For Cody Trinkaus, learning to walk meant one thing: he could finally mow the lawn.

As soon as he could walk, the 3-year-old Bellingham boy took the helm of his own childsized, faux lawnmower, keeping pace with his dad, Stephen, whose non-plastic mower was much more effective at cutting the grass.

Cody’s interest in gardening began “as soon as he could put rocks in his mouth,” says his mom, Jillian Trinkaus. “He’s pretty much been helping me in the yard since day one.”

For kids of all ages, the garden can be a playground and a classroom — a place where they have fun and get messy while learning new things.

“They seem to be really thrilled and excited about a seed, and where do plants come from,” says Toni Clark, co-owner of Bakerview Nursery in Bellingham. “It seems that the majority of the time it’s just information that they haven’t had before, and they get pretty excited. They like to see things happen: new leaves, new flowers, colors.”

LESSONS AND LEAVES

Working in a garden can teach kids more than just the basics of horticulture. Kids can practice writing and drawing skills by making plant labels; they can practice math skills by counting the number of tomatoes on a vine.

“The garden can be a place to teach kids about color, fragrance, textures,” says Chuck McClung, who helps people plan and manage their gardens with his business, Fantastic Gardens.

In addition to teaching basic classroom skills, planting seeds and watching them grow teaches kids about the circle of life and the work that goes into the food they eat.

“When the kids are growing something they’re picking and eating, that is a big thing to keep them connected,” McClung says.

Whether at home or through local classes, watching the process of growth gives kids an appreciation for the everyday processes of the natural world.

“Kids could make a connection with the environment through gardening programs,” says Jim Edwards, a naturalist at Tennant Lake. “It’s a way of getting kids outdoors with their hands in the dirt experiencing the environment.”

PLANTING A SEED

Before starting a garden from scratch, parents should assess their yard and determine what they and their child want the garden to be. Clark’s advice for beginners is to start small and work within the bounds of any space and time limitations. For ideas and help, online resources and local nursery staff can provide advice.

“Let staff know this is your project,” Clark advises. “Don’t pick plants that are too finicky. Be realistic with what you can do.”

Families don’t need a sprawling yard to exercise their green thumbs: a patio that gets decent sun can do the trick pretty nicely. Planting vegetables in containers or pots can cost about $20 and provide a manageable and affordable garden.

“Even if you’re living in an apartment, if you’ve got a little patio, you can do container gardening,” Edwards says. “It’s amazing what you can produce out of a few pots.”

Tomatoes, strawberries, salad greens, beans and peas can thrive in pots as long as they get enough sun.

“Soil, light and water — those are the important factors,” Clark says.

A SPACE OF THEIR OWN

If you already have a garden started, try giving your child their own area to play, plant, dig and get messy.

“For children, give them their own little space to let them do their own gardening,” Clark says. “Get them actively involved instead of just telling them and not allowing them to touch anything.”

Cody Trinkaus has plenty of experience helping his mom with light weeding and yard maintenance, but this year they’re starting a bigger project: planting blueberry and raspberry bushes that Cody will help harvest in the fall.

While lovely to look at, maintaining a garden requires work. The biggest challenge for some parents is keeping gardening from becoming a chore. Keeping things colorful and planting tasty vegetables that grow quickly will help keep garden work satisfying.

“Don’t push it too hard; you don’t want them to feel like it’s drudgery or work,” Edwards says. “If it’s a joyful thing then they’ll love doing it.”

That has yet to be an issue for Jillian Trinkaus. When her son’s friends come over to play, one of the first places they head to is the yard, where they happily bull-doze dirt and move rocks.

Edwards sees the same enthusiasm and curiosity at gardening workshops for kids at Tennant Lake.

“They enjoy it; you can just see it in their faces. They enjoy getting dirty.”

source : www.bellinghamherald.com