Gardening with kids is fun and educational. A wonderful way to reinforce their understanding of how plants grow and where food comes from, gardening is also an activity that can boost self-confidence as they see a project through from start to finish. Experiment with some of these little indoor gardening projects this spring and who knows? You might be on your way to organic farmer before the season is over.
Grow Celery Inside
So simple and so fun, not to mention great to have on hand for snacks and cooking and you’re off the dirty dozen list! Buy organic celery. Cut off the bottom. Place in container. Watch for it to sprout in few days. When big enough, transplant to a container on the porch. Easy peasy as your kids probably say.
Instructions on The Spruce.
Grow a Sweet Potato House Plant
Looking to bring some more greens indoors this spring? Look no further than your produce bin. Sprouting sweet potatoes into ornamental houseplants that are also edible is exciting and easy. (Note: Ornamental sweet potato vines are sold at nurseries and are not edible because they have been bred for decorative purposes.)
To sprout a sweet potato into gorgeousness, all you really need is a mason jar and some water. Give it a few days in a sunny spot and enjoy the color it brings to your home!
Make a Mason Jar Terrarium
A mason jar’s usefulness is not to be underrated–especially for home decor. Create these sweet little terrariums for your Easter table or teacher gifts at the end of year. This activity is a great way to teach little ones to handle plants gently and to discover how roots work.
You can think beyond the mason jar and use hurricane globes or simply invert a glass vase or bowl over a collection of small plants. Some terrariums do well open to air so coffee mugs or open fish bowls work great also. Get whimsy with those tiny toys your kids leave everywhere and enjoy the adventure!
Jazz up the Juice Box
With spring and sports under way, you might find yourself with a plethora of juice boxes leftover from snack excursions. Instead of feeling guilty about tossing them in the trash, turn that trash into a treasure that will delight your kids. Juice box gardens don’t last long but they bring joy to the dreary early days of spring and are great for pansies, violas, or sprouting from seeds.
What will you be planting this year?