teens & gardening

[bourbonred]

So this is our survival garden. We've done so much wrong, but keep trying. The potatoes went out early and all but about 1/8 of the crop rotted. Well there's no point to keeping 3 rows of almost nothing there, I planned today to till it up and replant something else. The teens 14 & 16 had another idea. It's summer, it's hot outside, what are we gonna do anyway, grump grump, whine whine. You got the picture. They were out there but they weren't happy. Before we tilled, we decided to dig up the potates to see how they did. Those two had a blast (yeah cheap thrills!) ds 14 even thanked me for "letting" them come out and dig. We only got enough new potatoes for a couple of pots of green beans but those potatoes were priceless to me today. Yeah, they're gonna be okay!

[Danaus29]

Yep, they're learning. It's always heartwarming to see your kids getting excited about their food.

[PrincessFerf]

Two of my daughters are in that age range. Its hard to get them to learn and appreciate... and I have to force them to come out and help me. But when we're out there, I take the opportunity to teach them a few things. But mostly... I ask them questions (non-gardening related) to get them to talk... and talk... and talk.

Its "bonding time".

[ne prairiemama]

My teen/kids love to garden. It's great!!

[7thswan]

Last year my neighbors teens came and helped me dig potatoes, I hadn't asked them to, they wanted to. I think they really liked it too. They are new to the homsteading life and it's kinda fun for me too( sinse I have no children to share with).

[Callieslamb]

I've already instructed DS, 11, that he will be out in the garden with me daily from 9-10. I have never had my kids help me in the garden before so this is going to be interesting. They never helped because I had a cute city-veggie garden that I wanted to look just so and I didn't want whining to interrupt my pleasure in being out there. But, I see the higher calling now. DS doesn't like work. He's gonna have to get over it.

[7thswan]

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

I've already instructed DS, 11, that he will be out in the garden with me daily from 9-10. I have never had my kids help me in the garden before so this is going to be interesting. They never helped because I had a cute city-veggie garden that I wanted to look just so and I didn't want whining to interrupt my pleasure in being out there. But, I see the higher calling now. DS doesn't like work. He's gonna have to get over it.

Way to go Mom!

[Vickie44]

I have found digging potatoes a great way to get some one started in gardening, especially kids. Its like digging for gold , yukon gold !

[Oldcountryboy]

I had my 3 daughters out in the garden this morning. I woke them up at 7:30 a.m. and had them to help me erect some fencing for the cukes to climb on, weed the onion bed, and place compost around some tomato plants. They didn't like it at first but after a while the seem to be enjoying theirselves out there. Then we quit for the day when the hot sun started melting us down. Hope to get them out there every morning and learn all about gardening. I got a feeling they're going to need the experience for when they're growned up and have a family of thier own.

[Elffriend]

My kids are 13 and 17. They don't particularly want to be out there helping, but I insist. Sunny days have been few and far between, so we must take advantage of them and get the garden taken care of.

Today we had some folks over (celebrating our 20th anniversary!) and we were outside most of the day. We took them over to show off the garden and DD was telling them all about the joys of potatoes. She said they were easy to plant, easy to take care of and FUN to harvest, like a treasure hunt. They are also her favorite vegetable and you can do so many things with them.

So, she may whine a bit while we're out there working, but she seemed happy and proud of those potatoes