Victory Gardening with Our Young

Gardening: Fresh Air; Vitamin D; Exercise

According to the American Horticultural Society and horticultural therapists, gardening helps with diseases like migraines, depression, autism, Alzheimer’s, and provides physical, nutritional, and mental health. Gardening provides the joy of fresh air and boosts vitamin D thanks to the sunshine. It helps make people happy. Does that describe an essential for our times, or what?

  Earth is made of bacteria that have a high level of serotonin, a hormone called the happiness hormone. The serotonin in the earth around your plants make us happier and relaxed. Gardening is good for the body and heart since it is a physical activity. Raking, watering, cutting, moving, and dragging aid flexibility and balance. One hour of gardening is equal to thirty minutes of activity. All of this is great for families.

Victory Garden 3.0

  A Victory Garden can be a plot of earth or a few large containers of potting soil in the sunshine. You can purchase plants, seeds, or seed potatoes and follow the directions on the package. Easy plants to grow are small patio and other tomatoes, beans, peas, mixed lettuce and other leaf crops, peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, herbs, and colorful plants like nasturtium, small sun flowers, marigolds, petunias, and hundreds more.

A Plot of Earth or a Few Large Containers

  Here are basic suggestions for containers that can produce remarkable crops. Avoid containers that held anything poisonous. Clean out and rinse containers well and make drainage holes on the bottom.  Some people put crushed water bottles on the bottom for drainage.  It is not needed if you have good potting soil, never garden soil.

  If you have started seeds indoors 5-6 week before to get a head start on the gardening season, check Almanac. com for frost maps in your area. You want 65 degrees minimum and 70-85 degrees optimum soil temperature (not air temperature) and more than 6 hours of sun light to plant outside. 

  If you have planted indoors and kept soil like a damp sponge but not wet, you should have seedlings after two or three weeks. Thin out weaklings and keep the sturdiest.  Place in a bright location that is not more than in high 60’s for sturdier seedlings.  High temperatures will make the plants leggy. After a few more weeks you should have full leafed plants.

Vegetables

  Vegetables require larger pots than annual flowers.  You can even plant seed potatoes if you follow container and bag directions. Tomatoes, for example grow well in 5 gallon buckets. Peppers will grow well in containers about 8 inches in diameter and 10 inches tall. They need warm roots.  You may place dark plastic around the top of the roots for a while. Later they need calcium.   Keep soil to a moist crumbly ball.

More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest
Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Marketing Fruits and Veggies to Kids

Salsa: New Approach to Eating Fruits & Veggies

 “Yum. Here are some fruits and vegetables,” says adult to child. Young child’s mouth is sealed shut. “Let’s eat some salsa you helped chop up! Yummy!” Magically the mouth may open up with a smile. Not convinced?  Give salsa a whirl.

   Sometimes when families are encouraging small children to eat fruits and vegetables amiably we need a new approach. There are three nutritionists’ suggestions to follow:  make the pieces small, thick salsa style; include children in the preparation; omit the spice or onions in the salsa.

Versatile Salsa

   Salsa is sauce in Spanish which means it can go on something to add interest and flavor, but young children like it as a stand- alone, as well as, on top of something.

  Fruit salsa is generally an easy choice for young children.

Make a Fruit Salsa

 Make sure the children are standing on a sturdy surface and use plastic or table knives for chopping. Here are some possibilities: strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, pitted Bing cherries, mangoes, peeled apples, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, peeled peaches, whatever is in season. The salsa should store for a day. Add fresh banana pieces before serving.

   Older children or adults can cut the larger fruit into peeled pieces and younger children, the ones we want to convince, can cut the larger pieces into small ½ inch squares.

  Mix the juice of half or less of a lemon and 1 Tablespoon of strawberry jam together and stir into the fruit. The salsa can be served with buttered toast or an English muffin or a side of Cheerios.

    If you have time, make some cinnamon tortilla chips in the oven. Set the oven at 375 degrees.  Butter the tortillas and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon and sugar. Place on a cookie sheet and use a pizza cutter to cut into triangles or squares. Bake in the oven for about 8 minutes or until they are light brown. When cooled, children can spoon salsa onto the chips.

  If you need a rainy day activity, turn the salsa making into a cooking show by recording on your phone.

Not So Spicy

Fresh Produce Works Best for Fun & Nutrition

 Vegetable salsa is a little trickier because young children may not like  the texture or taste of vegetables yet, but it is worth a try. Start with very small tender zucchini, black beans, cooked corn, shaved carrots cut into tiny squares, and tiny pieces of chopped lettuce. Add a little salt and eat with toast or homemade tortillas with no cinnamon. If the vegetables need to be a bit softer sprinkle with water and put the mixture in the microwave for a few seconds. Tomatoes, onions, and peppers are often a problem so that probably knocks out tomato salsa for a while. For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com; wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons; Pinterest, and Facebook.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Kids Cooking Creative Veggies

Make Veggies Fun & Creative

Children love to cook when the food is made quickly and looks interesting. Potatoes are a good choice because they cook quickly and can be dressed up or dressed down for picky palettes. They fill kids up with a variety of vitamins and minerals.
  In 1995 potatoes became the first vegetable to be grown in space as an experiment for long voyages. The Incas in Peru started growing potatoes in 8,000 B.C., but the Spanish did not introduce them to Europe until 1536. Later the English brought them to Jamestown, Virginia.
  Thomas Jefferson introduced French fries in 1801. As we know, they taste good but are not healthy. Good alternatives to fries are roasted potatoes easily made with children’s help.
Roasted Potatoes
  Cut the potatoes to look like chunky fries. Adults can do the peeling and cutting into fourths the long way. Then children can use a table knife to

Even Shopping Is Learning

cut them into strips. If they need help, put your hand over theirs to apply a little more muscle.
  Place in a bowl and add a few tablespoons of olive oil, enough to coat the potatoes.  Sprinkle a little salt and pepper and toss until evenly coated. Children will enjoy carefully pushing them around. Then kids can organize them on a cookie sheet in rows one layer thick. Place in a 450-degree oven for 15-20 minutes.  Check and gently stir or turn occasionally. When slightly cooled, children may dip in ketchup.
  For variety try some of the 3,800 kinds of potatoes. In the U.S. potatoes are blue, purple, red along with yellow and white. Add sweet potatoes (not real potatoes) for the orange color. If children will eat them, leave the skins on for more nutritional value.
Dinosaur Spuds
 

Baked Potatoes + Veggies

Baked potatoes can be made into many animals and objects by decorating them with vegetables like raw carrots, cooked peas, beans, and peas. Speed up the cooking time by placing in a microwave.  First cover one thoroughly washed baking potato with olive oil and pierce the skin on each side with a fork. Cook on high in the microwave for about three–five minutes, turn over and cook for about three more.  Test for "doneness." It should be squishy. Check on it or you will have a rock.
  To make dinosaurs cut two wedges off the top of the potato to use them for a dinosaur neck, head, and tail and set aside. Mash up the inside and add butter to melt. Carefully arrange one wedge to like a neck and head sticking out of the potato and add the other for a tail. Children can add little pieces of tomatoes, beans, or sweet pepper for eyes and tail plates. 
Photos: Fran Darling: fdarling fotos 
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest

Children Love Container Gardening

fdarling fotos

When there is a weird weather year, container gardening is a good solution for a family who has a small space, poor soil, or simply wants to start gardening. Container planting is perfect for children and a great family teaching tool. The pots can be moved around as needed.

What To Do:

  Check out library books about plants and gardening. Draw some plant parts and discuss their jobs. Teach young children some vocabulary.  Annuals only grow one year, but kids may collect the seeds of annuals like marigolds and plant them again next year. Perennials like daisies and coneflowers may come back next year if left in a warm garage.

  Show children how to study the back of seed packets. How long will the plants take to grow? Look for the shortest growing season. How much space will they need?  Follow packet directions.  

   Start with just a few containers and try your luck. Practically any type of container can be used to grow plants as long as it holds potting soil (not garden soil), a little plant fertilizer, can drain water, and is large enough to accommodate the growing plants and roots.

Teach Principles of Growing

  Most plants need about six hours of sunshine. Lettuce and spinach need a little less. Place the plants in a space where they will not be too hot and killed. They can be moved if children discover it is the wrong spot.

 Vegetables require larger pots than annual flowers. Tomatoes, for example, grow well in 5-gallon buckets. Peppers will grow in containers about 8 inches in diameter and 10 inches tall. Beets need eight inches of soil. Carrots need twelve inches for their long roots.

fdarling fotos

 Containers filled with plants like mixed lettuce seeds are a good way to start young children gardening. Choose several large pots. Mix small seeds with a little soil. Fill pots with potting soil, plant seeds, and water gently. Cover the pots with plastic wrap secured with a large rubber band until seeds start sprouting. Then move the pots into the sun.

Plant Care

  Plants need just the right amount of water and fertilizer. Teach children not to drown plants in mud nor let them wilt. The soil should make a moist crumbly ball. Children can stick their finger in the soil to test for moisture and then wash their hands.

  Children may not like to eat lettuce yet, but they will enjoy cutting fresh lettuce for family meals. Mixed greens offer a variety of colors and tastes.  Even if they only eat one leaf, teach children to wash the edible plants and their hands before eating. 

   Other easy plants to grow are beans, peas, herbs, gourds for fall decoration and to sell, petunias, and small sunflowers. To discourage rabbits, deer, and squirrels plant marigolds, too. (Planting part two is next time.)

For more information see grandparentsteachtoo.org.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Ideas and Activities See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest.