It’s amazing how the holiday season hits us earlier every year. It is a shock to see the overnight transition from the Halloween décor at the local stores to dazzling displays of red and green merchandise, as if some momentous event...
December is a busy month of decorating, parties, shopping, shopping, and oh yeah, shopping. Like my spouse, my children love to shop – they are happy to spend hours browsing through the stores, especially toy and book stores. This...
Jump start your child’s enthusiasm for the gardening season by planting seeds indoors. Starting your own seedlings not only allows you to grow a wider variety of plants, it also extends your growing season— engaging your young gardeners...
January may seem mellow after the bustle of the holidays has passed, but with slower schedules it is a great time to get kids excited about the garden season that lies ahead. One way to help them catch the garden bug is to explore the...
What better way to celebrate your child’s spring or summer birthday than with a garden party? Although fancy dresses and tea sandwiches may come to mind, kids love to run around outside, play games and get their hands into the dirt-- all...
What better way to celebrate your child’s spring or summer birthday than with a garden party? Although fancy dresses and tea sandwiches may come to mind, kids love to run around outside, play games and get their hands into the dirt-- all...
We can all use a little help in the garden. And the garden has an army of tiny helpers eager to lend a hand. They are the beneficial insects, ones that behave in ways that are helpful to the crops we grow. These “good bugs” help out in a...
School is out and our children are now on summer vacation – or are they? As a parent of three young girls, my wife and I find ourselves signing up the kids for various summer activities such as swimming, drama camp, dance classes and music...
One of the most interesting theme gardens you can plant with your children is a butterfly garden. A butterfly garden provides a colorful array of nectar-producing plants that not only attract butterflies and hummingbirds, but can also draw...
It's mid-winter and the kids are clamoring for things to do. Outdoor play is great, but here's a fun indoor planting activity to offer when the weather is lousy. With little effort and a pinch of creativity you can devise some very...
If your house looks like mine your clutter is a direct result of the inevitable back-to-school rituals. I have a pile of last year’s clothes ready to be handed down to the next child sitting in the laundry room, new backpacks in a...
The hot summer months of July and August are great activity months for children. This summer, our family has been busy biking, swimming and kayaking quite often. It’s also the time of year to visit your local parks, stop by roadside...
Growing an edible family garden is a great way to get your kids excited about eating fresh fruits and vegetables. It also provides a terrific opportunity to give back to your community.
One of the most interesting theme gardens you can plant with your children is a butterfly garden. A butterfly garden provides a colorful array of nectar-producing plants that not only attract butterflies and hummingbirds, but can also draw...
School is out and our children are now on summer vacation – or are they? As a parent of three young girls, my wife and I find ourselves signing up the kids for various summer activities such as swimming, drama camp, dance classes and music...
We all know we should eat more fruits and vegetables. It's estimated that as many as 90 percent of Americans don't eat the USDA's recommended number of servings of vegetables and fruits each day. One way to instill healthy eating habits at...
sensitive plantIn an age of iPods, video games, and all-too-realistic CGI movies, it may seem like a stretch to get kids excited about a simple green plant. But kids are intuitively fascinated by nature. There's a simple pleasure kids find...
When my daughter was young, one of our favorite garden activities was to dig potatoes. Even now, at 18 years old, she's happy to help harvest the spuds. There's something timeless about digging for buried treasure that every kid enjoys,...
Secret hideaways, garden playrooms, and special structures are enticements for involving kids in the garden, and they can transform the garden into a fantasyland and refuge. All of these projects can involve and reward the whole family and...
It's mid-winter and the kids are clamoring for things to do. Outdoor play is great, but here's a fun indoor planting activity to offer when the weather is lousy. With little effort and a pinch of creativity you can devise some very...
