The kids were desperate to get their hands into some gardening yesterday, and I was only too happy to oblige. Our youngest boy had obtained some directions for making a mini-greenhouse from a milk bottle and had been bugging me all week to help him with it.

I finally had some free time yesterday and the recycling bin hadn't been emptied so we had a few spare bottles on hand.

Step 1

We started by cutting the bottom third of a 2L plastic milk bottle (you could use any plastic bottle) and added some potting mix to a knuckle length below the rim.

Step 2

Once the soil was in, it was time to sow the seeds. The boys decided to plant some chive seeds and the girls opted for coriander. Both seeds had been collected from our herb garden at the end of last season.

They scattered a few seeds on top of the soil and then lightly pressed them. Another layer of soil was then used to cover the seeds and then a final moisture add.

Step 3

The final step in the project is to fit the top portion of the milk bottle back over the bottom part. The plastic used in making these milk bottles is quite soft and easily malleable while some other bottles have more rigid plastic and will take some patience to fit it over.

Each of the kids then labelled their mini greenhouses and found a spot in the shed on the window ledge.

The whole project took us about 10 minutes, which isn't bad with four kids! It was just long enough to keep their interest without drawing out and becoming a protracted slog and it means they now have their own greenhouse to watch and brag about.

I can guarantee that they will be in the shed every day to check their progress and there will be bragging rights for the one whose seeds pop through first.

It's a great little project to inspire your kids with gardening and educates them about an easy propagation technique that they can use later on in life.

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The Parenting Post recently wrote an article on How to Garden With
Children in 53 Easy Steps though I'm sure the word "EASY" has been over extended in its meaning.

It's a great article and I found myself nodding and smiling as I scanned each step, reminiscing my failed attempts of gardening with our children as toddlers. They're all a little older these days and not much interested in gardening - unless of course it comes on the Nintendo.

I'm not being fair. They do love to get their hands dirty, still, and will even pull the occasional weed. But, the fervour for helping in the garden has waned somewhat. I'm sure my impatience and "Daddy, will do that one..." comments haven't helped encourage their gardening desire. It's funny how one passion can override another, isn't it?

So, I'm keen to rectify my overzealous perfectionism by starting little garden projects with their help. And the beauty of my new found paradigm shift is that it's never too late to start.

For those who love gardening and have young children my advice would be enjoy the 53 easy steps - even if it takes 103.

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The race for Sunflower Supremacy continues and after a few early glitches - the two young ones saw sprouts before anyone else - all the seeds are up and growing now. It's been great watching the kids remind themselves to water and pamper their pots, eagerly waiting for some sign of life to emerge.

While things are going well now, we're all about to face the biggest challenge in 5 days time. We're going on holidays for about 2 weeks, camping throughout the south of our state.

And while the weather's still working itself out, we're praying for rain here (for our sunflowers) and dry weather for our camping. Is that possible? I certainly hope so, because these kids are praying up a storm!

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We picked this idea up from a gardening show a few years back where one of the presenters shared their family tradition of a Sunflower growing competition. Each member of the family is given x number of seeds, in our case we ration it to 5, and then they attempt to grow the tallest sunflower using whatever means possible. Our family also prizes the one with the biggest head.

The rules are;

1. You can grow a maximum of 5 sunflowers and only from the original seeds given at the start of the competition (this precludes buying a shop grown version)
   


2. You can use whatever soil, fertiliser or growing method you choose - if I lose again this year I'm planning to set up my own hydroponics next year!
   


3. No-one is allowed to tamper with anyone else's plants, seeds or growing medium
   


4. You are not allowed to place your pot in an area that is irrigated, which means that you have to monitor your plants own watering requirements.
   

And the prize - bragging rights for the next 12 months (is there anything more worthwhile?)

This is such a fun way to get kids out into the garden and it teaches them to look after plants from many different aspects. They learn about soils and potting mediums, to fertilisers, sun position and watering requirements. And all this comes with the added challenge of a friendly level of competition (though it still is out-and-out war)

I will bring you regular updates over the months but I won't share too many secrets until the end as certain family members read this blog when I'm not looking!!! Oh, you know who you are....

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