Growing a few vegetables, fruits and/or herbs at home or joining a community garden is an excellent way to reconnect children with food.
Where do carrots come from? How do cucumbers grow? Why are strawberries available year-round?
These questions may seem trivial, but many children today have little exposure to how food is produced. A 2020 study revealed that children often have difficulty distinguishing between natural foods and processed foods.
With so many imported and processed food options available, we often lose sight of where our food actually comes from: the Earth.
This disconnect with food is not without consequences. It can lead to health problems, including but not limited to rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. When we lack an understanding of where our food comes from, we also tend to devalue the work required to produce it and we create more food waste.
The benefits of reconnecting with Earth
Across the country, people are transforming yards, rooftops and balconies into food-producing spaces. You can be part of the movement to reconnect with Earth and agriculture.
These initiatives promote food security and sovereignty, strengthen community resilience, reconnect us to our roots and provide easy access to fresh food. They’re also a great way to introduce children to gardening and let them discover firsthand where their food comes from.
Grow your own food and create an open-air classroom
Growing a few vegetables, fruits and/or herbs at home or joining a community garden is an excellent way to reconnect children with food. This experience fosters a deeper understanding of ecosystems: the effects of sunlight and rain on growth, the process of photosynthesis, soil composition and decomposition in action. It also helps children learn fundamental values such as the art of caring and patience.
Spending time in the garden and exploring it thus becomes an open-air classroom, allowing them to discover new things while having fun. But the learning doesn’t stop there. Gardening with children offers an array of benefits for their health, development and relationship with nature.
Eight reasons to grow young farmers
1. Discover the joy of eating what you grow
Half the fun of growing food is eating it. A 2022 study revealed that children who participate in school gardening programs experience greater enjoyment in eating fruits and vegetables. The research also links growing food to the prevention of obesity and other health problems.
Bonus? Families who grow their own food prepare more meals at home, resulting in saving money and lowering their climate impact.
2. Meaningful time spent outdoors (and exercise!)
Gardening is an easy way to spend meaningful time connecting with nature and is a fun way for children to get exercise. Time spent outdoors also provides sensory stimulation, fresh air and vitamin D.
3. Less time spent in front of screens
In our increasingly technological world, planting and harvesting provides a much-needed opportunity for children to unplug and engage with the natural world.
4. Boost morale and reduce anxiety
Gardening can be used as a therapeutic tool to address and prevent depression and anxiety in children. A 2017 study found that gardening has a positive impact on emotional reactions, mood and behaviour.
5. Time with family
Planting, harvesting and preparing food together gives families time to connect, communicate, team-build and cultivate a shared sense of purpose, strategy and achievement.
6. Improved focus and memory
Regular gardening improves alertness, cognitive abilities and memory. According to a 2004 study, spending time in an outdoor green space helps reduce symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children, during the time spent outdoors and for the rest of the day.
7. Develop analytical skills
Planting a garden requires reasoning, initiation, planning and organization. Before planting, let kids choose the plants that will grow best in your space, taking into consideration your family’s nutritional needs and preferences. Calculate how many seeds and seedlings you’ll need. As your garden grows, keep a journal to make observations and measure growth.
8. Improved immunity
In Let Them Eat Dirt, microbiologists Marie-Claire Arrieta and Brett Finlay explain how development of a healthy gut microbiome in early years is crucial to lifelong health. Their suggestion for getting exposure to healthy microbes? Farming and playing in the dirt! Exposure to microbes kick-starts the immune system and helps prevent disease in later life. Immune systems can’t fight infections efficiently without them.
Four ways to plant seeds in your children
1. Visit local farmers markets
Farmers markets often feature live music, play areas and a friendly atmosphere that encourages discovery and interaction. This is a great casual setting to begin building positive associations with planting and farming and pique your kids’ interest in growing food.
Let them “do research” by letting them choose what fruits and vegetables they’re most interested in trying. Encourage them to ask the vendor questions about the producer, their work and how produce is grown.
2. Visit a local organic farm
Search online for organic farms nearby. Many organize workshops, open houses and “you-pick” opportunities that offer a rich sensory and tactile learning experience and provide lasting memories.
Bonus? Many farms also have animals to interact with and pet.
3. Grow at home
Experiment! Many crops that are easy to grow produce quickly and give a high return on investment. Here are some great starter crops for children:
- Lettuce/mixed greens
- Radishes
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Zucchini
- Strawberries (look for an “ever-bearing” variety)
If you have the space, try growing pumpkins and watermelons. If you have a balcony, try small raised beds, a leaning trellis or pots. For windowsills, choose herbs or small vegetables. Indoors, try dwarf vegetable varieties, lemons, mandarins or microgreens.
DISCOVER AN ARRAY OF EDIBLE PERENNIALS –>
4. Cultivate community connections
To expand your family’s growing abilities, get into your local community garden. Connect with neighbours and work together to plant your boulevard or roundabout. Look for workshops at schools, community centres and gardening associations, and programs that let you help harvest local crops in other people’s gardens — even provide a share of the yield.
