Garnerville, NY on Jul 17, 2012

A Toddler Garden For Less Than A $100

My 4 Year Old Son asked me one day, "If he could have his very own garden?" So one day, while away at his grandma's, With the help of my brother & in less than 3 hours, I Surprised My Son With a Garden of his very own!! I told him he could Plant & do whatever he wanted in his garden, for it was his! (Also a great way to keep your Toddler out of your garrden! :) ) Lo & Behold, My 4 yr old Tot has already grown by seed; String Beans, Pickles, Tomatoes, Baby Bell Peppers, Carrots & He even threw in a Sunflower Tree Seed in there; giving it an extra touch of love!!! And all on his own, he is ever so proudly, reaping his own rewards! I can tell U One Thing, He's NOT the only one who's so, so Proud! (Click On photo to see Full Photo collage of Toddler Garden Made In Progress!)

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30 Comments Displaying 25 of 30 comments | See Previous

Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

A 4-year-old who asks for a garden should certainly be encouraged, and you have done so in a beautiful way.

on Jul 18, 2012 · Like 2
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

Great job...very thoughtful and wise gift to your child. One thing about kids...if they have a sense of inclusion, they learn so much better. And if they grow food, they will be more inclined to try a wider variety of veggies! Once they develope taste for them, they will want to garden in the future!

on Jul 18, 2012 · Like 2
Kiki R Los Angeles, CA

gardens are a LOT of work ... good for u landon

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 0
Julya Arnold, MD

My mom gave us our own garden beds in her garden when we were little and now i love gardening. Its a great way to encourage kids to grow and experiment with what THEY love. Can't wait to do this when i have kids.

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 1
Michelle Williamsport, PA

My son just turned 5 and he's on his 2nd yr of gardening. He loves it! We planted the plants from seed and he waters and Miracle Gros them. He's out there every day checking his tomato plants most especially. He loves tomatoes! We made a stepping stone that says"Johnny's garden" last yr too. He really took ownership and is very proud of himself!

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 1
Miriam I New York, NY

Li, I'm so glad you posted this and I've enjoyed reading everyone's comments, too. Michelle, I'd love to see pictures of Johnny's garden!

on Jul 19, 2012 · Like 1
Francesca DeLuca Bay Shore, NY

my guess is that you are supervising evey hands on and it's fresh potting soil and monitor everything. reminds me of the little seed in the cup in girl scouts.

on Jul 20, 2012 · Like 1
Rachel Malewski Toledo, OH

What a great idea Mom! It teaches children responsiblity at an early age.

on Jul 20, 2012 · Like 1
Taunnie Sandy, UT

What a wonderful idea! Makes me want to kick myself in the butt for not thinking to make my four year old his own garden.

on Jul 20, 2012 · Like 0
Angela L Harlem, GA

Liz, I had my nephew again this weekend, and HE asked ME to help plant flowers! (made me sooo happy! lol) he wanted to take a flower home, then he wanted one for mommy, then one for daddy, lol.....so I told him about this idea, and he was like cool! and his eyes got all big, and he said, "I'll have my OWN garden???" so now we are BOTH excited lol!!! here's a pic I took of him planting his mommy's and his flowers!!!
on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 2
Becky H Tampa, FL

Angela L., his face isn't large enough for a bigger smile. You can see how happy he is about gardening. Oh-h-h-h the lessons he'll learn. Kudos to you.

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 2
Angela L Harlem, GA

Thanks Becky! it warms my heart to pass my love of gardening on to him, that started with his great-great grandfather, that of course he never met, but he gets to see pics of, and hear stories of! LOVE IT!!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@BECKY - Thank you so much! Your grandson is at the perfect age!!! My son just turned 4 yrs old a few months back. Last year, he helped me but simply understood the concept and aside from planting one or two seeds....but by the end of the summer he loved coming in mommy & daddy's garden & he was actually the first to walk out in the yard in the morning to see if anything was ready to be picked and then he would start to notice every flower that bloomed and than he asked me early spring, if ...»
he could have his own garden! When I found out it would cost me less than $100 and would take only a couple hours to make....I knew it was a must!!! He absoultely loves it!!!! I believe it gives him a huge sense of pride, accomplishment while also learning responsibilty and so so much more! 5 yrs old will be even better....and if you can't make a garden next year, give him seeds to plant in containers.....the size to them doesn't matter, they just love the progression and knowing they took part in it!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@BECKY H - What a sweet, sweet comment. Actually got me teary eyed, truthfully (Great Parenting, so touched!(...A lot of the comments did actually got me a little choke d up, I must be honest.! When I surprised my son when I removed the blindfood, the smile on his face is one I will never forget and what will stay with me forever is how he ran up to me, threw his arms around me & said, "Thank You Mommy!'. I too believe that it's one of the best hands out learning expierences in so many ...»
ways!
It's great in so many ways. For starters it keeps him out of our garden :) but now he also has a garden that he could do and plant whatever he wanted & I feel is learning a love of gardening,learning patience of hard work before reaping awards & learning responsibilty about helping him tend to his garden day by Day and besides he LOVES IT!!!! Every morning, the first thing he says when he wakes up is, "Mommy Can We Go See Our Gardens? Funny Part is, HIS GARDEN IS DOING BETTER THAN OURS! lol

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@STEVE G - You must keep this in mind for your lil guy.....For starters, what boy doesn't like playing with dirt! But trust me.....their is sooooo many great learning expierences that come with it and you'll be surprised how much he's going to love it!!! And not only that, it will get your little one to eat more veggies believe it or not! Def. worth trying!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 0
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@ANGELA - Your great nephew will love it! Like you, I come from a family of gardeners, mostly vegatables and Me too can remember back when I was in elementary school and my grandfather would allow me his garden....pick the figs....Cut the roses & he also gave me, my little digging spot of my own...I didn't plant veggies...when we moved upstate, my father always had one but never really spent time in the garden like I did my grandfather! I'm a new homeowner of 3 years, a home in which took ...»
me 15 years to purchase and gratefully, one with a garden in it! Having my garden immediatly takes me back to my roots....and now many years later, as a Mom of a 4 year old, I get choked up knowing that I'm blessed to have a yard to do that in (Blessed if you also only have containers!!! :) ) and blessed that my son is already 4 and can name practically every vegetable, and half of all my flowers! It's great fun.... a great memory (AS WE BOTH KNOW FROM OUR GRAND DADS!) and great for the child, in countless of ways!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Steve G Fort Collins, CO

Thanks Liz. He already helps me weed and harvest the vegetable garden, so I can't wait until he's old enough for his own little plot.

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@ Douglas - Blushing...... :) Thank you so much! Coming from you that means a lot!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 0
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@JEANETTE......Once again, a comment that got me teary eyed. Thank u very much, extremely sweet and touching! It's so true.....If children feel a sense of inclusion, they not only learn quicker, feel more worthy and honestly learn countless of lessons!!!! Responsibility.....Patience......Hard work......We can't forget about the growing process....starting from seed....water.....sun......and finally the reaping of his very own rewards!!! The first thing that came up in his garden were the ...»
string beans & my gosh he was excited. I have to admit, he does like his veggies, but only really broccoli, calaflower, carrots and corn so I really can't Complain, however he never liked string beans. After picking them from his own garden, he came in, helped us wash them, prep them, oil them a little bit and I have to SECOND your comment because my son, didn't eat not one but 2 portions of String Beans....& I knew in my heart is that he was so excited he grew them himself! So if you do have a tot out there that hates to eat veggies, plant some in a container that, veggies that you would think you like and help them grow the vegetables themselves in hopes of them eating it because it's so true, the likehood of them eating something they grew are very high!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@ Kiki....Awwwww.Thank you! My little boy loves his garden and is so dedicated! Which as a Mom, makes me so happy but mostly proud to see!
@Julya....Thank you very much for starters. My grandfather did the same for me as your mom and it's a memory I will never forget, so hopefully one day when he's older and he's tending his garden with my grandchild, he'll think of me! :) And yes, it's such a great fun and allows him to ...»
expirement on his own hands on..... I always allow him to try and do whatever he wants.....In my eyes, like you said, it will teach him to do what he loves with out anyone holding him back! Very sweet comment, thank you!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 0
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@ Michelle....That's so funny!!!! Our two little ones are exactly alike...for we too have been doing it together for two years and now that he's older and knows more about it, you should see his face when he walks in the house with ready to be picked vegetable from his garden....the smile is absolutely priceless....as I'm sure you already know!!! :) Post pics, the more we can encourage others to get their little one's involved, the greater it would be......We'll simply be paying it forward! :)

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 0
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@Miriam, after seeing the beautiful comments and reading the comments, I'm so glad I shared it too... I'm so happy everyone liked it!
@Francesa....I monitor him to an extent....I tell him what to do....How to water the soil, not the plants, he has his own watering bucket in which he fills up himself. Obviously I do the staking, but believe it or not, he holds certain branches up for me so I'm able to tie them up, so he's ...»
def. involved. I certaintly don't allow him in there with sears, just let him pick his veggies by hand.....I put a wooden plank in the center of it, so he can walk on that without stepping in the soil and everyday on his own, he opens up his garden to check to see if anything else bloomed. The only thing he's not grasping yet, simpy because he's so excited.....lol Is that he has to wait for the tomato to be red before picking it. lol But I told him....it's his garden....Just like us, he'll have to learn the hard way! lol :)

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@Rachel - So touching!!! And I've come to realize, so, so True!!!! Thank you for that comment, it was genuinely sweet!
@Taunnie.....No regrets babe & Besides, It's never too late!!! How old is your little guy?

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 0
Liz C Garnerville, NY

@ANGELA - That comment was the PERFECT night cap for me!!!!!!!!!!! Knowing that a little boy was happy & smiing today of just the simple thought of having his own garden, simply from you mentioning you saw my son's garden....touches me more than you'll ever know.....Forget the garden...forget the veggies.....THE SMILE and EXCITEMENT, in my mind is what's priceless!!!!! As I said earlier....nothing better than paying it Forward!!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO much for sharing the pics of him ...»
gardening, with a smile that simply melted my heart!!!, literally! Thank you for sharing that comment!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1
Angela L Harlem, GA

Thank YOU so much Liz for the idea! I cant wait to make his garden area for him and surprise him with it! My little "Trey-man" is my heart, and I love to spoil him! LOL, hes really more like a grandson to me than a great-nephew, as I raised his mom....she wasnt much of the out-doorsie type although she's slowly coming around now that shes older. I love spending time with my little guy, and this is just another perfect way for us to spend time together! I believe in kids playing outdoors ...»
anyway, and this little guy has sooooo much energy, he NEEDS projects to burn some of it off! His mom sent his Nintendo DS with him to my house, we didn't even pull it out of his bag the entire time he was with me! And he didnt ask for it either! :-) Kids these days spend too much time in front of the TV or playing video games in my humble opinion! He just couldnt believe that my toys were sticks that we turned into guns, and pinecones that were grenades for us to play war, or maypops were bombs we threw at each other! lol, and if I wanted to play "house", I made mudpies out of water and dirt!!! LOL
He was amazed!! I just love to watch his eyes get big as saucers!

on Jul 22, 2012 · Like 1