Starting a family garden has loads of benefits. Enjoy the unparalleled freshness and health benefits of eating vegetables straight from your own yard. It's not just a project; it's a fun activity for the whole family. You can enjoy the process from planning to harvesting the fruits and vegetables. We started our garden a few years ago, and I love seeing the kids pick and eat veggies right from our garden!
I love having my kids help me in the garden. It's a practical way for kids to learn about responsibility, nature, and science. Watching a plant grow, especially when it becomes something we can eat, is neat and helps kids appreciate the environment more. Plus, it’s a clever strategy to encourage outdoor time, moving them away from screens and into the sunshine. Read more about the benefits of gardening with kids.
 Kara Murphy | Macaroni KID |
We are making markers for our garden.
You can grow many vegetables in containers or on the ground, making gardening more accessible, even if you don't want to dig a large plot in your yard.
Creating a themed garden is a fun way to get your family into gardening and spark a child's interest in it. Here are three kid-friendly themed garden ideas:
 Katerina Homes | Canva |
Homemade pizza sauce and toppings are so yummy.
1. Pizza Garden
Turn mealtime into an exciting farm-to-table experience with a garden that grows all you need for the perfect family pizza night.
- Tomatoes: Easy to grow and fun to pick, tomatoes are a pizza staple for sauces and toppings.
- Bell Peppers: Add a splash of color and sweet flavor.
- Onions: Hardy plants that offer a lesson in underground growth.
- Garlic: Simple to cultivate and great for teaching about bulb plants.
- Herbs (Basil, Oregano, Thyme): Fast-growing and aromatic, these herbs introduce kids to a variety of flavors.
2. Salsa Garden
Create a zesty garden where kids can harvest ingredients for homemade salsa, learning about each vegetable's different tastes and uses.
- Tomatoes: The base of any good salsa, tomatoes are versatile and provide a big harvest. Get a few varieties of different sizes!
- Peppers (think jalapeños, bells, habaneros): These offer a lesson in various spices and heat and grow in fun shapes and colors.
- Onions: Show the diversity of uses in cooking, from fresh to grilled.
- Cilantro: A fast grower, cilantro teaches about leafy herbs and their flavors.
 Kara Murphy | Macaroni KID |
Some of the veggies from our garden last year.
3. Salad Garden
Create a garden for children to pick salad ingredients, allowing them to experience the deliciousness of growing their vegetables and promoting healthy eating habits.
- Lettuce & Spinach: Quick to sprout and harvest, these leafy greens are the backbone of almost all salads.
- Cucumbers: It is fascinating for kids to watch grow, especially when they can pick and eat fresh.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet and bite-sized, perfect for little hands to pick.
- Radishes: Offer a quick reward, as they're one of the fastest-growing vegetables.
- Carrots: Fun to pull from the ground, revealing their size and shape.
This growing season creates lasting memories and learning experiences for your children with a garden. The most important thing is growing, harvesting, cooking, and eating together, whether it's a few pots on a patio or a larger plot in the yard. Happy growing!
