Homemade lemonade

Now is a great time to make lemonade

With all this hot weather we are having at the moment, it can be difficult to think of gardening activities to do with the kids that aren’t going to leave them (and you) all hot and bothered. There is one activity you can do though that is not only fun but will help keep everyone cool at the same time – make lemonade!

Here is a yummy recipe for old-fashioned lemonade:

Ingredients

4-6 lemons

1 cup sugar

6 cups of water (2 cups boiled and 4 cups cold)

Method

Squeeze the lemons to make 1 cup of lemon juice.

Combine lemon juice and sugar in a large jug. Add 2 cups of boiled water, stir to dissolve the sugar then add the remaining 4 cups of cold water. Serve with ice. For extra colour and flavour try adding sliced strawberries and fresh mint leaves.

*This recipe makes very sweet lemonade so you may like to cut down on the amount of sugar you use or dilute the lemonade with extra water. I make the recipe as is but tend to use it more as a concentrate and add extra water when serving it.

Enjoy, keep cool and happy gardening!

What to Plant with the Kids in February

What to plant in February

With February just around the corner, now is the time to look at what to plant at this time of year. When looking at what to plant when, Australia is divided into different climate zones. This means, for example, that what to put in the garden now in the tropics of Western Australia can be quite different to what should be  planted in the cool regions of Tasmania. To find out which climate zone you live in and to see more specific information about varieties to plant now visit Gardenate or Gardening Australia.

There are a number of vegies though that are good to plant in Australia across all climate zones during February. Some that are very popular with the kids include:

Broccoli – I’ve known many kids who once refused to eat broccoli who now eat it after growing it themselves in their home or school garden.

Carrots – Carrots fresh from the garden are delicious. There are so many different types and colours available including orange, purple, red and even white!

Cauliflower – Many kids love eating cauliflower cheese and it seems that it tastes even better when they have grown the cauliflower themselves.

Lettuce – Lettuce can grow in most parts of Australia through-out the year.  This versatile salad vegie can be used in lunch boxes in numerous ways – sandwiches, noodle cups, salads etc.

Lettuce

Radish – These little vegies are very fast growing which is appealing for children who are anxiously waiting for their garden to grow. They can be added to salads or even eaten on their own.

Silverbeet – Silverbeet is another great vegie that comes in a range of colours. Also known as chard, it can be easily grown in pots and can be used in a wide range of recipes for kids.

The Gardening 4 Kids shop sells a wide range of seeds that are especially popular with children. To see what we have available click here.

Happy Gardening!

Flowers that Kids Love

Kids love the texture and brightness of flowers

Little Miss B has recently become fascinated with the flowers that are growing in our garden. Two of her favourites are marigolds and fuchsias. She enjoys looking at their bright colours, touching their petals and of course picking them! She is certainly not the only child who loves to do this. Flowers are very appealing to children and there are endless varieties that are great to include in the garden for the kids.

Some popular flowers that appeal to children include:

Sunflowers – These flowers are one of the most popular with children. They can measure their own height against the stems, hold competitions to see who can grow the tallest and feed the seeds to the birds. They can also dry the flower heads, collect the seeds and replant them the following year.

Snapdragons – Children love playing with snapdragons, squeezing the flower and making the ‘jaw’ snap open. These flowers are easy to grow and often self-seed.

Geraniums and Pelargoniums – These flowers come in a variety of colours and have very fragrant leaves that children enjoy picking. These plants are easy to grow and are very drought tolerant.

Pelargoniums

 

Paper daisies – Children find the texture of these daisy-like flowers fascinating. They are easy to cut and dry and are great for use in flower craft activities. These flowers are extremely drought tolerant and easy to grow.

Marigolds – These fast growing flowers are vibrant in colour and feel soft to touch. They are also great companion plants to help keep bugs at bay in the vegie patch.

Marigolds

 

There are so many great flowers available and this list is by no means exhaustive. Please feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments section below and happy gardening!

Gardening for the Senses

Stimulating the sense of touch

Gardening is beneficial for people of all ages and children are no exception. They have a natural curiosity about nature and spending time out in the garden is full of endless opportunities. We learn through our senses and gardening stimulates all five. It is therefore a fantastic way to develop children’s understanding of the world around them:

Taste – Eating produce fresh from the garden is one of life’s simplest pleasures. Many parents find it difficult to get their children to eat the recommended amount of vegies each day. Children are more likely to eat their greens if they have been actively involved in planting them. They feel a sense of ownership and are often curious to taste the fruits of their labour.

Sight – A garden is full of wonders for children to see. Children enjoy looking at bright and colourful flowers and vegetables grow. They also love watching and learning about butterflies, ladybirds, dragonflies and other insects as they explore the garden. Gardening with your child also gives them the opportunity to develop their own gardening skills by watching what you do.

Sound –Wind blowing in the trees, birds chirping and wind chimes tinkling in the breeze are all beautiful sounds that children enjoy whilst outdoors.

Touch – There are many different textures in a garden that children love to explore. Digging in the dirt, splashing in puddles, feeling the tickle of grass and the roughness of tree bark are all great tactile experiences that children can enjoy and compare.

Smell – Children love smelling new scents and a garden is the perfect place for them to do this. Flowers, herbs and even compost are just a few examples of the variety of scents that are present for children to experience.

Welcome to the Gardening 4 Kids Blog

Welcome to the first Gardening 4 Kids blog post. I am new to the world of blogging however I always enjoy a challenge and it is a wonderful way for me to share a great range of kid’s gardening resources, activities, photos and other musings with others who enjoy gardening with children.

If you are yet to visit the Gardening 4 Kids store you can do so here where you will find a great range of fun and educational gardening products for children.

I hope you enjoy the blog and if you have any suggestions on anything you would like to see here please let me know by either commenting below or sending an email to info@gardening4kids.com.au.

Happy Gardening

Caroline.