: Northwest Portland International Hostel – 479 NW 18th Ave., Portland, OR 
When: Apr. 23, 2022 from 9- 11 a.m.
Online: Event Details

Trail Work in Forest Park

Portland is home the largest urban forest in the country. It offers local families gorgeous trials to bike and hike throughout the year. What better way to celebrate Earth Day then by keeping Forest Park trails clean and healthy. Join Portland families in our city's beloved Forest Park for the annual trail work party with the Forest Park Conservancy. Attendees will work throughout the morning until noon working on the trails. Sign-up is required in advance.

Where: Forest Park
When: Apr. 24, 9 a.m.
Online: Event Details

CEC Carbon Friendly Transportation Challenge

Cleaning up the streets and giving to outdoor programs are great ways to get involved for Earth Day this year, but what if you need a little something extra to challenge your green-ness? Corvallis Environmental Center [CEC] has just the thing for you! Take up the challenge of diminishing your transportation-carbon footprint for all of April by getting creative for when you’re on the go! Gather the kids and brainstorm all the fun ways to get to the park, the store, or their friends’ houses! By bus? By bike? By foot? The options are nearly limitless, especially here in Portland. See how much of a difference you can make this month, and as a bonus, you’ll avoid the crazy gas prices at your neighborhood fuel spot. 

How: AtlasGo App [track mileage alongside other challenge-goers!]
Online: Event Details.

Saturday Restoration Work Party

As Portlanders, we spend a lot of time enjoying the beauty that is Forest Park. But how often do we take the time to tend to it? This April, the Forest Park Conservancy is giving you and your family an opportunity to do just that. Teaching the kids about the harm caused by invasive species is a great way to introduce them to the makeup of their surrounding environment. And then they get to help rid the park of all that ivy! Suit the whole family up in long pants and close-toed shoes, and spend your Saturday at the Birch Trailhead – Forest Park Conservancy will provide all necessary trainings, tools, and gloves. 

Proof of vaccination is required. 

Where: Birch Trail, Portland OR 
When: Apr. 16  9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Online: Event Details.

Earth Day Community Celebration

This full-day event is sure to get the kids pumped about celebrating our awesome planet. Get to know your neighbors and show up on Earth Day at Washington Highschool to enjoy an afternoon of panel discussions, arts & crafts, and live music! Make sure to bring props, homemade signs, and your best Earth accessories so you can take part in the parade that happens at 5 PM! After that, you can make your way to Clinton Street Records for a little pre-screening bash before settling in at the Clinton Theater to watch Rad Earth [$10/person] with your family. There is no better way to get out into your community, have quality family time, and appreciate the beautiful place we call home. 

Where: Revolution Hall Field [AKA Washington Highschool] – 1300 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 
When: Apr. 22, 1- 9 p.m.
Online: Event Details

 

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It seems like I’ve been gardening all my life. And teaching children the skills and love for gardening are what brings me joy in the gardening world. If you can see their huge smiles and excitement as they watch their plants grow, then you know you have instilled a love for nature. I still remember as a young child, my parents would bring me out to their backyard to help plant pumpkin seeds. I then graduated to planting tree saplings to learning how to transplant, divide plants, and propagate.

While not every child desires to learn about plants, most of them do however enjoy being outdoors and digging their fingers in the soil. There are health benefits to growing your own garden or planting your own food. You get to be outside in fresh air, you decide on what you want to grow, you can see pollinators visit your garden, and you can enjoy the bounty of your fresh fruits and vegetables! And there are many easy-to-grow plants for children no matter their skill level. And with spring just around the corner, now is the best time to prepare for your spring planting. If you like to start with seeds, get them ready as most seeds take about 7-10 days to sprout and then 2-3 months for the plants to be fully grown. If you can’t wait for the seeds to sprout and transplant, then seedlings or small established plants might be a better choice.

Below are 10 ways of getting your child interested in growing their own garden. These are fairly easy steps and you can start small with just a few plants.

1. Start off with easy to grow plants. Beans, beets, carrots, peas, radishes, and tomatoes are all easy beginner plants. Buy organic seeds or seedlings whenever possible as these are edible plants. Peas, tomatoes, and carrots can be easily grown in planters too.

2.  Enlist them in the garden design. Decide on whether you want to grow in a planter or directly in the ground. Planters are great for beginners or if you have a small space. Pick planters that have good drainage holes.

3. Make it personal by planting a favorite flower. Check out planting seasons and plant their favorite flower or birth flower.

4. Study the full life cycle of a seed. Most seeds take about 7-10 days to sprout. Seedlings are usually about 2-3 inches tall and can be planted directly into the ground or in a planter that can accommodate the size of a fully grown plant. Growing from seeds is particularly fun because your child can track the growth of the seed as it germinates into a seedling!

5. Take your child to a garden center. Walk around the garden center to see what’s in season and get inspiration. Talk to a horticulturist while there to get some insider tips on growing a bountiful garden! And while you’re there, pick up some plants to take home.

6. Purchase basic garden tools. Buy thick gloves, garden spade, garden hand trowel, a small rake, garden shears, and a watering can. Get either child-size tools or smaller adult sizes so they’ll grow with your child.

7. Go on a nature walk at a local park or arboretum. This will inspire both you and your child to appreciate and discover various plants. Oftentimes arboretums will sell native plants so they’re great for your little ones to choose for themselves.

8. Create a plant journal. Depending on the age of your child, you can have them start a plant journal where they can draw or cut out pictures of what they’re planting. Then record the start date of planting and the growth period. This also helps develop good recording skills for future planting and gardening techniques.

9. Grow specific plants for pollinators. Great plants to grow for butterflies and bees are native flowers or all-inclusive plants such as herbs, sunflowers, and daisies. Pollinators help increase the growth of your own plants as well as help them pollinate other plants. I love growing Milkweed for our Monarch butterflies during springtime. These unique and beautiful pollinators are instantly attracted to this specific plant and you’ll get to watch the cute little caterpillars too!

10. Plant a hummingbird habitat garden. Once in a while, I will grow plants that hummingbirds love right in front of my front door. It’s so delightful to hear their little wings flap as they drink the nectar from my plants. Hummingbird plants include Butterfly Bush, Trumpet Vine, and Honeysuckles. Just think of anything in a tubular flower shape where their long beaks can fit into the flowers. Instill the love of gardening and being in nature when your child is young. Teach them basic gardening skills and they’ll soon want to grow a garden for you! Happy gardening!

I am a mom first and foremost. I might not be a supermom, but I am constantly learning and growing.Topics I stand with are parenting, the environment, and living a healthy and happy lifest‌yle. I work at an elementary school and I have 30 years experience in the health industry.

Spring is here, and that means planting season for all the green thumbs out there. Even if you’re not inclined to gardening, the following life lessons still hold meaning both in and out of the garden.

1. Have Faith in Something Greater
Reality: When you plant a seed in the earth, you don’t know how that sprout grows, or whether it will grow at all.
Takeaway: Every sprout is a miracle. Every seed is just untapped potential, waiting to come to life. There is a little bit of faith that goes into each planting, which makes the act that much more significant.

2. Patience Is a Virtue
Reality:
Waiting for something to sprout can take time and a lot of patience. Some seeds take longer than others. 
Takeaway: Sometimes we can do everything right to give seeds what they need, but it’s not up to us to decide when they are ready to show themselves. Patience is key here. 

3. Witnessing Something From the Beginning of Its Life
Reality: Daily watering, feeding, fertilizing, and pruning are just some of the tasks that go into maintaining a garden.
Takeaway: When that seed does finally sprout, it never fails to take my breath away. Watching a plant grow from a seed in your hand to a seedling to a bigger plant that produces fruit or blooms, then cultivating it as it continues through its life cycle is splendid indeed.

4. Failure Is a Stepping Stone
Reality: Sometimes seeds don’t take and you have to keep trying again to grow something. Or maybe an animal may come and eat your plants, requiring you to start over.
Takeaway: Gardening teaches us that it’s okay to fail as long as we are trying, and trying again.

5. Being Grateful for What Nature Provides for Us—Beauty & Food 
Reality: Nature constantly provides us with the beauty of the earth in the form of flowers or edible plants. 
Takeaway: It can be easy to take nature for granted when plants bloom from seed without a second thought. But when we take a moment to revel in the colors, take a deep breath, and truly marvel at the goodness of nature, do we feel truly blessed.

This post originally appeared on The Haute Mommy Handbook.

Jen Kathrina-Anne is a blogger, freelance writer, and graphic designer. When she’s not writing or designing, she enjoys spending time outdoors in the California Bay Area where she resides with her husband and two fearless daughters. Find her at www.hautemommyhandbook.com.

 

Portlanders  love the outdoors and animals, and with COVID keeping us close to home many families have considered growing and raising animals and plants for fun, hope, and sustenance. New to gardening and want to grow fresh food for your family this summer? Here’s our handy guide to getting your very own urban farm up and running. Read on for all the details on digging in!

Jonathan Hanna via unsplashed

Choose your garden location

You don’t need a ton of space to grow a lot of food! Even a sunny balcony or patio can yield a surprising amount. Be sure to choose a location that allows for maximum sun, but a little shade during part of the day is nice during the summer months, to keep tender veggies from burning. For minimal to no outdoor space, try a kitchen herb box on a windowsill, or contact Portland Parks & Recreation to find out about a low-cost community garden plot in one of more than 30 community gardens all over the city. Have a little more space? Container gardening is a great choice for balconies, patios, rentals, and small spaces. If you have room for a raised bed, there are resources for building a simple box of your own, and Portland Edible Gardens will even build one for you! Maximize space by choosing unused areas like parking strips and grassy medians between driveways. A water-hogging lawn can be transformed into an in-ground garden with a little effort, yielding big results.

Prepare the Soil

Good food grows from the soil up! If you want to feed yourself well, you need to feed the soil first. Portland Nursery has a wealth of information available on their website to help you determine soil health. Metro Master Gardeners, of the OSU Master Garden Extension program, can also help, including soil test kits to figure out the presence of lead and other potentially harmful toxins. Smaller container gardens and raised beds can be topped with bagged potting soil available at local nurseries. For larger raised beds and in-ground gardens, local topsoil options for delivery and pickup include Foster Fuel and Deans. For a slower burn, try lasagne-style sheet mulching to suppress grass and weeds. Layer cardboard, manure, and straw directly over the grass, and wait a month or two to harness the power of earthworms and microbes to turn it all into fertile soil. You can add a layer of topsoil before planting.

Make a Plan

For small raised beds, Square Foot Gardening is a great beginner method with gratifying high-yield results. Choose from dozens of books on the method or browse the official website for resources, including affordable online courses from certified instructors. The OSU Extension program has a short guide on raised bed planting as well. No matter what method you choose, draw a sketch of your garden and mark out what plants you plan to grow. Different plants have different germination-to-harvest rates, meaning you can grow quick-growing veggies like radishes in between rows of slower-growing carrots. You'll also want to think about how much space each plant will require. A sketch will help you estimate space requirements, as well as think ahead to fall and winter crops. Check out Portland Nursery's handy planting calendar for fruits and veggies to learn more. Keep your sketches in a designated folder or notebook so you can refer back to it later. For multiple beds and single beds alike, succession planting will help you rotate your crops and reduce pest pressure in future seasons. Take advantage of online instructional videos like the ones at Portland Edible Gardens.

 

 

Markus Spiske

Decide on Irrigation

Before you get your plants in the ground, it's a good idea to think about how you'll water them. Hand-watering with a hose, bucket, or watering can is the simplest choice, appropriate for containers and single raised beds. For multiple raised beds and larger areas, consider a soaker hose that you can wind through plants. Connect one end to your hose and let it irrigate plants while you weed or harvest. Raised bed irrigation kits take automated watering to the next level. Add a timer to take the guesswork out of it. For in-ground gardens, you can  purchase irrigation supplies in bulk for more savings.

Plant

Now the fun part! Get those plants in the ground! You can purchase starts (young plants in small containers) for most vegetables, but some plants do better from seed, like carrots and radishes, because they don't like to be moved. You may choose to plant certain things from seed to save money, or experience the magic of watching a plant grow. Consider your timing as well. If you're just getting started in June, for example, you may want to pick up larger tomato starts to ensure you get to eat those tasty ripe fruits before summer wanes. Lay out your plant starts (or draw lines in the soil if planting seeds), following package directions for spacing and seed depth. If you need extra guidance on planting or any of the steps above, Growing Gardens offers virtual consulting to meet your level of experience.

Tend and Harvest

For best results, keep soil loose, moist, and weed-free throughout the growing season. Read up on individual crop preferences. Potatoes, for example, need to dry out at a certain point to keep tubers from rotting underground. Alliums like garlic and onions have similar needs. Plan ahead so you can easily block water to those crops while watering others, using goof plugs on irrigation lines. Watch for pest pressure and consult local experts if you're having trouble defending crops against slugs, caterpillars, or other pests. Many organic methods exist to preserve your harvest while respecting Mother Nature! The Master Gardeners at OSU Extension Programs have a well-established Ask an Expert process for fielding your questions about pest control and many other gardening solutions.

Jan Babarook unsplashed

Chickens and Ducks

For even more of an urban farm experience, consider hosting your own flock! Portland allows for up to three backyard chickens or ducks without a permit, but roosters are prohibited. Buy chicks, pullets, and ducklings from established nurseries and hatcheries, who do their best to send you home with female birds. (Most offer a 90% sexing guarantee.) Due to recent high demand, you'll want to call ahead or email to join waiting lists. Naomi's Organic Farm Supply is nearing the end of their chick orders, but check the website for updates. They're also a great resource for hen and duck supplies! In Portland and Gresham, Burns Feed Store offers chicks from February through mid-August, and Woodburn's Pete's Hatchery will even mail your chicks to you!

Fun Projects with Kids

To get your child interested in gardening, read Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow, then plant a rainbow garden together. Choose a mix of vegetables and flowers in every color. Try red tomatoes, orange marigolds, yellow sunflowers, "Green Envy" zinnias (or any leafy green), blue bachelor's buttons, and purple kale. Planning and planting a pizza garden is another fun way to get kids invested in tending crops from seed to table. Or build a fun structure like a sunflower house and let kids sit under the impressive canopy come high summer.

 

John Mcklung

Local Shops and Resources

The Portland Metro area is filled with nurseries, farm supply stores, and nonprofits ready to help you get growing. They're working hard during the pandemic to keep customers safe and supplied. So return the favor and buy local whenever possible! With a little planning and some patience, you can get everything you need locally to grow a great garden this year.

OSU Extension Master Gardener Program
Visit the website for your local extension office, and for more information on online events including free or low-cost classes in veggie gardening.

Online: extension.oregonstate.edu

Growing Gardens
3114 SE 50th Ave.
503-284-8420
info@growing-gardens.org
Online: growing-gardens.org

Portland Edible Gardens
503-893-9312
info@portlandediblegardens.com
Online: portlandediblegardens.com

Naomi's Organic Farm Supply
3454 SE Powell Blvd.
order@naomisorganic.com
Online: naomisorganic.blogspot.com

Coronavirus specifics: The shop is closed to the public, but open for online orders. Email your order on any day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when staff closes orders. Emails sent after 5 pm Monday and before opening on Thursday will be deleted. This is to stay on top of orders!

Portland Nursery
5050 SE Stark St.
503-231-5050
9000 SE Division St.
503-788-9000
Online: portlandnursery.com

Tony's Garden Center
10300 SE Holgate Blvd
503-760-7718
Online: tonysgarden.com

Coronavirus specifics: Store is open to the public. Wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines. Taped markers throughout the nursery show appropriate distancing when waiting in line or browsing. Open Daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Garden Fever
3433 NE 24th Ave.
info@gardenfever.com
Online: gardenfever.com

Coronavirus specifics: Open for paid order pickup Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Download and attach order forms online, and email. Staff will call to collect payment and explain pickup.

Burns Feed Store
29215 SE Orient Drive
Gresham, OR 97080
503-663-3246
Online: burnsfeed.com

Pete's Hatchery
13148 NE Portland Rd.
Gervais OR 97026
844-307-4777
Online: peteshatchery.com

Mt. Scott Fuel (soil)
6904 SE Foster Rd.
503-774-3241
Online: mtscottfuel.com

Deans Residential (soil)
6400 SE 101st Ave.
503-281-1637
Online: fineroutdoorliving.com

Wichita Feed and Hardware
6089 SE Johnson Creek Blvd.
503-775-6767
Online: wichitafeedandhardware.com

 

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Last spring we all spent a lot more time in the garden—maybe for the first time. This year, keep your kids gardening with plants and accessories that not only thrive in our temperate climate but show your city spirit too. From Zoo Doo to sporty gnomes, your kids will really dig these Seattle garden must-haves.

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

1. Zoo Doo
While Woodland Park Zoo's Zoo Doo Compost has "serious gardener" written all over it, we think it also screams "kid!" After all who else can appreciate the commingling of rhino, giraffe, hippo and zebra poop better than a toddler? Families can find Zoo Doo in two-gallon ($25) and pint-sized buckets ($6.95) at the ZooStore year-round.

2. Pacific Rhododendron
Colorful and oh-so-easy to grow, Rhododendron belong in Seattle gardens. Not only is it the state flower, but it also announces the arrival of spring with a much-needed pop of color.

Polly Dot via Pixabay

3. Pollinators
Make your house a home for mason bees this year. These gentle bees pollinate fruit trees and bushes at a rate 100 times that of honeybees, and including them in your Seattle garden is as easy as renting them in spring. Help your garden grow and help your kids connect to the food they eat—that's a win-win!

4. Fairies
Did you know that the original miniature garden maker lives in Seattle, and that she used to work at Swanson's Nursery? It's true. Local author Janit Calvo is all about installing a small garden in your big one, and we couldn't think of a better way to entice your kiddos to exercise their green thumb. Before you build your fairy garden, get inspired by these imaginative environs.

amazon.com

5. A Spirited Garden Gnome
If you've got fairies in your garden, you may as well invite a gnome to live there too. If he's wearing Seahawks colors, you know he'll fit right in. Now to track down a Seattle Storm gnome—anyone got a lead?

6. A Rain Gauge
They say it rains here. But are they right? Find out how much when you place a simple rain gauge in your garden. Shhh... don't tell the kids, but taking daily, weekly or monthly measurements adds extra science to your garden growing experience.

Jan Haerer via Pixabay

7. Your Beach Combing Treasures
If you've been trying to figure out where, oh where to put your little beach bum's pocketed treasures, why not try the garden? It's the perfect spot to arrange sea glass, special rocks and seashells kids collect after a day tide pooling or sandcastle building.

8. Scented Ground Covers
Because you can only remind your kiddos so many times that "flowers are fragile," plant durable ground covers that can survive a toddler's busy feet walking over them. And if they're scented—even better. Corsican mint, dwarf chamomile and many thymes release fragrant scents when touched or walked on. This fascinating feature will surely keep your little gardener's attention.  

Filip Urban via unsplash

9. "Attractive" Plants 
Make your garden come alive with butterflies and hummingbirds. Attract them by planting colorful blooms they can't resist. Hummingbirds love orange and red hues you'll find in bleeding hearts, honeysuckle and fuchsia. Butterflies look for colorful flowers that easily grow in our climate, like sunflowers, lantana, lupine and johnny jump-ups.

10. Things to Eat
Whether you've got a container on your deck, a raised bed in your backyard or a P-Patch plot in your neighborhood, planting fruits and veggies are what summer gardens are all about. Strawberries, tomatoes and simple herbs that kids can grow and eat makes gardening an exciting way to spend the day. Not sure where to start or what to plant? Check out Swanson's vegetable gardening resources to get started.

—Allison Sutcliffe

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Never mind the snow: spring is coming! It might seem early to be making plans to garden with the kids, but the truth is, it’s almost time to start seeds indoors! (A cool, educational thing to do with kids in the final days of winter.) Lots of families learned the joy of urban gardening when it swept NYC last year, and rest assured: anyone can grow and nurture plants with some research and the right advice. We spoke to local experts about how you can garden with kids in NYC whether you have a windowsill or a wide open field. Read on to get growing!

The Basics: What You Need to Get Started

Neslihan Gunaydin via Unsplash

You know this from grammar school—heck, your kids know this from grammar school—but just to review, these are the key ingredients for happy, healthy plants.

Emily Carter, Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Children’s Garden Assistant Coordinator, stresses that getting these basic plant needs right will lead to a good experience for both your family and the plants: "Remember that sun, water, and nutrients (healthy soil) are the fundamentals of happy plants, so focus on how you can provide those basics."

Location, location, location
First, some good news: You can grow many things indoors, as long as you pick your plants carefully. If you're gardening for the first time, that's the first thing you'll need to consider — your available space.

Where will you put your plants? You can grow plants indoors, grow them in-ground or in pots outdoors, use a window box, or some combination of these. The space you have for your little garden will determine what kinds of plants you get, so give it some thought before you go seed shopping!

Sunlight
Another important factor to consider is the sunlight available in your space.

Does your place get a lot of natural light throughout the day, or are you working with a square foot of direct sunlight for an hour in the morning? (That's the experience of this writer, and we still managed to get some plants to grow, so don't be disheartened!) Even if you have outdoor space, think about how often it's in shadow. Depending on the amount of sunlight you have at your disposal, you can consider supplementing the natural sunlight with some grow lights, but it's often easier to choose to grow plants that suitable to the conditions you have. 

Quality soil
Not all soil is made equal! The NYC Parks Department describes the best potting soils as containing "peat, sphagnum moss, perlite, and vermiculite." Stay away from the dollar store stuff and invest in a quality soil that contains those components listed as primary ingredients. It really makes all the difference! 

Water
Once you get your plants situated, you'll need to water them, of course. You don't need any special sources or water here: Tap water — and NYC tap water in particular — should be perfectly safe for your plants, though it's recommended that you leave the water sitting until it's room temperature to reduce the chances of shock from the temperature shift in the soil.

You might think that the more water, the better but the truth is actually closer to the opposite: Many first time plant owners tend to overwater their plants, causing them to die! Juliette Vassilkioti, founder of NYC-based indoor plant experts My City Plants, recommends that you make sure top of soil is completely dry before watering your plant. (You can stick a finger into the top inch of soil to make sure it's dry — a task the kids are sure to love taking part in!)

”Easy-to-grow Starter Plants”

”Katya Austin via Unsplash ″

Are you getting plants because you think they’re beautiful or delicious? Do you want your kids to actively participate or do you plan to turn the experience into a full teaching moment? Your reasons for starting a garden (indoor or out) will guide your plant- and seed-purchasing decisions.

Set yourself up for success by picking plants that are more forgiving of beginners.Here are some of the best starter plants for first-time gardeners and budding young botanists.

Vegetables & Herbs

Davor Denkovski via Unsplash

Both Carter from the BBG and the gardeners at Wave Hill recommend leafy greens and culinary herbs for growing plants with kids. Plants like lettuce, arugula, mesclun, mustard greens, basil, thyme, mint, and oregano are not only easy to grow, but they also "put on growth that kids can harvest at any stage and don't have to wait for a whole season," point out Wave Hill experts.

Carter notes that "These plants have edible leaves, which means they require less solar energy and time to be edible. Plants like tomatoes require much more solar energy and time to grow leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. Therefore, they are not the best match for small indoor spaces." (In general, vegetables and fruits need a lot of direct sunlight.)

If you do have an outdoor space that gets six to eight hours of sun available, Wave Hill and the BBG name eggplant, pepper, and tomato as good plants to start indoors. Move them outside when the weather warms, whether your plan is to replant them in the ground or into larger pots. You can either start these from seed (more on that below) or buy "starter", or smaller plants at your local garden center. If you do plan on potting your plants in containers, know that some varieties have been developed specifically for growing in containers, which means you'll likely have more success with them. 

If you have the luxury of a patch of sunny soil, Carter recommends radishes and carrots. "If you can grow in-ground, many radish varieties have a quick harvest turnaround and carrots come in lots of exciting colors."

Beans and other legumes are a good choice for beginning botany. Per Wave Hill, "[They are] a fun crop because they offer an introduction to seed biology and plant structure. The large seeds produce cotyledons and roots that help kids visualize how seeds can transform into full-grown plants."

You can also settle somewhere in between by planting the BBG's recommended choices for large outdoor pots, whether that's in your garden or in a window box: Herbs like rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, cilantro, and dill. (Hot tip: cilantro often "bolts" or produces seeds, especially as the weather warms; one way to maintain a supply is to periodically seed throughout the season.)

Flowers

Robert Zunikoff via Unsplash

If you're looking to brighten up your space and attract wildlife and insects, flowers are a great choice.  BBG's Carter recommends marigolds (shown above)— their seeds germinate easily indoors and they can be moved into larger outdoor pots later in the spring. Nasturtium are also a good choice— you'll need to soak their seeds overnight then start them indoors or plant them directly outside in May. (Once they flower, you can add their vibrant flowers to your salads!) "And don’t forget your giant sunflowers," adds Carter.  These are definitely outdoor plants, as they can grow up to 16 feet tall depending on the variety! (Smaller varieties are available as well.)

Planting flowers native to this area is also a good bet, as they are more likely to thrive in conditions here. For outdoor containers like window boxes, balcony pots, or gardens,  NYC Parks suggests planting native perennials, which return every year, such as milkweed... bee balm, and native grasses which are great for bees, butterflies, and moths."

A mix of flowers and herbs can also be used to create a sensory garden with plants that stimulate the senses with "Strong smells (basil, mint), unique textures (nasturtium, snap dragons), beautiful colors that attract pollinators (zinnias, marigolds, and other flowers)."

When to Plant Seeds

Markus Spiske via Unsplash

When to plant inside
For plants you plan to move outdoors, start them from seeds about six weeks before the last frost, which typically occurs in NYC in April. So if you plan to move your plants outdoors in early May (past May 7 is officially listed as a "safe" time to plant without fear of frost), you'll need to start your seeds around late March.

Wave Hill's gardeners add that "many warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplant benefit from transplanting seedlings. But most vegetables and flowers that are recommended to be started indoors can also be direct-sown, you just have to be a little more patient. The most important factor in timing seed starting is your area’s last, frost-free date and the specific needs of each plant."

Some seeds may need extra help
Know what your plant needs to do its thing. For example, some plants like basil, tomato, and pepper can only germinate when the soil is warm (between 65- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit), so if you're planting inside to get things started, consider buying a heat mat or placing the seed tray above your heater.

When to plant outside
If you're planting your seeds directly in the ground outdoors, they'll require a bit more care. In addition to choosing your planting time based on the need of each plant, you'll also need to consider compost, mulch, and pest control.

Mid-April to mid-May is a good time to start planting outdoors, since you're likely to be safe from frost by then. According to NYC Parks, April and May are also when you'd typically plant flowering plants like dahlias, sunflowers, and cosmos. 

But at the end of the day, each plant has its own needs and requirements. "Remember," says Carter, "The back of seed packets and a quick internet search of the plants you hope to grow will let you know exactly what each plant needs, to better guide your decisions."

Additional food for thought
Whether you're sowing outside or starting your seeds indoors, Carter also has some more intuitive advice if you want your little garden to yield vegetables and other edible goodies: "If you are hoping to grow outside, a good way to gauge timing is to think about what is 'in-season' in your grocery store throughout the year. Radish peas, beets, and arugula are the freshest in the spring, which means that starting your seeds in late winter will allow you to have a harvest several months later. Tomato, pepper, zucchini, beans, and eggplant is fresh and abundant at the farmers market in the summer. They like to grow in warm temperatures, which tells you that starting those seeds may be best in early to mid-spring so that they can grow big in the summer heat."

"Again," says Carter, "refer to your seed packets when you are thinking about timing for your plants! Agricultural extension webpages can give more specific seed starting times for the region that you live in, but it’s also exciting to think intuitively and follow the weather patterns of your area."

Where to Get Seeds

Hudson Valley Seed Company

The easiest places to get seeds and starter plants are plant nurseries, hardware stores, and garden centers. There are also many, many seed resources online (packages from one of our favorites Hudson Valley Seed Company shown here), but it can be fun to go to a store and pick out the seed packets with the kids. Know that the hard-core gardeners are already snapping up packets online and some seeds are selling out. 

You can support NYC businesses by shopping local — we have a list of some great places to check out in our roundup of stores that got gardeners through the early days of the pandemic last spring! (They delivered then, and they'll deliver now if you need them to.)

Beyond shopping around, there's one other excellent place where you can get some great plants to start with: Your kitchen. "Get creative!" says Carter. "You can use kitchen scraps to experiment with regrowing plants, try planting nuts and seeds you find outside, and reuse milk cartons or plastic drink containers to house your plants." Be sure to punch drainage holes at the base of recycled containers.

See What Works

Tilth Alliance @ Good Shepherd Center, Children's Garden

In the end, it's important to remember that while science is a big part of gardening, it's not an exact science. Any seasoned gardener will tell you that trial and error is part of the process; it often takes seeing what doesn't work to find out what does. "The best lesson that we have learned in our gardening journeys is to 'give it a try!'," says Carter of the BBG. "Plants are very resilient and the best way to learn is to put a seed in soil and keep track of what happens. Some may die and others may thrive, but diving right into the experience is the best way to learn."

So go get dirty this spring—and have fun! 

—Yuliya Geikhman

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How can we encourage our children to be more adventurous with vegetables while celebrating the Earth? How about growing our own salads and veggies?

But do kids like greens and salads? Yes, they do! Find out how much they like by exploring all the kid-approved lunchbox ideas on teuko.com that include greens and salads.

If you are ready to introduce more home-grown produce into your child’s meal plan, here are 7 kid-friendly vegetables and herbs to grow!

1. Lettuce
Because it is far superior, in taste and also in vitamins, to the store-bought alternative, we love planting lettuce. It is one of our favorite garden greens! You can plant lettuce in the spring, starting two weeks before frost. If you plant lettuce in the fall, you should start sowing again eight weeks before the fall frost. Then, you can harvest lettuce when full size, but just before maturity. The leaves, indeed, taste better when they’re still young and tender – and the kids will love it!

2. Spinach
Spinach can replace lettuce in salads. We love it because it brings more iron, calcium, and vitamins than most cultivated greens, and one of the best sources of vitamins A, B, and C. Though it cannot grow in midsummer, spinach can be planted in very early spring, as well as in fall and even winter in some areas!

3. Cucumbers
With their refreshing crunchiness, cucumbers are easy-care vegetables as they grow quickly as long as they receive consistent watering and warmth! Did you know that you can get cucumbers year-round? Yes, indeed, by making successive plantings (every two weeks for continued harvests, as long as you have warm soil), cucumbers will grow quickly and ripen in about six weeks!

Oh! And don’t let cucumbers get too large before you pick them, or they will taste bitter and that would not be a big win for the kiddos’ lunch!

4. Cherry Tomatoes
Now let’s ditch the greens and have touches of red in the garden and in the lunchbox! Cherry tomatoes can be planted outdoors in late spring and in early summer. The exact days to harvest has an average of 60 days, and as long as they’re not stolen by wildlife (raccoons stole all the cherry tomatoes planted by the Teuko Kids last summer!), you will enjoy the savor immensely!

5. Radishes  
Other plants very easy to grow are radishes. These root vegetables are crunchy and fresh and bring a lovely pink color to the salad! Radishes can be planted several times in spring and in fall, and they can be harvested as soon as three weeks after planting!

6. Cilantro
What about adding additional flavor to the salad? Aromatic herbs like cilantro will definitely help. Though the leaves and seeds are used most often, did you know that cilantro is entirely edible? Cilantro is a fast-growing plant that grows best in the cooler weather of spring and fall. Try it in salads and in soups.

7. Basil
The other aromatic herb we want to highlight and that is easy to grow is basil. Like cilantro, basil brings an extra delightful touch in salads and in soups. Pair basil with tomatoes, olive oil, and sea salt (fleur de sel is the ultimate gourmet touch), and voilà! a delicious salad the whole family will enjoy. Basil needs a warm-weather environment, with sunlight, but it can perform well in partial sun too!

Wait! What if I don’t have any outdoor space?

Don’t worry! Solutions exist to grow veggies easily at home! Here are our top 3 picks:

1. The least expensive solution is a portable mini greenhouse.

2. An hydroponic system‘s indoor garden germination kit is designed with a water circulation system, increasing the oxygen in the water. Plants are growing in the nutrient water faster than soil.

3. Named the best invention by TIME Magazine, Gardyn is like a farmers market for your home! You can enjoy up to 30 fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs all growing at once!

Where can I get seeds to start growing my own veggies and herbs?

Our friends at Bank On Seeds, a small employee-owned and operated company that wants to help people grow their own food regardless of experience or available space, offer a Salad Pack Mini—a seed selection packed with popular salad bases and toppings. It is curated for indoor and small space growers. These plants are just as happy in a window box as they are filling out an outdoor garden bed.

 

This post originally appeared on Teuko Blog.

Teuko is the first platform that empowers families to simplify lunch packing. Using Teuko, they can find and share kid-approved lunchbox ideas, recipes, and tips, all in one place. Teuko is transforming the lunch packing experience by boosting inspiration and motivation week after week. 

Photo: Forest Founders

For many years we’ve been on the losing end of climate change. An unexpected byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020, our planet has seen some improvements it hasn’t seen in decades. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee the gains made will continue as stay-at-home orders around the world are eased. To protect the earth, it’s important to focus on the environment more than once a year, and get the next generation involved in saving the planet. With more family time now, it’s an ideal time to follow these five ways to get kids to care about the environment

Plant a Garden. Clearing space, tending the soil and planting herbs, fruits and vegetables or flowers helps kids understand the lifecycle of things. You can teach children that when you properly care for things they grow and flourish. Kids will get to see how a seed matures into either something to eat or something beautiful to look at.

Go to the (Food) Source. Ask a kid today where food comes from and you’re likely to hear “Whole Foods.” It’s important for kids to make the connection between what they see in the grocery store aisle and where food originates. Go fruit picking at an orchard and let your child see where apples come from, visit a farm so they can see how milk comes from a cow, take a tour of a creamery and learn how that same milk can transform into cheese.

Save the Trees. Trees are necessary for a healthy planet. Trees convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, but there aren’t enough trees right now to keep up with rising carbon emissions. Teaching children the importance of trees can help them understand how everything on Earth is connected and the importance of taking care of our precious natural resources. The nonprofit Forest Founders reinforces this relationship. Monthly subscriptions are designed to offset a family’s carbon footprint by planting trees. Parents can use this as a launching pad to explain how certain human activities aren’t as environmentally friendly so we need to offset a negative with a positive

Get Outside. Caring about the planet and respecting the environment begins with a love of the outdoors. Encourage kids to play outside and plan family activities like a bike ride or a hike. While you’re out, draw attention to the beauty-blue skies, autumn leaves, a bubbling brook. Teach kids about the different plants, trees and animals they see.

Volunteer. Environmental volunteer opportunities are plentiful. Help out by cleaning up a hiking trail, sprucing up a park or building a community garden. Children will closely see the effects of not taking care of the Earth and also learn the importance of giving back.

We have a unique opportunity right now to turn the clock back and improve the planet. While it’s important that adults take notice, it’s equally important that we instill the importance of a healthy planet in the next generation. Showing kids where food comes from, instilling a love of the outdoors, teaching the importance of trees, planting a garden, and volunteering to clean-up the environment are simple ways families can teach their kids to take care of the earth for themselves and future generations.

Dena Roché is a multi-faceted communications professional who assists luxury, hospitality and wellness brands become publishers of quality content and writes for national and international publications, while helping brands create their own messaging.

For the last 25 years, TIME for Kids has been a trusted source for millions of elementary students. Llast month the publication was made available digitally to students to access for free from their homes. Timed to Earth Day, TIME for Kids has released a special edition issue available for free in the TIME For Kids digital library.

Penguin

The cover story explores how scientists are taking a penguin census in Antarctica as part of a global penguin census to better understand the impact of climate change. Other stories in the issue include how the Netherlands is dealing with rising sea levels, a debate on if cars should be banned from cities, five Kid Heroes for the Planet, how classrooms in Africa are being built from recycled plastic garbage, the plants and animals of South America’s Amazon rain forest, a group in Pakistan is planting native trees and an interview with Bindi and Robert Irwin.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Uncoated via Pexels

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