With time on our hands and everyone at home it’s the perfect time to get the whole family involved in outdoor learning. If you are new to gardening, there are lots of resources online that will help you enjoy gardening and the benefits of plants. RHS is a good one with lots of information and Gardening For Kids has some great projects you can do with the kids.
“Plants and gardens have the power to uplift us and that’s why we urge everyone to get involved in National Gardening Week this year, in whatever way they can. It’s more important than ever that we savour the beauty of flowers and trees because gardens are a natural tonic.” Alan Titchmarsh
Plants and gardening have been proven to have a positive effect on our mental well being. Those with gardens can enjoy the process of growing your own and those without can enjoy the work of others on their daily walks or get involved in a community garden project such as Poets Corner Community Garden.
Some people with shadier gardens might find it difficult to grow in their back yards. If the sun shines brightest in the front of your property, find ways to use the space there. There are plenty of hardy vegetables that thrive in decorative containers, raised beds or the smallest strips of land.
If you live in an flat or have no garden space to spare, you can still enjoy growing your own as long as you have a sunny patio and some large planting pots. The colourful Blooming Walls "Green Bags" available in our shop are great for growing all sorts of plants, fruit and vegetables. Carrots are excellent for small garden spaces. Lettuce is also a space saver and does beautifully in pots as well as raised garden beds. To shorten the time from garden to plate, you might wish to start some from plants rather than seeds. And if you don’t have space for plants, flowers and herbs will brighten every window sill.
If you are adding gardening to your home schooling timetable, do teach them the importance of organic gardening. If you are using fertiliser – use organic! Our Natural Grower packaging is one that the kids will love and our story, (shown below) of how it’s made, makes for a lesson in itself!
