As homesteading parents, we all know the importance of teaching our children the value of growing their own food. However, there are many other benefits to gardening that you may not have considered! By creating an herb and sensory garden with your homeschoolers, you can also teach them about science, nutrition, and nature. Here’s how to get started.
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Getting Prepared for Your Sensory Herb Garden
Gardening herbs can be a rewarding experience, and having an herb garden of your own is the perfect way to connect with nature while reaping the benefits of herbs. To start your herb garden, there are a few components you will need: herbs (either seeds or seedlings), containers, soil, and tools. The herbs you choose for your garden should suit your sensory preferences. Consider what herbs look beautiful and smell wonderful when selecting them for your garden. Before planting herbs, ensure the herbs have suitable soil that is well-draining and contains the nutrients necessary for growth. Lastly, ensure you are equipped with the correct gardening tools to make maintenance easy.
Choose the Right Plants for Your Garden
The first step in creating a successful herb and sensory garden is choosing the right plants. For example, herbs like basil, oregano, sage, mint, thyme and rosemary are easy to grow from seed and will provide your family with flavorful ingredients for cooking throughout the summer months. Lavender is another great option for a sensory garden because it has such a pleasant smell when it blooms. Consider planting flowers like marigolds or nasturtiums as well—they’re not only beautiful but also beneficial to pollinators like bees and butterflies!
You might also want to read: How to Start Seeds Indoors
Create Your Garden Space
Once you’ve chosen which plants you want to include in your garden, it’s time to plan out where they will go. If you have an outdoor space available (like a patio or deck) then that is ideal; however, if you don’t have an outdoor area then you can still create a container garden on an indoor windowsill or balcony. When planning out your garden space be sure to keep in mind how much room each plant needs so that they don’t overcrowd each other as they grow larger.
Teach Your Kids About Gardening Basics
Now that your garden space is ready to go, it’s time to get your kids involved! Start by teaching them about gardening basics like soil preparation (adding compost or fertilizer if necessary), proper watering techniques (soil should be damp but not soaking wet) and pest control (if needed). You can also discuss seed germination processes with them and help them identify any weeds or pests they may find while tending the garden. This is an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning that will help teach kids valuable life skills while having fun at the same time!
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Conclusion:
Creating an herb and sensory garden with your homeschoolers is a great way to teach them about science, nutrition, nature—and even life skills! It doesn’t matter whether you’re gardening outdoors or indoors; just make sure to choose the right plants for your space and teach your children basic gardening techniques before getting started. With patience and dedication from everyone involved, soon enough you’ll have a thriving herb garden full of delicious ingredients for cooking—and maybe even some fragrant flowers for admiring! Happy gardening!
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