How does your garden grow?

Sprouts!

    

      Last summer,  Christopher became fascinated with the bees traveling around the abundance of clover in his grandma's backyard. We talked about how they were collecting nectar to take back to their hive and make honey. Coincidentally when we took him to a children's nature program at the Canaan Valley Nature Center, the theme of the day was pollination and he learned more about bees and other pollinators and their role in the plant life cycle. 

     His interest in how things grow has been further peaked by the orange tree in our backyard and the fields of crops stretched in every direction of our Sicilian horizon. We've watched the fields plowed and prepared for planting, green sprouts raising from the soil and flourishing into leafy giants, and workers harvesting the crops to take to market. Every car ride has been a discussion on the progress of the agriculture around us. 

        When I was younger, I remember following my Grandpa out into his large garden and orchard (and treat of treats watching him tend to his beehive from a safe distance). He took time to show us the seeds and how tended with care they became plants and finally the food my grandmother prepared for our dinner. I loved to help in the garden, wearing playclothes and digging, planting and watering the crops. That's why when I saw this: Root Vue Farm, I thought Christopher might enjoy growing his own plants and it would let him have some hands on experience to go with his observations. 

          The farm was easy to assemble and has a viewing window in the front that can be revealed so that we can monitor the progress of the roots as well as the leaves growing through the top of the soil. After I the farm was set up, I let an eager Christopher take charge. We read the instructions together and then I read them again as he completed each step. Once our carrot, onion and radish seeds were planted, we labeled them with their Italian names on small stakes and put the garden in our kitchen window. 
     At first, Christopher wanted to check the viewing window every few minutes to see if there were roots. Eventually he caught on that the progress wouldn't be that quick, and now we check each morning and each night before we go upstairs for bed. On the fourth day, we were treated to tiny green radish sprouts. Now, all three types of vegetables are sprouting and it is Christopher's daily task to make sure the water reservoir does not get dry. 

     

Counting out the soil discs

  Measuring the water so the discs can soak and expand.

 

 Transferring the prepared soil to his viewing garden.
 

 Time for a little clean-up before the next step.

Planting radishes, carrots and onions in a neat row.

 Some books we have been reading about plants.