GREEN COVE SPRINGS – From my experiences interacting with people throughout the county, gardening and horticulture is an extremely popular hobby. From the UF/IFAS Master Gardeners to garden clubs to just the person passionate about their roses, almost everyone gets their hands dirty in their lawn and landscape. However, there is one group often overlooked who can benefit a lot from time in the garden – kids.
As a child, some of my fondest memories were helping my mom-mom in her garden, weeding and fertilizing the pole beans or picking hundreds of Colorado potato beetles off of the sweet potatoes. These experiences instilled in me a love of plants and nature and the conversations we had were irreplaceable teaching moments. Gardening with kids can help increase their knowledge of plants and the natural world, give them pride in their work, allow them to exercise, and allows them a wealth of opportunities to use their creativity and imagination.
When working with youth, there are some great ways to get them involved with horticulture. First of all, if a garden or landscape is not a possibility, visit local botanical gardens, parks, or natural areas to take walks and learn about the plants there. Many of these locations may also offer classes and activities for kids. Some of my personal favorite locations include Camp Chowenwaw, Gold Head State Park, and if you’re willing to take a bit of a drive, the…
