The Perfect Recipe
Take one energy-filled youngster. Provide subject with a cup of
seeds and a shovel. Infuse with dirt and sprinkle on healthy dollops
of fresh air and sunshine. Mix with a shovel. Yield: One happy
kid and the beginnings of a summer long project for the domestic
unit, otherwise known as THE FAMILY GARDEN.
Sharing Traditions
I had fond memories of gardening as a child- my family shared
a large backyard garden with a neighbor. Each spring, every
willing youngster old enough to hold a spade was assigned a
vegetable. Through the spring, summer and early fall, she was
responsible for the weeding, watering, sowing and distribution
of her yield. Over the years, we had a variety of crops: summer
squash, horseradish, leaf lettuce, corn, beans, eggplant, cherry
tomatoes, cucumbers, chives and rhubarb. As a result, I grew
up with an appreciation for the process and consumption of fresh
produce. For me, gardening is a relaxing escape from the pressures
of an urban environment, and I wanted to pass that tradition
on to my children.
Cooperative Extension : The Mother Lode of Gardening Guidance
After poring over books on design, composting, and organic gardening,
we consulted local experts. Our first stop was Cornell Cooperative
Extension, which proved to be the mother lode of gardening guidance.
Cooperative extension programs are located throughout the U.S.,
and in each state are affiliated with land grant universities.
They provide research-based educational resources through a
network of educators and extension offices.
Our local office provides soil analysis and maintains a hotline
staffed by Master Gardeners who answer consumer questions. New
this year is an online home gardening database that provides
user-friendly instruction and information, including vegetable
growing guides, fact sheets, and a virtual visit to a family
garden.
According to Cornell Master Gardener Bob Eller, a soil pH of
6.8-7.0 is ideal for growing vegetables. “Choose a sunny
spot, with well-drained soil that is compatible with want you
want to grow. Almost anything can be grown if the soil is right”
he said. In order to reap the benefits of the analysis, you
must plan in advance! “Don’t wait until May to get
it tested,” Eller advises.
Since we began planning the garden in early May, we did not
have time to send in soil for analysis. Not knowing what areas
of the backyard were most fertile, we opted for a raised bed
garden. Raised bed gardens are an ideal option for both new
gardeners and city dwellers without a lot of space.
Local Garden Centers
Our next stop was local garden centers, where we received advice
on starting a vegetable garden and kid-friendly vegetable varieties.
Upstate New York has an abundance of garden centers, and each
has unique offerings for families. Stores in our area offer
everything from free gardening classes for kids and adults to
play areas with jungle gyms and sandboxes full of oats. Chances
are, you will find similar offerings in your hometown.
Community Supported Agriculture Projects
Families whom desire a growing experience but lack space, time
or other resources should check out community supported agriculture
projects. Besides being a great place for families to get hands-on
gardening experience, the fruits of your labor are rewarded!
Here’s how it works: community members sign up and purchase
their shares, either in one lump sum before the seeds are sown
in early spring, or in several installments through-out the
growing season. Production expenses are thereby guaranteed and
the farmer or grower starts receiving income as soon as work
begins.In return for their investment, CSA members receive a
bag of fresh, locally-grown, typically organic produce once
a week from late spring through early fall, and occasionally
throughout the winter in northern climates.
At Peaceworks Organic Farm in Newark, NY, a typical week’s
bounty for a full shareholder, is 7-11 fresh vegetables which
might include the following: one head of lettuce or 2 of leaf
lettuce, 1 lb. spinach, 1 lb. carrots, a bunch of greens or
herbs, 2 lbs. potatoes, 1 head of broccoli, 6-8 ears of corn,
1 lb of shelling peas. “Exotic vegetables, such as bok
choi, mizuna and komatsuna are grown for variety, but we emphasize
popular ones – tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans, onions,
broccoli and lettuce,” Farm Director Elizabeth Henderson
explains.
Tips on Gardening with Kids
Following are some tips from local experts on gardening with
your kids from Carol Sorbello, a 20 year employee of Wayside
Garden Center in Macedon, NY, Bob Eller, a Master Gardener with
Cornell Cooperative Extension and Sarah VanEnwyck of Grandpa’s
Nursery and Gardens in Sodus, NY:
1. Pick a spot for your garden where you know things grow. If
you don’t know about the soil, have it tested.
2. Pick a spot that receives 6 hours of filtered light (sun)
per day (necessary for crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, beans,
carrots, beets, etc.
3. Plant a few things in the garden that germinate quickly,
such as lettuce and sunflowers.
4. Give the kids an area of their own in the garden and make
it fun. For instance, construct a teepee for pole beans.
5. If you can’t wait until after the last frost (predicted
date is May 3 for Rochester, NY), you can start seeds indoors.
Sorbello recommends using a mini greenhouse, priced at about
$5.
6. Suggested seed-starters for eager growers: beans, peas, lettuce,
radishes, marigolds and zinnias
7. Vegetables that are especially popular with junior gardeners:
corn, beans, peas, tomatoes
8. Flowers that are easy to grow: marigolds, impatiens, and
petunias.
Make your Hometown a Great Place to Live and Grow!
This spring, with a lot of enthusiasm, we will prepare and plant
our crops. Then, we’ll hope for the best. With a fresh
dose of sunshine and a few sprinklings, we’ll have the
makings of cost-effective meals all year long and some happy
kids (one in a 40 year old body). Whatever you decide to grow
this year, and wherever you decide to do it, enjoy! Make your
hometown a great place to live and grow!
* according to information provided by UMass Extension service
###
Resources
For assistance with your backyard garden, including soil analysis,
contact the cooperative extension office nearest you. Consult
the USDA Cooperative State Research and Education directory at
http://www.reeusda.gov/
For information on home gardening in general:
Cornell University Home Gardening Database: http://www.explore.cornell.edu/homegardening/
Print publications available:
Garden in the City
Designed for youth and adults who have had little experience
with gardening and limited space. Covers the garden box, starting
seeds, planning the garden, cleaning the site, breaking ground,
planting, weeding, thinning, and harvesting. Lists supplies
and tools you'll need; suggests activities for groups. 40 pp.
141L78 $4.45
The Home Vegetable Garden
A popular how-to reference. Planting schedules, recommended
varieties, pest control, and more. 31 pp.
161IB101 $4.45
To find the predicted last frost in your geographic area, consult
the Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardener’s Companion Frost
Chart at
http://www.almanac.com/garden/garden.frostchart.html.
To find a garden center near you, consult the American Landscape
and Nursery Association at http://www.anla.org/
For more information on Community Supported Agriculture Projects
in your area, visit the Alternative Farming Systems Information
Center CSA Farm Directory at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/.
