Spring is the time to plant – vegetables, flowers, herbs or berry bushes. Many people shy away from gardening because of the time and labor involved. But most kids love to garden and it can be easier than you think when your child makes his very own raised garden beds.
Raised garden beds make gardening simpler. They are self contained making planting and weeding much easier to do. Also there is no need for a rototiller or other large equipment. When you are all ready to plant your garden you can make some colorful labels for you plants. So gather up your gardening supplies and get busy planning this spring for a fall harvest.
After making your garden, have some fun with garden crafts, too.
Making a Raised Garden Bed
What You Need:
- two side boards – you want 2 X 8 boards and you want them 10 feet long – cedar is a nice choice for the wood but any wood will work.
- 3 inch wood screws – about a pound
- pencil
- tape measure
- saw
- drill
- 5/32-inch drill bit
Cut Your Wood
The first thing you will need to do is cut your boards. Out of each board cut a side piece 62 1/2" long, bench piece 27 1/2" long and and end piece 24" long.
Make Your Frame
On the side pieces measure 5 2/3 inches in from each end. This is where you will place the end pieces. Mark and drill holes for the screws. Place the end pieces on the inside of the side pieces and screw in place. You will have a large open rectangle frame with the side pieces extending out on each end.
Add the Bench
Next place the bench pieces atop the frame on the ends and screw in place. This gives you a work area on either end.
Set Up Your Garden
Choose a sunny, level spot in your yard . Remove any grass or weeds where you want to place your raised garden bed and loosen up the dirt. Set your wooden raised garden bed frame in place. Add topsoil and other organic material, well mixed, into your frame. Now you are ready to plant!
Planting Your Harvest
You can plant all types of things in your raised bed. You might want to go for all flowers, all vegetables or a combination of things. You can plant four tomato plants in the middle of your bed with fast growing things, like lettuce or radishes along the edge. The lettuce and radishes will grow quickly and be harvested before the tomato plants overtake the garden bed. Marigolds and pansy are easy to grow and perfect for kids. Gardening is a wonderful way to get kids out doors and experiencing nature. There is nothing in the world like eating something you have grown from start to finish.
Crafty Garden Ideas:
Plant Markers – Use tongue depressors to make colorful plant markers. Draw or paint the flower or vegetable onto the tongue depressor or use a cut out picture of the plant. Spray with a clear spray acrylic to seal the markers and put in the dirt beside the plant.
Dried Flowers – Grow your own flowers and then dry them. You can use the dried flowers to make book,marks or stationary.
Stencil It – You can make your raised garden bed a thing of beauty by stenciling along the sides and on the bench ends. Use waterproof paint or seal with clear shellac.
Seed Mosaics – Save the seeds from your plants and let the dry out. Use them to make a mosaic picture.
What other fun crafts can you think of to do with plants and vegetables? These are just a few ideas for your family to try out. But even the garden can be a source for crafty adventures.
