Comments on: Apprentice Gardeners

By: GBDW - Gardening with Kids Wrapup

GBDW - Gardening with Kids Wrapup — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:37:38 +0000

[...] Apprentice Gardeners (Colleen at In the Garden Online): Giving kids a space of their own, as Colleen has done for her two “garden girls,” is a great way to get them off to a great start in their gardening career. [...]

By: Blackswampgirl Kim

Blackswampgirl Kim — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:26:49 +0000

Nice post, Colleen! I think that you definitely have the right attitude, and hope that you are getting “buy in” from the girls on the whole gardening thing.

By the way, did you ever plant those green zinnias? Just curious how they performed, if you did…

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:38:58 +0000

Wonderful post! This year we gave each child a section of raised bed and let them choose what seeds they wanted to plant. Some of our children were most enthusiastic than others, but that was fine. I think they all had fun and learned some new skills.

By: commonweeder

commonweeder — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:29:52 +0000

Colleen, None of my children turned out to be gardeners, but I certainly have seen how a parent’s passion is transmitted. One 8 year old learned about the 3 Sisters at school and with her gardener mother they not only planted a sizeable 3 sisters patch at home, Mom (who works at the summerschool) now has a public 3 sisters patch with her daughter and the other students. The garden is right where everyone can see it and visit.

By: Nan Ondra

Nan Ondra — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:49:12 +0000

Thanks for sharing yoru thoughts for the GGW Design Workshop, Colleen. Your approach with your kids is the same my mom had with me, and it sure worked for us! Somehow, I missed that you have a new address, so I’m headed back to update your link at GGW.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:31:06 +0000

I bring my daughter out with me all the time. Unless its during her naptime she’s with me in the garden everytime I am. It’s a great way to get them outside and teaches them about plants. She had her first garden this year with zinnias and sunflowers. Easy plants that are sure to grow!

By: Annie in Austin

Annie in Austin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:46:37 +0000

Hi Colleen – just found your new site.

Your kids look like they’re enjoying being out there with you, and that you like being with them.

I sure never did anything as organized as you or Kathy but all four of my kids grew up to be interested in plants and gardening. I have no idea why…maybe I’ll go ask them.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

By: Jim/ArtofGardening

Jim/ArtofGardening — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:56:33 +0000

Just about the only thing I can get my 10-year-old daughter to do is pick an occasional plant to add and water her “Harry Potter Garden” (which I’ll post about soon for the Garden Blogger Design Workshops soon).

Of course, her watering generally devolves into watering the swing set, driveway, house and herself.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:07:27 +0000

Great post Colleen! I am glad you are cultivating another generation of gardeners.

By: Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening

Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:57:38 +0000

Ownership is a very important component–it has to be their project, not something a grownup thought would be a good idea for them to do.