11 Jun 2008
I have so many wonderful childhood memories of the time I spent in my father's garden. I remember picking fresh peas and eating them before I could get back inside (I don't think I was asked to do that task many times). I also remember gobbling raspberries as fast as they would ripen. I know we made raspberry jam, but I have no clue how there were ever enough berries left after I got through with them.
With friends, I would explore our backyard "forest" of viburnum shrubs finding treasures like cocoons and showing off the delicate bleeding heart flowers like they were a circus attraction. I can still remember smells, too -- like the sweet fragrances of spring tulips and the first lilac flowers I cut so I could proudly present them to my teachers each year. I can even vividly recall planting my first tree seedling and naming it Betsy -- I wonder how she is doing?
These early experiences planted a love for nature inside of me that continues to grow today. My passion for plants seems to evolve through the different stages in my life; however, the wonder remains constant. No matter how many times I have planted seeds, I still feel excited and a little surprised when they start to sprout. I am always in awe of the new leaves popping out in the spring and it still makes me so happy to present family and friends with the fruits of my labor. I love the taste of fresh from the produce in the garden and make a point to try and incorporate it into my diet.
Gardening provides me with a hobby to relax, an exercise to burn off negative energy, a skill to beautify my home and community, a harvest to share with neighbors, and in the big picture it gives me a healthy perspective on the world, as it has instilled an awareness of the cycles of nature and a respect for life. I believe that my love for gardening is a special gift my father gave me, one that his mother had given to him… and it is one I want to give to my own daughter who at 4 months is already well stocked with gardening gloves, hats and tools.
Although a bit naïve, I think the world would be a better place if everyone had a garden to care for. A garden is a way to make nature part of our every day lives whether we live in the city, suburbs or country -- it can be a terrarium in a window, a small container garden on a patio, a raised bed in a courtyard, or a plot at a local community garden.
At the National Gardening Association, we want every child to have an opportunity to experience nature by digging in the soil and growing a garden. Our website www.kidsgardening.org provides educational programs and resources to help you introduce the children in your life to gardening. You can find activity and lesson ideas, background information, program spotlights, grant opportunities, a monthly newsletter and much more.
Interested in gardening at home? Our Parents' Primer at http://www.kidsgardening.org/family.asp is a great place to start.
Sarah Pounders is an Education Specialist at the National Gardening Association.
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