Strawberry season is upon us. Fresh strawberries are the epitome of kids and summer gardening for me. We love growing them in our garden and I must admit that they rarely make it inside. If however your kids do happen to leave some strawberries available this is a great jam recipe they will enjoy making with a little adult supervision. Continue reading
Mulching is important as it helps stabilise your gardens soil temperatures in the root zone…and that means happy plants! With Australia’s hot summers, mulching means that your plants won’t struggle when it comes to surviving in rough conditions. The best time to mulch is right after the soil has warmed up and you are ready to start planting. Continue reading
Today is Halloween and whether you agree with the traditions of the day, there is no denying that pumpkins are great ‘vegies’. They are easy for kids to grow, they make delicious soups and scones and they are fun to carve. Here are ten facts about pumpkins you may not know – make sure you share them with the kids!
Today’s guest post is written by the talented and inspirational Laura Trotta from Sustainababy. Laura’s family has recently adopted three chickens and her children are reaping the benefits of having them in the garden. Here she shares with us seven reasons why your family should consider having chickens. Continue reading
The Department of the Environment explains “Biodiversity has been described as the ‘web of life’, ‘the variety of living things’ or ‘the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genes and ecosystems of which they are a part’”. Teaching our kids about the importance of protecting, celebrating and increasing biodiversity is essential. The great thing is that most kids have a natural fascination with biodiversity and are eager to learn more about and increase the number of plants and animals in their environment. There are numerous gardening projects you and your kids can do to help increase biodiversity in your family’s garden and help your kids learn about the wonderful world around them. Here are ten ideas to help get you started: Continue reading
I love meeting fellow nature lovers who enjoy connecting children to nature. Over the last few years I have made some truly wonderful connections with people from around the world who share my joy. I am always inspired by those who work hard to teach children about the wonders and the fragility of our earth. Their work encourages younger generations to think and act in a more environmentally sustainable manner and that has to be a good thing.
I was honoured to be contacted by the Children & Nature Network and asked to provide information and photos for a presentation they would be showing at the 2013 Grassroots Gathering in California. Continue reading
Do your kids love seeing animals in the garden? Do you want to teach your kids about biodiversity? Building a lizard lounge ticks both boxes and is a great way to increase biodiversity in your garden. They are easy to make, the kids can use their imagination and creative flair and best of all you will be providing a home for some of our most vulnerable creatures.
To make a lizard lounge in your garden you will need: Continue reading
Students at Canterbury Public School in NSW have formed a gardening club as part of a composting project funded by a Coles Junior Landcare Garden Grant.
The Canterbury Green Thumbs Gardening Club includes both students and parents, and gives students who are interested in gardening the opportunity to work in the garden out of school hours. Continue reading
I love trees! I always have and always will. I really enjoy teaching children how respect and enjoy trees. When it comes to picking my absolute favourite tree for kids I find it incredibly tricky as there are so many! So, I decided to ask some of Australia’s leading tree lovers and fellow kids gardening enthusiasts what their favourite tree is for children and why. As you will see, even some of them had trouble come up with just one.
Understandably, Wes Fleming from Fleming’s Nurseries and award winner at 2013 Chelsea Flower Show, could not pick just one tree. Continue reading
Birds are a lovely addition to any garden. They help control pests, increase biodiversity and they are great for kids to learn about life cycles. Kids can easily make a feeder that will help attract birds into your garden. Continue reading