Writing for life

There’s something tremendously satisfying about growing your own vegetables, and it’s even better when you get the kids involved. I think it’s that the children learn where their food comes from – that they realise it doesn’t spring into existence, shrink-wrapped and vacuum packed on the supermarket shelf – and what better way for them to learn that than to grow food for themselves at home.

Our vegetable patch is modest, but it’s getting better every year. Three years ago I simply turned over the soil, threw in a few seeds and hoped for the best. Success was sporadic, to say the least, but we reaped a few heads of lettuce, a couple of dinners worth of carrots and some pretty impressive parsnips out of it. We were delighted, and spurred to greater effort the following year, introduced some raised beds and a slightly less blasé gardening regime. And it’s paying dividends!

The good weather we’ve been having has helped to get things kick-started this year – it’s unreal. Our indoor/outdoor thermometer informed me that it hit 24 degrees in our back garden last week. That’s unheard of in April! With weather like that spending time in the garden is a pleasure – and I have to say the vegetable patch is looking pretty impressive. For the first time this year the raised beds are full of lush dark compost recycled from a local strawberry farm, and we’re expecting a bumper crop.

We try and involve the girls as much as possible in the process. A couple of weeks ago they were out with me sowing beetroot, carrots, onions, peas, beans and lettuce. Now the seedlings are coming up, the result is perhaps not as neat and tidy as it could have been, but of course that doesn’t matter – the excitement the girls feel seeing the seeds they sowed springing into life is priceless. Their enthusiasm is contagious – and I’ve no doubt that same level of enthusiasm will be apparent when it’s time to harvest and eat the food they’ve grown.

When they’re young children are eager to get their hands dirty and help out in the garden. As they get older, unless that interest is fostered, their enthusiasm usually wanes. They start to view gardening as a chore – a position that I remember well from my own experience.

When I was young, and more of a hindrance than a help around the garden, my Dad didn’t exactly dissuade me from helping out, but he didn’t actively encourage it either. As I got older, and potentially more useful, he became more interested in me spending time with him in the garden. Of course by that time I had no interest whatsoever. He’d give me jobs to do around the garden anyway – and I’d use all my energy inventing creative strategies to avoid doing them.

Now of course, I have my own garden, and my own children. My interest in gardening is growing every year – which may be a sign that I’m reaching a certain age – and I’m keen to foster that same interest in the girls. It’s something that I’m sure will stand them in good stead the rest of their lives – and, with a bit of luck, supply me with a free, willing and able garden workforce for many years to come.

Technorati Tags: parenting, kids, evening echo, gardening, vegetables