Every once in a while, you find a blog which you can’t stop returning to. Which is so beautifully written and designed that you look forward to the next post. And it was when I realised I was subscribed to both emails and the RSS feed for Carrots and Kids that I realised it was probably my favourite blog. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if you deserted this blog forever and started avidly reading Carrots and Kids. So I’m so thrilled to announce that Debbie Webber is joining us as a monthly guest blogger. Hoorah!
Gardening clubs are springing up at schools like weeds, indeed no self-respecting school would be seen without one.
I run one at my daughter’s and while it has caused me a fair bit of stress (due to an adult, not the children) and takes up time (and sometimes money) it is blissful.
All the children are enthusiastic. All are hard workers. All are joyful. And nearly all of them do some kind of gardening out of school.
Quite often it’s with a grandparent or a passionate gardening parent. And it is this that I find fascinating.
I’m not introducing most of them to the wonders of growing their own; most of them knew that. There are, of course, a few that haven’t before. But it is the ones that do it out of school (and can’t possibly leave their gloves/tools in the shed because they need them at the weekend) that seem the keenest.
Which isn’t to say the club is any less valuable. I didn’t think I would change anyone’s life or outlook or knowledge about where carrots come from. I think we underestimate children and they do pick up these things, being naturally curious. I wasn’t spoon fed the “this is where we get potatoes” message but I still grew up knowing where they come from. And school gardening clubs (or any school club) was unheard of when I was a child.
It is to say that I think the best way for a child to grow into a gardener, to have that spark ignited for them, is to have a special adult in their life who is doing it in the background. That, to me, seems to be how it rubs off on children.
That’s not to say earnestly forcing gardening on children is the way to go. The patronising Blue Peter style of making and creating things always feel slightly contrived to me; my best times at the club are when we’re sowing or planting and not the making cress head type of activities.
Gardening is magical enough for children to love. I believe they should be allowed to get on with it without packaging it up as a Winnie the Pooh garden. They just need some tools, seeds, a patch of soil and a bit of guidance.
So, if most children at the club already garden and if packaging every hobby or activity into a child friendly package leave me cold what is the point of running a club?
Obviously it’s for the children who might otherwise not have the chance to do it. But it’s also to teach them their power. It is to teach them that they can do something that’s traditionally seen as an adult’s hobby. It’s to empower them.
“Look,” I want to shout out, “look at what you can do! You grew that carrot that will feed you! You sowed the seed that became a sunflower! You are magical, powerful and clever!”
