FREE stuff, Garden activities for kids

Spring School Holidays Activity at Queen Vic Market – Melbourne

Posted on by Erica
03
Sep

Join us for a free, fun-filled children’s gardening experience with Gardening 4 Kids!

Little ones can let their creativity bloom as they plant organic sunflower seeds into biodegradable pots. Decorate the pot, carry bag, and bamboo plant label to make them uniquely theirs. Then, take the potted seeds home and watch as beautiful sunflowers grow.

But that’s not all! Get grubby with the Root Veggie Dig activity, where little ones can search for vegetables that grow underground – this open-ended exploration is perfect for young gardeners to discover the wonders beneath the soil.

This fun activity will be held in Shed C at the Queen Victoria Market, Peel St, Melbourne. Bookings are required and can be made via the Queen Vic website – https://qvm.com.au/whats-on/september-school-holidays-2024/

This activity is suitable for all children aged 3 and above. Parents or Carers must stay for the duration of the activity.

Gardening 4 Kids will provide all materials, tools, seeds, pots, and more. We hope to see you there!

Garden activities for kids, Mini Bloggers

Patch Kits in Action

Posted on by Erica
02
Feb

One of our most popular products are our Planet Eco Patch Kits

My grandchildren E,W and M tested out all three varieties, Vegie, Herb and Flower.

The Grandkids live in Far North Queensland and I live in Melbourne, so it was wonderful to share my gardening passion with them.

E, W and M all worked together to plant the seeds and write labels on the bamboo plants tags. When I visited them a few weeks after planting, the seeds had sprouted and were being watered at least once a day, probably more as I think each kid was watering them separately!

All of the seeds within the Planet Eco Patch Kits have been specifically chosen because they are easy to grow and quick to germinate.

When the seedlings were big enough, we planted them out into the garden. The kids were a little surprised that the cardboard pot was biodegradable and could be planted straight into the garden.

Throughout my visit to FNQ, the Grandkids asked about a million questions about seeds, plants and gardening. I think the Patch Kits sparked an interest! And they all thoroughly recommended our Patch Kits as being a great gift for kids.

Competitions and Grants, FREE stuff, School garden

Growing Good Gardens Grant 2022

Posted on by Erica
16
Jun

Life Ed are encouraging young people to get gardening, growing edible plants and learning healthy eating habits or creating a healthy class room environment with indoor plants.

Help create a classroom of thriving students! Together with Yates we’re encouraging young people to get gardening, and learn healthy habits – from the ground up! 

Thanks to Yates, Healthy Harold and Life Ed are giving away $11,000 worth of grants. Schools, preschools and community groups are invited to apply for one of 10 garden grants valued at $1,000 each. 

This year our friends at Yates are also giving one school/community group the opportunity to DOUBLE their grant and receive $2,000 for your school garden.  

Getting kids out into the garden helps to create healthy minds and healthy bodies so they can thrive.   

Teachers, coaches and community leaders alike are encouraged to apply to create a garden space where kids can learn healthy habits and improve their physical and mental well-being. 

Since 2018, through our Growing Good Gardens Grant program, schools and community groups have turned outdoor spaces into fun hands-on learning gardens that connect kids with healthy eating, encouraging physical activity and extending the classroom curriculum. 

Help grow a classroom of thriving students – enter your school or community group today!  For more information and to apply, head to the Life Education website.

Garden activities for kids, Our environment

Darebin Backyard Harvest Festival to blossom this May

Posted on by Erica
03
Apr

Passionate gardeners from across Victoria will be lining up to take guided tours of some of Darebin’s abundant and productive food gardens and getting expert advice from local horticulturalists during the annual Backyard Harvest Festival this May.

 

Across 19 sustainability-focused garden tours and workshops, talented hosts will provide tips on a diverse range of subjects, including seedling propagation, keeping chickens, quails and bees, fruit tree maintenance and grafting and natural pest management.

 

Four new gardens have been added to this year’s program, along with two workshops especially designed for families and children – a first for the Festival.

 

The Productive Gardening with Kids Workshop at Poppy’s Patch in Reservoir will show how budding gardeners can have fun while meaningfully participating in gardening activities.

Continue reading →

Competitions and Grants, FREE stuff, School garden

Victorian Schools Invited to Apply for Sustainability Grants

Posted on by Erica

200 grants of up to $1,000 are currently up for grabs for schools, childcare centres and youth groups in Victoria looking to work on a sustainability or environmental project in 2018.
Following a successful first year, which saw more than 24,000 students engaged in 245 projects, the Powerful Youth Projects program is rolling out across the state again. Momentum Energy is funding the program through its partnership with Junior Landcare, and applications are open until 22 March via the Junior Landcare website. Continue reading →

Competitions and Grants, FREE stuff, Garden activities for kids, Guest Posts

Top 5 Best Chooks for Kids

Posted on by Erica
29
Apr

Guest Post written by Sarah-Jayne McCreath from Backyard Chicken Coops.
Chickens make the best pets for your growing children. A flock of chooks provide love, a sense of responsibility and teach our kids the importance of compassion and care. They are super cute and affectionate and make great backyard pals for toddlers to teenagers and all in between. If you want your kids to have the best when it comes to pets – check out our top 5 breeds to choose for your kids below and get cluckin’ on that family flock!   Continue reading →

Competitions and Grants, FREE stuff

Garden Time Review and Giveaway – Can Gardening Get Any Easier?

Posted on by Erica
22
Aug

grown and lit
Indoor Herb Garden ready to use

Garden Time is an automated grow system that makes indoor gardening super easy and we’ve got 4 kits to give away!
When we were contacted by Garden Time to ask if we would like to do a review of their product, I’ll be honest, I thought it would be some new fangled gadget, BUT I was pleasantly surprised. Continue reading →

Minibeast of the moment, Pests and Weeds, School garden

Vegemite Snail Trap

Posted on by Erica
01
Jun

Vegemite Snail Trap
SNAILS and SLUGS – How to control them with kid-friendly products! 
Gardening can often seem like a constant battle between snails and the gardener, but here is a terrific blog written by Jade and Amy from Growing Green Thumbs.   They are 2 very enthusiastic school mums who spend their days volunteering at their children’s primary school in Bonbeach, Melbourne.   They share their gardening enthusiasm with parents, students and our wider community, learning along the way as they grow fruit, vegetables and flowers whilst making it fun to play outdoors in a sustainable environment. Continue reading →

Other

Leap Year Garden Myths

Posted on by Erica
29
Feb

Peas Growing the Wrong Way
Peas Growing the Wrong Way

There are many myths and superstitions associated with leap years and especially around 29th February.  According to legend, 29th February is the one day every four years that a woman can propose to a man (and the man willed be fined if he declines!), there are also a few garden and farming myths connected with leap years.   Continue reading →

Pests and Weeds

Cabbage Moths – How to keep them away from the vegie patch

Posted on by Erica
09
Feb

cabbage moth
Adult Cabbage Moth

Cabbage Moths were accidentally introduced into Australia during the 1930’s.  Since then, the Cabbage Moth caterpillars have been merrily munching their way through vegie patches across much of the country.
In this blog, we’ll explain some kid friendly ways to remove and control them in your patch. Continue reading →