Growing Lessons by Planting Together

Finally, it’s beginning to actually look, feel and smell like spring. Now is a perfect time to get outside and, as my mother always says, “blow the stink off” you and your baby. After being cooped up inside all winter, spring offers
a welcome opportunity to get your baby outdoors. We’re not just talking about going for a walk. We’re talking about getting outside and digging in the dirt. Current research suggests that one of the reasons we’re seeing a higher incidence of allergies in young children may be that little ones don’t spend enough time outdoors playing in the dirt, and are therefore not developing resistance to common environmental agents.

You don’t need to be a master gardener to get your baby involved in planting. Find a sunny spot in your yard and give your toddler an old kitchen spoon to dig in the fragrant soil. Talk with her about the color of the dirt, grass, rocks, etc. Let him pick up dirt and squish it in his hands. Even older infants can use their chubby little fingers to poke a hole in the dirt and put a spinach seed into the ground.

Don’t have dirt? Use any container that you have around. Under your supervision, help your baby gather stones to use as drainage in the container. Let her fill the container with potting soil and plant your spring garden in her shoe. (See Plant Shoe Salad at right.)

Planting cool-weather crops such as lettuce, chives and broccoli, provides babies with the opportunity to play in the dirt. And when the seeds begin to grow, you can taste the fruits of your labor.

Plant a Simon & Garfunkle Garden: Sow parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in the same area or container.Plant Shoe Salad: Use an old boot or your baby’s old sneakers to plant different kinds of lettuces and spinach. Be sure to use small stones or punch holes in the bottom of the shoe for drainage. Asthe greens grow, let your toddleruse clean scissors to cut them for atasty lunch.

Plant a Pizza Garden: In either a large container or in the ground, plant basil, oregano and garlic around a tomato plant. When the tomatoes are ripe, chop them up and add the fresh herbs for a yummy fresh tomato sauce. Buy ready-made pizza dough and voila . . . you have home-grown pizza.

Flowers such as marigolds, nasturtiums, chives and chamomile are edible.These flowers add color,flavor and vitaminsto your salads.