What better way to get your kid to eat her veggies than to have her plant and harvest them herself? So here’s my little guy helping me plant some verdant seedlings the other day. We created a raised bed which has kept the bunnies away the past two summers, and turned and amended the soil with organic compost. The soil looks dark and rich, and the bed gets a full day of sunshine plus daily watering. Weeds grow mightily in these conditions, but kids love plucking them, so put that to work for yourself. Give them a watering can and small spade and then go put your feet up on a lounge chair for a spell.

So far we planted a large array of herbs (parsley, basil, thyme, cilantro, mint, oregano and rosemary), romaine, escarole and kale for leafy greens, broccoli and brussels sprouts, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers. Try to get “bush” beans and cukes when possible; otherwise, the vines grow all over the place. Also, keep stakes or plant supports and ties on hand to hold unwieldy plants upright once they start bearing fruit. It’s a good idea to poke the little white label spike that comes with the seedling into the soil near the plant itself; helps you keep track of what’s where until the plants mature. [Read more…]