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In the words of Alice Cooper, School’s out for Summer!!
While you and the family aren't jet-setting off to some fabulous (and warm!) European or American destination, you'll probably be thinking of ways to keep your kids occupied during their Summer break. But have no fear; there's absolutely plenty of fun projects for them to complete, including gardening!
This week on our blog page, we thought we'd offer up some fun activities for your kids to do in the garden this Summer.
And with that, let's get right into it!
Build a Fairy Garden
A child’s imagination is incredibly palpable, and what better way to embrace that than by encouraging your kids to build a fairy garden?
Many modern-day fairy gardens are heavily influenced by Celtic (Irish) and Germanic folklore, where there is a mythical belief that fairies actually live in gardens. Their mischievous or good behaviour is determined based on how they are respected by you in your garden. If you want to be on their good side, then it is important to construct a comfy world filled with flowers and nature-inspired places to live. Doing so will encourage fairies will move in, thus providing a magical and lucky space for any human walking by.
To touch upon imagination again, by encouraging kids to ignite their imagination through building a little world replete with pathways, doors, plants, and fairy figurines, your kids can begin to develop a better perspective on the world around them. By observing how all creatures are uniquely diverse and need various levels of accessibility and comfort, they will learn to acknowledge that every person, animal, and living creature is special, all of which deserve the same amount of love. Fairy gardens are also great for stimulating your kids' social skills, for fairy garden building can become a group activity that requires teamwork in order to produce promising results.
And how do we build them? First things first, you need to decide on a location for your fairy garden. It is often suggested that you secure a spot that has eco-friendly elements, such as tree stumps, plants, and old bird baths. Next, you have to pick a theme (honestly, this is entirely up to the individual; remember, ignite that imagination). After that, begin to bring together different plants and potting mixes, followed by fairy housing accessories, stepping stones, and fairy and animal figurines, positioning them in any manner you please. You and your kids can always rearrange your garden depending on the season; plants, for example, might have to be replaced during harsher Winter weather; therefore, your fairy garden will require regular attention. It'll certainly keep the kids busy, which is always a plus!
If you’re looking for inspiration on which accessories to add to your fairy garden, then pop into our garden centre and explore our own fairy garden displays. We've got plenty to get your creative juices flowing.
Plant Fruit and Vegetable Seeds
With kids constantly developing their taste buds, having them grow their own fruit and vegetables will only encourage them to explore new, healthy flavours (flavours that'll make your weekly shopping bill a little cheaper!)
As with fairy garden building, seed planting is a very socially interactive activity for your kids. Whether you choose to make it more family-oriented or an activity shared between your kids and those of a similar age, seed planting encourages them to communicate with others, build confidence, and reduce any social anxiety they might experience.
Studies also show that gardening, including seed sowing, is a great form of exercise for children. The act of digging can be a strenuous task, but it is one that is guaranteed to increase their daily level of physical activity. While performing such activities, your kids will also have their different senses stimulated, from hearing the birds and bees to seeing the multitude of coloured flowers occupying your outdoor space. Indeed, such stimulation will only encourage them to relax more and enjoy the present moment more.
But what seeds do we plant in July? Well, there are actually a few! RHS recommends sowing oriental vegetables, fennel, Spring cabbage, and turnips. While you can sow carrots, you must be aware of carrot fly when you thin existing seedlings. Also, there is the option to plant out brassicas and leeks so that you’ve got a Winter supply guaranteed.
If you haven’t already checked out our seed supply, then be sure to have a browse next time you visit our garden centre. We have various seed packets available for kids, too.
Create Biodegradable Plant Pots
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Encouraging your kids to make biodegradable plant pots is not only a fun activity for them to complete; it's also something that will greatly benefit the environment.
Biodegradable pots can be made out of many reusable items you’ll find around the house, including egg cartons, empty toilet rolls, or even newspapers. For this blog, we thought we'd focus on newspaper pots. Now, newspaper pots are a little more challenging to make; however, that can only help your kids build stamina and embrace the almighty power of patience.
The first thing you have to do to make a newspaper pot is to take a full, double-page section of your newspaper, making sure to lay it flat on the ground, smoothing out any bumps. After that, you need to fold your newspaper in half lengthways, repeating that step a second time. Next, you need to locate a ceramic jar and place it on its side at one end of your paper. Proceed then with rolling the jar along your newspaper, ensuring that the paper is wrapping around the jar as you complete this step. Then, press the ends of your newspaper into the open end of your jar. Following that, pull the jar out of your newspaper so that you are effectively left with a newspaper pot. Once you’ve done that, push your jar back into your newspaper pot so that the bottom of your jar effectively pushes down the paper bottom inside.
Finally, fill up your newspaper pot with compost, crafting a small hole into the top of the soil. Make sure to then carefully add your seeds into the hole, watering them right away. To maintain proper maintenance, make sure you water your plants on a regular basis and give them access to a good chunk of sunlight.
Create a Compost
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If you really want to teach your kids the importance of not wasting food this Summer, then food composting is a great way to do that. Food composting is incredibly advantageous for the environment, as it helps reduce methane emissions and lowers your carbon footprint.
So, where do we begin?
First off, you'll want to invest in a lidded bin (one that is, say, 3 ft. high and 3 ft. wide). Next, you'll need to drill twenty to thirty holes in your lid and in the container's bottom and sides. Doing so will allow air to flow in and out, as well as enable water to drain through.
After that, you’ll need to gather your ingredients so that you can create the perfect food compost recipe. Such ingredients can include twigs, dry leaves, and sticks, as well as waste from your household like tea bags, eggshells, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds. Waste items like fat, pet waste, and dairy products should never be added to your compost. Amongst this, you’ll also need (drum roll…) a layer of soil, which will result in microorganisms and earthworms breaking down the materials necessary. To finish, you’ll need to add water every so often and stir the mixture with either a large stick or shovel. If you do that, you'll have yourself a top-quality food compost!
There are, of course, many forms of composting you and the kids can experiment with. One of these is bottle composting. The process is simple: start by retrieving a two-litre empty fizzy drinks bottle (i.e., coke or sprite), rinsing it out, screwing the top on, and removing the label. Then create a flip top in your bottle; you can achieve this by cutting most of the way around your bottle and a third of the way down. After that, place a layer of soil in the bottom of your bottle, making sure to get it wet with a spray bottle if it’s a little dry. Next, add the following: a thin layer of dirt, a thin layer of fruit scraps, a layer of leaves, and a tablespoon of fertiliser. Keep adding such layers until your bottle is nearly full. Following this, make sure to tape the bottle’s top and put it in a sunny location within your outdoor space. Roll your bottle around every day so that its contents always mix, and add moisture via a spray bottle to keep it from drying out. It’ll take roughly a month for the compost to be ready- when it is brown and crumbly, to be precise.
And that’s all for now, folks! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading and are excited to get the kids outside for some fun gardening activities. Should you need any further advice on how to proceed in the garden, please do not hesitate to pop into our garden centre, where our team will be more than happy to assist. Alternatively, give us a call on 01858 545819, and we’ll be happy to answer your query.
See y’all again very soon!!