RE: Encouraging Children

Have been biting my tongue over this thread but now  must jump in.

For 5 years have lived in the inner city, on a street gradually changing from slum/boarding/crack houses to family housing.

Have only garden - no grass. Children have talked to me ever since I moved here.  I've given them flowers to take home, showed them different things,  had 4 or 5 of them growing veggies/flowers in my veggie garden.

Last year started gardening with them in a spare lot as too many children in my back yard.  Of course /composting/reading/vocab/lots of family  problem-solving/snacks/often breakfasts in summer are involved as well. 

Had 7 kiddos last summer with their own plots, decorated with rocks/signs, bits and pieces. By the end of the summer had 11 kids, with transplanted flowers, veggies that were planted far too late etc etc.

It is a transient population here so wonder how many kids will return this spring.
 
Made a 4 x 8 ft sign which kids painted and call it The Guerrilla Garden. 
We made a treehouse about one ft. off the ground for toddlers the older children often look after,also a fire pit for hotdogs/marshmallows/roasted potatoes.

Had one instance of vandalism in my front garden - a mental patient  we discovered. 

This has been a two-way street.  The mothers come around and have taught me about native herbs, sweet grass. 

So.... talk to the children, show them things in your garden. Maybe you have some space where they can plant a thing or two.  Show them a particular whatever nd ask them if they want that plant, their own plant to look after. Show them where they can stand without stepping on precious things.  I have one kiddo who helped me plant a clematis on my fence.  He feels it is his plant. Kindness, time spent with kiddos works wonders.

BUT--  no youth members in either iris or lily societies here.  



Amen
Ginny 

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