GARDENING 101: A Summer Home Economics Course
Photo credit Tiffany Hinton
by Tiffany Hinton
Summer is nearly here, and
most of the schools are on break for the season. In the Chicagoland area, the
park districts and camps are still closed, leaving kids with less to do. This
gives parents an opportunity to teach them life skills, along with some
horticulture. A large yard is not needed, even a small patio or balcony can
bring this lesson to life. For the gardening season, our growing zone is number
5, meaning we grow food and vegetation from May to October. Gardening 101 can
be taught from the seed to the plate.
The course begins with
planning. Allow kids to figure out how much space they have to plant and what
they are interested in planting. Burpee (Burpee.com) and Johnny’s Selected Seeds (JohnnySeeds.com) are two sites that have
some ideas and list the details about the conditions the plant needs to thrive.
Once the size and area is determined, have the student make a list of what they
intend to plant and map out the garden on paper.
If space
permits, the student can even help build a simple, raised garden bed out of
untreated 2”x6” lumber. Ideally, purchase three, 2”x6” boards, 8' (feet) in length and eight,
3" wood screws. Cut one of the boards in half; then, using an electric
drill, place two screws in each corner where the boards meet. They may even be
learning a bit of wood shop, as well.
Now its time to prepare
the dirt for planting. If the garden will be planted in pots or a raised bed,
the student can help mix the soil. A good blend includes top soil, perlite,
vermiculite and mushroom compost. This is great for grounding and the kids’
immune system. The ions from the soil help boost the immune system. The soil
should be of a fine texture similar to course cornmeal when it is ready for the
seeds.
Each student can read the
seed package for planting details, including how deep to plant the seeds and
how far to space them apart. A few easy-growing seeds that are easy to cook and
prepare include bush beans, peas, carrots and cucumbers.
Remind the student to water
the garden each day if there is no rain. This will help keep the seeds moist,
and within seven to 14 days, the sprouts will typically appear. The student can
continue to tend to the plants during growing season by weeding the garden and
removing dandelions and grass that may take root in the new soil.
Once the veggies are ready
for harvest, allow the student to pick them and wash the dirt off using a
strainer in the sink. Simple cooking techniques like steaming on the stovetop
or a stir-fry are a great way to taste the flavors. Younger students can help
slice and dip the veggies they grew in ranch dressing for a snack.
Lessons can be brought
inside by learning more about our growing season and the map of growing zones.
This may be a great time to get them a field journal or sketch pad so they can
recreate the map with paint or color pencils or learn each part of the seed and
draw them. Each week, they can pick one plant from the garden to sit outside
and draw, bringing art into the summer classroom.
Tiffany Hinton is GF Mom Certified. Connect on social media @GFMomCertified.