Jim Says...

I think gardening could be a major cure for much of what ails society, especially our youth. Look at all of its positive points; gardening puts you in touch with nature and in communion with living things, it gets you into the outdoors and gets you active, it is calming, and it teaches patience. All of these are noble virtues that our troubled society could use a little more of. That's why I vigorously support any initiatives that get kids involved in gardening from a young age.

Kids should be encouraged to share in the wonders of gardening at the "dirt under the fingernails" level. Get them out into the garden with you and show them how it's done. Engage them in all aspects of gardening, from planting and weeding to watering and harvesting. Explain things to them as though you're exploring the great mysteries of the world; the good and bad roles of bugs, how a plant grows from a seed into a seedling and the to maturity, and how flowers are pollinated. Your garden is a little microcosm of life and there is so much to be learned there.

It doesn't have to be complicated, and I think much of it comes down to basic parenting skills and leading by example. Parents who should show an active interest in gardening are more likely to have their children view it positively as well, especially if they treat it as an honorable leisure activity worthy of some of their quality time. And the worst thing to do is make it seem like a chore. Believe it or not, if you make weeding look like fun, that's likely how they'll come to see it as well. Remember, your enthusiasm can be very contagious!

Stefan Says...

The famous words of Jean-Luc Picard - "Make It So" - resonate with me. Children hold the keys to the future sustainability of the Earth. Unfortunately many of today's children don't know that the fruits and vegetables they eat are not produced by some machine or computer - after all we do refer to them as 'produce'. But on the flipside, children today are more astute about the necessity to sustain the world in which we live, and more and more young adults are looking to alternative energies and growing their own foods for a healthier tomorrow. As they mature and have children of their own, I'm hopeful that those venerable traits will be passed down to their children in the next generation of young gardeners.

Children respond best with hands-on activity. In this wireless age of iPods and cell phones, the key is that they are using their hands. When children and young adults work closely with a trusted friend, they excel - so encourage your child to have their best bud join up with them. Enroll or even take your child to one of the local garden club or horticultural society meetings where you are making something or planting up something. Take your kids along to the garden center when buying plants and have them pick out something for themselves, and give them a specific part of the garden in which to work. It needn't be large and may start with a simple pot of flowers that they can nurture. You will be amazed at how they respond to this.

One bit of advice - avoid competitions when it comes to children. A guaranteed way to have your child stop being interested in gardening (or any endeavor for that matter) is to have them do it for the potential prize at the end, such as the Best Novice Gardener in the club. Remember, this child has spent an entire summer nurturing and watching this plant, container or garden flourish. They have achieved something that means a great deal them, only to have some outsider tell them that Suzie's is better (and Suzie likely did nothing; her parents did all the work and put her name on it and all the kids knew this). Avoiding failure is paramount to instilling a long-lasting desire to garden in your child.

Help your child learn through assistance, and do not take over the project as we often have a tendency to do. Teach them the health considerations of what they are doing. And once their work is complete, whether they have succeeded or not, let them know when they have accomplished something - even if it is helping them to understand why their project died or failed. And to finish with another quote from the good Captain, "Things are only impossible until they're not!"

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