| Homeschooling in the Garden | | | | ground. Advantages are that there is no digging in |
| | | | your yard, your garden is portable and decorative, |
| Do you already find yourself dreaming of working | | | | and it is susceptible to fewer weeds and soilborne |
| in the soil this spring? Of getting your hands dirty | | | | diseases. |
| and watching for those little green sprouts to | | | | • Raised Bed/Square Foot Garden—Grow |
| magically appear? Why not use your garden | | | | plants in raised beds enriched with compost about |
| planning time as the ultimate homeschool unit | | | | one foot deep and 3-4 feet wide. Advantages |
| study? Don’t think of gardening as something | | | | with this type of garden include that the close |
| that takes away from your academics time. | | | | planting creates a microclimate that conserves |
| Think of it as something that can enrich it. | | | | moisture and reduces weeds; it is easier to |
| Involve the children in your research. Gardening | | | | maintain; the soil is not compacted by walking on |
| will provide wonderful hands-on activities that can | | | | it; and higher yields are obtained. |
| truly bring learning to life for your children. It’s | | | | A subject within gardening that’s interesting |
| something that both boys and girls can enjoy. You | | | | to study with your children is companion planting. |
| don’t have to live out in the country to have | | | | Companion planting is the method of planting |
| a garden. You can start with just a small spot in | | | | certain pairs or groups of crops in closer |
| your yard, containers on your porch, or even a | | | | proximity because they benefit each other. Native |
| small herb garden in your windowsill. When I was | | | | Americans planted the "Three Sisters" |
| a little girl, I had a wonderful grandmotherly type | | | | together—corn, pole beans, and squash—so |
| babysitter who kept a garden in her backyard. My | | | | that they could benefit from each other. The corn |
| mother often commented about how when | | | | provides a structure for the beans to climb, |
| she’d pick me up at the end of the day | | | | eliminating the need for poles. The beans provide |
| Mama Linda would have all of us kids sitting under | | | | the nitrogen to the soil that the other plants need, |
| a shade tree snapping green beans. We thought it | | | | and the squash spreads along the ground, |
| was a wonderful treat to "get" to work in her | | | | monopolizing the sunlight and thereby preventing |
| garden. | | | | weeds. The squash leaves act as a "living mulch," |
| Create a garden notebook with all of your plans | | | | creating a microclimate that retains moisture in |
| together in one spot. Start by working together | | | | the soil. The squash also deters pests with its |
| to create a list of all the fruits and vegetables | | | | prickly vines. Companion plants can benefit each |
| that you eat or enjoy. Don’t feel like you | | | | other by repelling pests, encouraging beneficial |
| have to grow a patch of squash if your family | | | | insects, providing shelter or structure for each |
| won’t eat it. Spend your time on things that | | | | other, improving flavor, and enriching the soil. |
| you all will actually use! Keep it simple. Assign | | | | Carrots Love Tomatoes, by Louise Riotte, is a |
| different children to be in charge of certain plants. | | | | wonderful handbook for learning more about this |
| Narrowing their focus will help keep the tasks | | | | method. |
| from seeming too overwhelming, while also helping | | | | Also do some research on succession planting. |
| your child to really research the best way to care | | | | Succession planting helps maximize your garden |
| for their plants. Children can find helpful growing | | | | season’s potential. You can either plant |
| information on the Internet, in books and | | | | different varieties of the same crop so they’ll |
| magazines, and from experienced gardeners to | | | | mature at different rates, stagger when you plant |
| put in their notebooks. Practical projects often | | | | crops so that they’ll mature at different |
| help encourage even the most reluctant readers | | | | times, or plant one crop and then another in the |
| and writers. It gives learning purpose and brings | | | | same space. Succession planting is a great way to |
| satisfaction from a job well done. Watching those | | | | increase your harvest by maximizing your use of |
| first little sprouts develop into an ear of corn, a | | | | space and timing. Often you can start off with a |
| watermelon, or giant sunflower can really make | | | | cool season crop like lettuce, follow it up with |
| an impact on a child’s life. | | | | tomatoes that thrive in the heat, and then finish |
| Gardening helps mind, body, and spirit. Researching | | | | off the season with a third crop that grows well |
| and planning for your garden involves reading, | | | | into the fall, such as spinach. |
| math, and science and encourages higher level | | | | Now is the time to start planning, though. Select |
| thinking skills. You’ll also be able to use your | | | | your plants. Draw out a design of your garden. |
| notebook to journal when and where you plant | | | | Gather the materials you’ll need. If you’re |
| things. Track the temperature and rain, fertilizing, | | | | planning on a container garden, keep your eye out |
| how much you have to water them, and their | | | | for containers that you can use. If you’re |
| growth. | | | | going to do a lasagna garden, start saving your |
| Being outdoors in the sunshine is great for the | | | | newspapers and cardboard boxes. If you want to |
| body. Breathing in the fresh air and eating items | | | | use compost in your garden, start your own |
| straight from your garden can go a long way | | | | worm bin or compost pile to discard your kitchen |
| toward a healthier lifestyle for your family. | | | | waste and improve your soil quality. Start building |
| Gardening provides nutritious food and exercise | | | | raised beds or gathering materials so you can |
| for growing bodies during those impressionable | | | | start seeds indoors. You can also incorporate |
| years. Likewise, the peace and quiet of working | | | | history into your studies in the garden. Study the |
| with your hands in the garden is good for the | | | | Victory Gardens of World War II and discover |
| spirit, and gardening can help bring many Bible | | | | how Americans grew 40 percent of their |
| truths to life. The parables of the farmer in | | | | vegetables, allowing the War Department to |
| Matthew 13 truly come to life when children see | | | | purchase the mass-produced vegetables for the |
| how important preparing the soil is when they are | | | | troops overseas. During that time, emphasis was |
| trying to grow something. | | | | placed on making gardening a family or |
| Consider different types of gardens: | | | | community effort—not a drudgery but a |
| • Traditional Garden—Grow plants directly in | | | | pastime and a national duty. We can learn a lot |
| the soil in your backyard. One big advantage is | | | | from history. As Cicero once said, "If you have a |
| how economical this type of garden is. It can be | | | | garden and a library, you have everything you |
| as large or small as you want. | | | | need." Do a little gardening with your kids this |
| • Lasagna Garden—Grow plants without | | | | year. No green thumb is required, just a love of |
| digging by planting in soil covered with a barrier | | | | learning and a willingness to get your hands dirty! |
| layer (such as newspaper), compost, and mulch. | | | | Copyright 2008. Originally appeared in The |
| The advantages are that there is no need to dig, | | | | Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Winter 07/8. |
| it conserves water, there are fewer weeds to | | | | Used with permission. Visit them at |
| pull, it prevents erosion, and it improves the soil. | | | | For all your homeschool curriculum needs visit the |
| • Container Garden—Grow plants in | | | | Schoolhouse Store. |
| containers rather than planting directly into the | | | | |