Sean O'Brien CNP, Horticultural Manager, Hunter Valley Gardens
With many fun activities planned at Hunter Valley Gardens these school holidays the Gardens award winning Horticulturist Sean O’Brien believes the holidays are the perfect time to get the kids out in the garden to keep them active and occupied.
Gardening is a great way for children to learn more about plants and the environment and will keep them busy every day with different activities and tasks that need to be completed in order to keep the garden looking its best.
Mr. Sean O’Brien says, “By getting children involved in the garden these holidays, they will not only feel a sense of responsibility, but they will gain knowledge and enjoyment from the growth and changes that they will notice happening every day.”
  
Below are some fantastic gardening activities that Mr. O’Brien suggests for kids to take part in throughout the school holidays:
Plant a herb and vegetable garden - By planting a herb and vegetable garden you can ensure the kids are involved in the entire project from buying the seeds or seedling, planting them in the garden, all the way to reaping the rewards and including these vegies in the family dinner. Children will feel very involved if they go through the whole process and understand why they are growing them. It will also encourage them to eat vegetables they wouldn’t normally touch.
Growing from seed - This is far easier than most people think. Choose seeds that are large enough for children to handle such as peas or nasturtiums. Soak them in water over night, then plant the next day. They will be up and in around 7 days. For a bit of fun take an avocado seed and poke 3 toothpicks into the side and sit it on the rim of the glass so it is suspended in the glass. Fill the glass with water to the base of the seed and in no time you will have an avocado plant!
Make a grass head - Use an old stocking, some potting mix and lawn seed. Put the mix and seed into the stocking, tie it up and paint on some eyes. Water the head everyday and within 7 days the head will start to grow hair that can be trimmed and styled anyway you like.
Tools - Purchase the kids their own tools for the garden. There are plenty of kids’ sized tools available so they can help dig, rake and snip.
Give the kids their own patch of the garden to work with - Take them shopping to buy their own plants and let them plant what they like. Let the kids be hands on and if they want to chop something back, let them go for it. It’s all about having fun and getting dirty.
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