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As the temperature outside begins to warm, families head to their local garden stores in droves for gardening materials.  While many people are eager for bright color after a dreary winter, others are enthusiastic about growing their own produce.  These days, in particular, people grow their own food to reduce grocery costs.  But gardening with your family has other benefits, too.

• It is an opportunity for the whole family to learn together.  I have had a black thumb in the past, but our kids are thirsty for knowledge about how we can keep our plants alive this time around.
• Gardening connects kids with the source of their food.
• It helps children appreciate the time and effort that it takes to grow ingredients that they might otherwise take for granted.
• By participating in the food-growing experience, kids are more excited to taste what they have grown.
• You and your family will be proud of what you have grown and will be happy to share your bounty with others.

Speaking of sharing…our favorite farmer, Andrew from the Full Belly Farm, brought me and my kids some seedlings and “magic beans” for us to grow in our freshly amended garden bed.  Our garden is now filled with seedlings that seem to grow before our very eyes!  Our peas have started to climb, our squash is growing exponentially, and all three types of basil seeds have sprouted.  We also have tomatoes, peppers, chard, bush beans, carrots, two types of eggplant, an artichoke, volunteer pole beans from last year and lots of herbs. 

I tend to get overexcited about things, but this time, I planted too much food on purpose.  Like my friend Gina, we plan to donate our extra produce to a local soup kitchen or food bank.  Plant A Row for the Hungry is a simple concept and one that I am excited about sharing with my kids.  All we had to do was include few extra plants with the intention of sharing the yield with those in need.

Hey – don’t make excuses about why this won’t work for you.  So what if you don’t have a big yard?  Stick a pole bean and some lettuce in a pot.  Or plant a tomato in a large pot or bucket.  The roots will get toasty warm and the plant will be an uber-producer!

If you are new to growing veggies, like I am, here are a few resources that might be helpful:

• Short On Space?  Grow Veggies Anyway
• You Grow Girl
• All New Square Foot Gardening, by Mel Bartholomew

Our local food bank encourages families to bring in produce that is hearty and doesn’t need to be refrigerated immediately, such as squash, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and cabbage.

Do you grow any of your own food?  Be sure to let me know if you and your kids plan to grow something extra for the needy this year.  I’d love to hear your stories!