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| Caleb loves radishes. We find that kids who help in the garden are more likely to enjoy eating vegetables. |
Our dear friend Cathy Rose came by recently to
pick up two CSA boxes that she delivers for us in Eugene and said, in no
uncertain terms, "Post more pictures!". I've also become aware that few
people have time to read through our longer posts so here's a quickie
to introduce our youngest gardener, Caleb and show how we are finding
ways to integrate him into garden-time. Much fun!
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| Early
in the season, Caleb still sometimes needed a morning nap upon arrival
at the gardens. Here's his Mom, Sabine, pouring 'compost tea' on the
cabbage while Caleb snoozes. |
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| At
first, it took one of us full-time to entertain Caleb while everyone
else harvested and weeded and planted. (Sabine in the front - harvesting
beets, Cindy with Caleb and Chris). |
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| Next we tried a portable play pen but he seemed a bit lonely and... |
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| ...we wanted to help Caleb be involved in
the gardens, not off somewhere entertaining himself. Here we are
planting and mulching potatoes. That's his Dad, Tye with his hand in the
garden-cart picking up mulch. |
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| Caleb is beginning to show interest in what the "big" kids are doing. Here he is with Adri (who's been coming since she was a baby, and Chris' grandson - Joey - who enjoyed shelling walnuts from our tree while he visited last week. |
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| We're careful never to use the term "work" in the garden so the children think of helping out as "playing". We also always invite them to participate but don't require it. (Adri and Sabine "playing" in the gardens - 2015). |
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| Usually,
if the adults seem to be having fun, then the kids want to join in too.
(Adri and her Grandpa Jim shelling kidney beans. 2015) |
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| In the garden, it's important not to be too concerned about staying clean! (Jazmin eating blackberries that she helped pick! 2016) |
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| Before you know it, we'll have Caleb harvesting grass-clippings with our riding-mower for use in mulching the garden! |
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| But
for now we're happy that he's finding ways, through 'play' to become
part of our gardening family. Here is he "sorting" sticks. |
