One of the greatest things you can do for your kids is to feed them good organic food — preferably from your own garden.
As I mentioned in a previous post, we live in a world that has become unfamiliar with simple but intimate life functions like eating. It seems the vast majority have forgotten the main purpose of food is to nourish our bodies.
Highly processed foods are the norm and seem to be accepted although they have little if any nutrition.
Cheap and fast seem to be what the masses want (or get) — even if it’s at the expense of their health.
The majority pretty much accept sugar, highly processed food, fast foods, colas, etc. as the modern way of eating and many don’t even know what harm these food do to our bodies.
If we’re taught what good food is and where it comes from right from our early beginnings — it’s much easier to maintain a diet that’s more healthful throughout our life. This kind of teaching enables children to make much better choices as adults.
It really lifts my spirits and gives me great hope for the future when my readers write to me about having their kids and grandkids right in the garden with them. I love hearing the stories of kids snacking on blueberries, helping with the harvest, having their space in the garden, and even preparing their own garden!
One of my readers who has an acre of garden, keeps his 18 month old Granddaughter, Ellie during the day. He takes little videos of her and sends them to her parents while they’re at work. He shared one with me this past Sunday. I LOVED IT! Immediately I asked for permission to share it with you.
This was his message with the video:
“While building the new strawberry rows, I took my eye off her for just a minute or two when I noticed she was working over the broccoli! Normally, while walking the garden, I carry a gallon of fresh water just to give any ripe veggies and fruit a quick rinse, but I wasn’t expecting this one.
Her favorite garden veggies are tomatoes, asparagus, Cukes, strawberries and raspberries. She’s never had a store bought cookie or piece of candy. We’re gonna have our hands full this winter…her favorite place is the garden where she’s learned most of her colors and how to count. ”
The video is only 24 seconds and you may have to watch it a few times to take everything in. Notice that large head of brocolli that she was snacking from. Also — before her Granddad said something to her — it looked to me as if she was headed for the neighboring head of brocolli and was going to sample that as well.
Related Posts:
The Basic Knowledge of Feeding Yourself Well
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Organic gardening is easy, efficient, effective — and it’s a lot healthier.
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Loved this video! Brought a BIG smile to my face!
Thanks for sharing, Theresa.
Awwww, what a sweetie pie. So cute. Thanks for sharing this. I can tell that both are enjoying their time in the garden together – happy memories being made as well as healthy snacks being enjoyed. The broccoli looks very healthy too!
Theresa, thanks for the post about kids/grandkids and the garden.
Yesterday, 3 of my granddaughters (10,8,5) helped me plant early Italian, late Italian, and hardy German garlic.
They got a geography lesson in the process! They live just 3 doors away and they always show up when they know I’m working in the garden. This year they are home-schooled, so it’s even easier to include them.
I am so pleased that they will realize, like my mother taught me, that having a garden is as essential as having a washing machine, a television, or a computer!
And thanks, as always for your excellent blog. Mary
Aparna glad you seemed to love this video as much as I did.
Sandra — I think this memory that Ellie and her Granddad have just made will be a priceless one .
Mary – I realize you sent the above comment to me as an email — but I just had to post it here so everyone could gain the benefit from it.
That is so EXCELLENT that your Mother taught — as you are teaching your grandchildren —- “that having a garden is as essential as having a washing machine, a television, or a computer!” Because — indeed it is — and even more so in my opinion.
Thanks for taking time to write and let me know this. And keep up the great and enjoyable work with those 3 granddaughters.
Theresa
What a precious video, and absolutely important reminders. It feels so good to slow down, enjoy the earth, plant , watch grow, and nourish our bodies. And a real bonus if our little people learn and enjoy as well. Thanks everyone for sharing.
Toni
Wonderful! My kids love gardening with us but won’t eat a thing out of it – not even the fruits. Everything still has to be camouflaged. Send my kids over some of what this little one has! Too adorable!!!
Hello Theresa,
I absolutely love this video! It goes right along with our philosophy. Our 2 girls had a garden this year. They learned so very much from having to take care of their own little garden! My boys (3 year old twins) have been talking about what they want to plant in their garden next year already! I am super excited! We went over to a friends house a few weeks ago and my boys were helping them to harvest their onions…My 3 yo boys knew more than their older children did! It is so much fun to teach and to garden together “as a family.” I don’t know what I am going to do this winter….our garden is put to rest as we live in Northern Iowa where it gets super cold and the ground freezes! However, we have almost finished putting up a greenhouse this season and I can’t wait to start utilizing it!
On a different note, how do you keep peppers? We picked almost 200 of them! Crazy! And, I have never tried to keep them besides freezing them or dehydrating them…Any other ways?
Thanks!
Stephanie
Your comments lift my heart Stephanie. Kids can do so much at a young age when they are being worked with like you’re working with yours. Gardening will be second nature to them through their life thanks to you!
I think we might have a cold winter as well even though we’re in a warmer zone. I hate it when the ground freezes because that pretty much stops all work in the garden.
Congratulations on your greenhouse! You and kids are going to have a lot of fun with that during months that you would otherwise not have much going on in the growing department. Let me know how you do.
Freezing and/or dehydrating is just about the way to go with peppers. I manage to keep at least a months supply (about 50) of fresh peppers in the refrigerator when the season ends — thus extending the “fresh” eating season. I keep them in an open plastic bag in the crisper box.
Red peppers never make it to the freezer. I just can’t resist eating them. They are so sweet and delicious.
Sandra, a friend and reader, has been roasting her red peppers. I thought I remembered her sending me a recipe for the roasted peppers covered in oil — but I couldn’t find it when I looked for it before typing this.
Thanks for taking time to comment on the video and telling about how your kids are learning and enjoying the garden Stephanie!
Theresa