Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easy Kids Wash Tub Garden - teach Your Children to Go Green




















































( I used this for Wordless Wed - but this Chatty Kathy always has something to say! lol)

This project is fun and educational.


You will need
wash tub
bag of potting soil
time release fertilizer (Walmart osmocote free after $10 rebate)
rocks, gravel
hammer and nail
paint

Trip to the grocery store to get seeds!
That's right there are plenty of seeds you can
use. If you are on Food Stamps, this is a way
to get all the seeds you need for a bigger garden.

Set it up:
If your wash tub doesn't have a "rotten" bottom (holes in it)
turn it upside down and poke holes in the bottom with a hammer
and nails.

Let the kids paint the tub if so desired.

After it dries in the sun,
fill the bottom with a one inch layer of small
rocks, shells or gravel.

Dump in one bag of potting soil.

Sprinkle in 2 cups of time release fertilizer
and stir around with a wooden spoon
working the fertilizer into the top few inches of soil.

Now the real lesson begins!

Take the kids to the grocery store to gather seeds and plants for
the garden.

Easy choices:
spring onions with roots and tops on
dried elephant garlic bulb
(any dried garlic bulb)
Watermelon (not seedless)
honey dew
cantaloupe
any winter squash
pumpkins
dried beans
cherry tomatoes
any fresh tomatoes
fresh bell peppers
potatoes

Have a watermelon party, eat the melons,
plant some of the seeds in the washtub garden
Add a mixture of seeds so the kids can grow
more than one type plant.

Keep the soil moist but not soggy
til they sprout.

After the plants sprout, spread a thick layer of
any organic mulch (leaves, bark, gravel)
over the top of the tub garden, around the plants.
This will help you conserve water.

tip: don't stake tomatoes,
let them trail over the side.

What are you teaching your children with
this easy project?

They learn where food comes from.
They learn how to provide food for
their family.
Children naturally love gardening and will
eat what they grow with no fuss.
You are connecting them with the Green Life.
They learn that they can grow food anywhere,
a porch, patio or rooftop!
They learn to re-purpose - these
containers can be used for years!

If you don't have an old wash tub,
choose any old large container to re -purpose!

Take photos of your kids creating their garden
and share them on your blogs, spreading the knowledge
and inspiring others to Go Green!
Now you are teaching them to make a difference.

49 comments:

Jacqui' said...

Such pretty garden pictures. I want to try my hand at it this year!

Grace said...

It is amazing what a little paint will add isn't it? Looks great.
Thanks for visiting and I'm returning the love.

Lady Estrogen said...

Those are lovely!!
Following you back.
/LE

Hootin Anni said...

I love this....most awesome!!

I'm now following you and hope you can join me often now that you're following my blog also.

The Leader said...

Hi there - thanks for the follow! I've come to check out your blog and share the love in return :)

Becky said...

Love this idea. My husband is the one with the green thumb, I just try to do upkeep! Thanks for stopping by and following me at Life or Something Like It. Following back.

Judy Whatilivefor said...

What a gorgeous garden...I love the look of the wash tubs :)

Unknown said...

Oh those flower pictures make me want spring flowers here now! LOL!!!
Thanks for stopping by the hop! I am returning the love!

Mama said...

Wed blog hopper here. Stoping by to say Hi. and inviting you to visit my blog
mamawannasave.com

Blessings
Linda

Unknown said...

I think I just found my next weekend off project for me and my girls...Those are so cute.

I'm your newest follower from the blog hop would love for you to stop by and follow me.

Http://prisonmarriage.blogspot.com

jessica said...

Beautiful pictures! Can't wait to find a place of my own and be able to make a pretty garden.

Found you on Wordless Wednesday's Blog Hop.

http://thevelveteenrabbitblog.blogspot.com

Barb Webb said...

Lovely pictures! Stopping by from the Tuesday Twitter Hop, we are now new Twitter friends :)

Hugs,
Barb

@ruralmoms

The How To Mommy said...

Those planters are beautiful! I'm doing a mother's day project with potted plants and wish I'd read this sooner! I'm your newest follower from hop a little Tuesday! I would love it if you would "like" me on Facebook!
-The How To Mommy
http://www.thehowtomommy.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the follow! Stopped by to return the favor.

Be sure to stop back by for the Just 'Cuz Blog Hop that goes live tomorrow night at 8pm CST. I see you do a lot of Blog Hops, and just wanted to share that one with you as well

Stacey said...

Thanks for stopping by...I'm following back :)
#500!!! Woohoo!!!

Crystal said...

Thanks for stopping by! I am now following your amazing blog!

http://apumpkinandaprincess.blogspot.com

Madeline said...

Thanks for joining in on the Fun Tuesday Hop!

I am now following you

Hope you have a great week, and hope to see you next week!

~ The professionally insane m

Madeline said...

Thanks for joining in on the Fun Tuesday Hop!

I am now following you

Hope you have a great week, and hope to see you next week!

~ The professionally insane m

Katherines Corner said...

Well done! I love this post Hugs!

Unknown said...

Thanks for linking up with our Frugal Friends Tuesday Blog Hop! I am following you from Adventures of a Thrifty Mommy!

Unknown said...

I really like the idea of reusing old containers for flower pots. What a great idea to get kids involved in the garden!

MariaS said...

Love this idea! Thank you for sharing!
I just wanted to let you know I am giving you the Versatile Blogger award. Check out my page to get your award!

rebekah said...

That is such a great idea!

Laura O in AK said...

New follower from the Middle Matters Blog Hop. I LOVE this idea and might grab it for the upcoming (short) growing season in Alaska.

I hope you'll find time to pop over to our corner of cyberspace:
daybydayinourworld.blogspot.com

Laura O in AK

Sandee said...

I love this. How cool. What a great thing to teach kids too.

Have a terrific day. :)

Anonymous said...

lovely idea. thank you for linking to our Frugal Tuesday Tip! http://juliecache.com/2011/04/25/frugal-tuesday-tip-14/.html

Vanessa Scott said...

Following back from the wed. blog hop. This is such a sweet idea. I will have to be on the look out for wash tubs!

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

Great garden idea.

Donna @ The House on the Corner said...

Those are just gorgeous!! I'm inspired to do something with my old tubs!

I'm running behind but I wanted to stop by and thank you for joining the Tuesday Train! So, so sorry!!

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Love all the tubs with flowers. Great idea. Following you back from Gluten Free A-Z Blog

Fuegita said...

Those are soooo cute! I need to do this. I want to garden more, but don't really ever get around to it. I love this idea

Unknown said...

What a cool post. You have been stumbled. Thank you for joining the hop.

Taylor said...

checking you out from the blog hop!

stopping by from
http://morethanabcand123.blogspot.com/
come say Hello!

Tootsie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristin said...

Hi! Great project!! I have to figure out how to keep the squirrels away, though, because last year they ate all our veggies and fruits!

Stumbled you...would love if you could stumble me back:
http://www.keenlykristin.com/2011/04/please-help-lizzie-get-her-wish.html

Thanks!
Kristin :)

NCSue said...

Hi there.

I “stumbled” the post you have at Makobi Scribes new hop, and I ask you to return the favor. I put up the following links on her “stumble hop”:


http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/p/blog-hop-for-every-day-of-week.html - a page listing hops for every day of the week

http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/p/help-make-world-better-place.html - a list of charities which are highly rated for using your charitable donations for the purpose you intended

http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/p/here-are-some-great-recipes-to-try.html - a page for recipes – and there are some great ones here

http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/2010/11/taking-faith-behind-bars.html - day one of a week-long series examining the death penalty

http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/2011/03/expletive-deleted-thank-you-very-much.html - one of my more popular posts: “Expletive deleted? THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

Thank you, and have a great week!

NCSue

Sara said...

Great project! Thanks for the follow and I'm now following you back :)

Have a great day!

Elle said...

I stumbled your post. A very nice project too. Simple Wyrdings

Cherished Handmade Treasures said...

You have been stumbled upon. Beautiful flowers, what a great project.

Sandy~~http://cherishedhandmadetreasures.blogspot.com/

Chauny said...

Excellent, boy if i could I would get more into being green, I do try, but don't have as much time as I'd like. But I do love all things organic, and try my best to do everything organic first. Our Society doesn't make it easy though. But as my life has slowed down in my old age, I've been finding more time to get in the green of things. So I'm hoping that I can become as close to 100% green as possible.

This is an awesome post and thank you so much for sharing.

Sharon Wilfong said...

Thanks for stumbling me. I couldn't find the stumble button on your blog so I connected your site to my facebook.
Actually I'm kinda new at the stumbling I just got it yesterday for the Makobi Scribe hop.

kewkew said...

Lovely photos and a great idea.
Thanks for stopping by and linking up over at Tots and Me.
Blessings

Angel said...

I Stumbled your post, and am also following your blog. This is so neat! I can't wait until my little gets old enough to appreciate doing these kinds of projects. The washtubs made such good planters, and looked amazing with the blooming flowers, very cool! Hope you have a wonderful evening!!

Angel

Zinnia said...

Vilka läckra planteringskärl. De baljor jag samlar jag dock regnvatten i samt har till mina sköna fotbad. Kanske läge att...Tigga någon extra av brorsan:D Önskar dig en härlig dag! Zinnia

LifeBelowZero said...

Zinnia Jag hoppas att din bror har några baljor för dig! Tack för besöket. Jag älskar din blogg och dina blommor! Katrina

Jeannie B. said...

I love this idea!! Although my kids are grown. It is so pretty. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Such great pictures of some unique planters!! I love using quirky and fun things to plant things in too.

Lisa {aka LDB Taylor} said...

This so cute and fun! I want to try it (if it ever quits snowing around here ).
Stopping in from lady blogger blog hop. I'm following you now to see what else you come up with!
Lisa
http://www.neebeep.com/itsownsweetwillneebeepc/

Frugal Sara said...

Excellent idea. Thanks for linking up to the Frugal Tuesday Tip. http://www.learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/