17 Essential Reasons to Teach Your Children How to Garden

17 Essential Reasons to Teach Your Children How to Garden

It is no secret that gardening has so many positive benefits and rewards.  Gardening is so special because while the ultimate goal is to grow and enjoy whatever vegetable, fruit, flower, or tree has been planted, the entire process provides the gardener with the opportunity to learn and practice a variety life skills and knowledge that can benefit them in all aspects of their life.

I know that when you have small children, it is sometimes easier to avoid including them in some projects and chores because they may not understand or may increase the time the tasks take.  This is an easy habit to get into when you are trying to check off your to-do list and complete important projects.

I know that I am guilty of this.  With small children, it is many times easier to wait until they are napping to work in the garden.  Sometimes after I have considered the muddy mess that will come from allowing them in the garden or the extra attention that is required when we are spending time outside, I have decided against bringing them with me to the garden.  However, this year will be different!  My children will be older this year and my hope and goal is to include them with me while I garden and teach them these skills that I love so much.

While it could be so much easier to work on a garden without involving children, not including them is a lost opportunity to teach them some amazing life skills and lessons right your backyard.

Here are some of the AMAZING benefits that gardening will have on your children:

1) Provides fresh healthy food

One of the most important reasons to have a garden at all is for the fresh, healthy food that it will produce.  The ability to have fresh food grown in your own backyard, make its way into your kitchen and onto your dinner table is just awesome.  Establishing and encouraging the importance of eating healthy fruits and vegetables will be so much easier when your child can see the entire picture of where their food comes from.

My two boys LOVE broccoli and I buy it so much that we tend to have a lot of frozen broccoli.  Nothing wrong with that but how awesome would it be to show them how it grows, have them water it, pick it, wash it in the sink and then have it for dinner!

2) Gets them outside

Fresh air! Having your children come outside with you to the garden will get them some much needed fresh air and sunshine.  Gardening is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with your children.

Making sure that your garden is fenced in, will not only to deter pests, like deer or rabbits, but it will also allow you to garden with some piece of mind that your children are safe within the garden with you.  This way they are also fenced inside the garden with you and can let you focus on exploring all of the wonderful plants that you have growing.

3) Practice planning and organization

Gardening requires planning and organization.  Having your children help with the planning and organization can really get them invested in the project from the beginning.  Proper planning and organization is necessary for almost every project or activity that we take on in life, so this is a great opportunity to emphasize the importance.  Children can get involved in the decisions of what to plant, where to plant, and how much to plant.

Not only is gardening a great way to encourage forethought and proactive actions, but it also allows the child to see the big picture of the garden and really understand what it takes to grow and prepare the food that we eat.

4) Promotes physical exercise

Gardening is definitely a physical activity.  Digging in the soil, carrying bags of mulch or harvested vegetables, and weeding are just some of the physical activities that are apart of gardening.  Gardening allows you to incorporate some physical activity into your day without having to structure an activity or game.

While any reason to get your kids up and moving is a great thing, I love the idea of physical activities that are also productive and benefit a larger goal.

5) Strengthens problem solving skills

You are guaranteed to face some problems and challenges with your garden each year.  Many of these problems are ones that you will have never faced before.  One of the skills that tending to a garden teaches you is to be able to ask questions and do research.  You will have to utilize your resources to come to a proper solution to the problem.

Teaching children to become good at asking questions and conduct research is so important for many aspects of their life.  They will need to learn to think creatively and critically to overcome challenges that they face in any project they take on.

For example, having your children help with projects such as; developing a means of protecting the garden from deer or having them find a way to support the tomato plants, can really get them thinking critically and creatively.  If their solutions are effective, they will gain confidence in their abilities.

6) Supports importance of goal setting

Children may not fully understand the importance of setting goals and working toward them, however this concept can still be implemented into their daily lives without making it a chore.  With gardening, you can easily incorporate this important skill by talking about your gardening goals with your children during the planning phase.  Speak to your children about what would make a successful garden and set up some milestones that can be celebrated along the way.  This practice not only allows your children to see progressive growth in their hard work but also allows them to celebrate all of the mini successes that come along with gardening. 

Celebrate when you see the seeds first start to sprout, when your first cucumber can be identified, or when you harvest your first carrots.  Incorporating the idea of goal setting also allows for reflection at the end of the season.

Remember this may seem advanced for children but it does not have to be overly structured and painful! Just including them in discussions on what a successful garden looks like can really help them see the bigger picture and develop some great proactive habits.

7) Instills an appreciation for hard work

Some good old-fashioned manual labor is, unfortunately, something that not all kids experience regularly.  While initially your children may groan and protest at the idea of outside physical chores, if it becomes a routine expectation, then it begins to transform into a lifestyle instead of just an annoying chore.  Physically working to achieve a goal is something that should be valued and encouraged.

The benefit of physical labor is that typically at the end of the day you are able to step back and visually see what you have accomplished.  It is so important for small children to be able to see their progress and appreciate the work that they have just completed.  While you wouldn’t be trying to create little labor horses, you would be trying to eliminate the negative feelings of having to do physical work and instead help develop courage and strength in your children.

8) Teaches them self sufficiency skills

I love gardening for many reasons but one of the biggest draws for me to want to share it with my children is to teach them self sufficiency.  I want my children to be able to live their lives without being dependant on the decisions of others and instead have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to live freely and successfully on their own reliance.

I am not a doomsdayer by any means but I truly believe that old-fashioned skills such as gardening, food preservation, scratch cooking, and animal husbandry still have an important place in a modern society and passing this on to our children will make them well-rounded individuals.

9) Promotes sensory stimulation

It is really never too early to start exposing children to your garden.  One of the struggles with trying to garden while having small children is how to contain them and keep them busy and occupied while you get some work done!  Some options are taking them outside to sit in a stroller while you weed or harvest.  You could also set up a pack-n-play or play yard in the garden so that they can safely play.  If they are able to move around, sit, crawl, or walk you could also let them wander around and investigate. 

Gardening can really awaken the senses and allows children access to some brand new smells, sights, sounds, and textures to feel.  Kids can play in the dirt, roll cherry tomatoes around, pick up bugs and worms, and splash in a bucket of water.  Some of these simple sensory activities can keep children occupied while you get some much-needed gardening done!

10) Fosters an appreciation for nature

I must admit that even as an adult, I didn’t really have a huge connection to nature or fully appreciate the earth and animals until I started gardening.  In today’s fast-paced world it is so difficult to slow down and spend some time taking in the joys of nature.  By gardening with your children, you can emphasize the importance of taking care of the earth and all of its living things and develop a real connection and appreciation for the nature that is accessible right in their backyard!

11) Teaches them a sense of pride and responsibility

Independence is an extremely important thing for little kids.  My boys are constantly pushing me away when I try to help them so that they can “do it themselves”.  Gardening is a perfect way to allow them some controlled independence, which will help them develop a sense of pride and responsibility.  Doing new things by themselves encourages confidence and allows them to be responsible and proud of their successes.

My oldest loves to carry baskets of vegetables and it makes him so proud to be able to fill a basket full of tomatoes and carry it to the house.  What an awesome feeling for both your children and for yourself!

12) Teaches them to overcome failure

Gardening is full of failures.  Every year you are pretty much guaranteed to face at least several different challenges, obstacles, or setbacks with your garden.  While it may be frustrating, if you are already anticipating this, these challenges can provide some great learning opportunities for your children.

One of our last gardens was a HUGE failure.  That season we experienced a record-breaking amount of rain and major deer and rabbit problems which made for an awful gardening year.  We barely harvested anything that year.  We were very disappointed but the experiences forced us to learn how to handle and prevent these challenges in the future.  Understanding and dealing with failure is a very important lesson that children can learn from gardening.

 

13) Encourages them to try new foods

One of the great things about getting children involved in gardening is that it allows them to be more connected to the food they eat.  Watching the entire growing process of a green bean plant can encourage much more excitement about trying something new than just buying it at the store.  Actually having a part in growing, harvesting, and preparing the vegetable, could encourage curiosity in a child making them more likely to try a vegetable they would otherwise be opposed to.

 

14) Teaches them patience

Patience is a virtue!  Gardening definitely teaches all of us patience.  Once you plant that initial seed, you will have to wait for the plant to grow, then wait for the vegetable to grow and be ready to pick, and lastly, wait to eat it.  These steps requiring patience will help your children understand that not everything can be obtained instantly.  Instant gratification has no place in gardening and in my opinion, that is so refreshing!

15) Emphasizes family bonding

I LOVE the idea of treating the garden like an entire family project.  As there are so many tasks in gardening, everyone can have a special responsibility and job.  This not only encourages teamwork among the family but also allows the child to own a part of the garden where they can see the benefits of their individual efforts of hard work.  A family should rely on each other but also encourage and elevate each individual.  Gardening is a wonderful way of incorporating this into your family’s lives.  In the end, you all get to reap the benefits and eat the food!

16) Introduces intentional living

Today, there is so much instant gratification and social media that sometimes it is so refreshing to have something real, natural, and intentional.  The term “intentional living” basically means that you are aware of the values and beliefs in which you want to live your life by and you make your decisions and actions accordingly.  There are many reasons as to why someone would choose to live a homesteading lifestyle. 

It seems that all of those reasons are generally based on the desire to provide their family with security, love, and protection.  For our family, we want to provide our children with security and protection in the way of teaching them to be self-sufficient so that they can be successful regardless of the actions of other people. We also want to foster a close family unit which to us looks like teamwork to complete family projects and work towards a family goal that will be beneficial to all of us.  These values and beliefs are the driving force for our decision to homestead and by living out those dreams, our children are also learning to create their own dreams and take action.

17) Nurtures thier creativity

What I love so much about gardening is that it can be a personal and private endeavor for you and your family.  This allows you the freedom to really manage and care for the garden however you see fit. (It may not always be successful depending on some decisions but that is ok!)  This allows you a certain level of freedom to be creative and experiment,  what an awesome opportunity to let your kids express their creativity.

You could let them paint the inside of the fence whatever color they want, let them make signs and markers for the vegetables in each garden bed, or you could let them pick out a crazy colored carrot to plant, or a vegetable you have never heard of.  The possibilities are endless and you all will have fun doing it!

There are so many reasons to garden with your children this year. Even if you have never had a garden before, start slowly and try out a small garden this year.  Your family is sure to love all of the exciting benefits and rewards that gardening can bring you. 

For some tips on how to successfully garden with small children, check out this past post: 6 Easy tips for successfully gardening with small children

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Beautiful Holiday Decor Ideas From Your Backyard

Beautiful Holiday Decor Ideas From Your Backyard

It is Christmas time! My FAVORITE time of the year.

Since this is the first year that we are really focusing on our homesteading lifestyle, I thought it would be great to look at what we can find in our backyard to use for decorations.

We have a section of evergreens and we actually have a few different varieties of bushes and trees that we could experiment with.

Why purchase expensive evergreen wreaths and garland when you can so easily make them at home?

They create such a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and they smell amazing!

This is the first year we are doing this, so we are experimenting with several different natural materials.

These materials were either found for free in our backyard or are seasonal fruit that we were already purchasing at low prices at the grocery store.

These materials include:

  • oranges
  • cranberries
  • evergreens

What I found so interesting about these natural decorations, is that they really bring an old-fashioned, vintage feel to your decor. Also, while they are so simple and easy to put together, they are also so elegant and classic.

Your 1st Step to a Simple Living Lifestyle!

 

A great place to start with Simple Living is to start making your own cleaning and personal products!

With this FREE eBook, you can easily get started with over 10 quick but effective recipes that use ingredients you already have in your house!

Oranges and Boxwood Centerpieces

I have these two bushes that line a small set of steps that we use daily when walking too and from our cars.  I never noticed them much and I think we have only trimmed them back once or twice.  In preparation for this post, I did some research and surveyed our property for any evergreen trees or bushes that could be used.

These two bushes are known as “Boxwoods” and are commonly used in holiday decor arrangements, centerpieces, and wreaths.  After some quick trimming (killing two birds with one stone!)  I brought some cuttings inside.  Boxwood is great for this type of project because the braches don’t really wilt.  Instead, after about a week they will dry out and get brittle but for the most part look fresh for some time.

Who would have thought that I have one of the most common plants used in decorations right outside my back door!

Oranges are in season around the holidays and have always been a staple in natural decor.  Add the bright orange color to the deep, fresh green of the boxwoods and you have a cheery, vintage, and cozy centerpiece.

If you want to get really fancy with your oranges, pop some whole cloves into the oranges in various patterns.  Not only does this combination smell amazing, but it also looks classy.

I only had a cranberry colored tablecloth but I think that a deep forest green one would be really beautiful against the milk glass!

Cranberries and Juniper Centerpiece

I don’t have a cranberry bush on my property but you can easily find bags of whole cranberries at the grocery store.

For this centerpiece, I reused a glass jar from a Yankee Candle and filled it with whole cranberries.  Add some water and a floating candle and you have an elegant centerpiece.  The aroma that the cranberries have when floating in water is so festive.

Juniper and I have a love-hate relationship. I have so much of it in our backyard and I HATE weeding it.  I keep saying that I am going to rip it all out so, in the meantime, I will try to enjoy it!

I actually like using it in decorating so I will probably leave at least one bush for that purpose.

Juniper also has a strong pine/evergreen smell to it.  Be careful trimming and arranging juniper branches because they are very sharp and prickly.

I really do love the silver/green tints of the needles, coupled with the colors of the cranberry, this combination really does make for a beautiful centerpiece.

Dried Oranges

I never really thought about orange slices before but while I was researching for decorating ideas, images of them kept popping up.  I realized that they are actually a common decor for an old-fashioned, Victorian Christmas.

They are also really easy to make.

Here is step by step instructions on how we made ours:

  1. Cut Oranges into 1/4 inch slices
  2. Preheat oven to 180 degrees
  3. Line baking sheet with parchment paper
  4. Lay out orange slices flat on a tray
  5. Bake orange slices for 2.5 hours and then flip slices
  6. Bake for another 2 hours
  7. Timing might vary depending on the thickness of orange slices

This worked great for us, and they smell amazing when baking!  However, even after 4.5 hours of baking, there was still some moisture left in the slices.  I pulled them out because they were starting to brown.  Give them an extra day to lay out and they will be ready to use!

Once ready, I just took some embroidery thread that I had easily accessible and strung the slices together in a garland.  If I had any extra cranberries on hand I would have included them in the garland as well.  I then put the garland on our tree but it would look great alongside any greenery that you have in your Christmas decor.

The result is a vintage looking garland that you made yourself with natural ingredients!

I had some extra slices so I made some individual ornaments by adding some star annis.  I thought they turned out very nicely!

They will also last for quite awhile.  Try it for yourself!

Simple Red, White and Evergreen

Sometimes I just really love some classic red, green, and white decor for the holidays.

We were originally going to use some of the branches that we trimmed off of our Christmas tree, but I did not put this together in enough time and they were not as fresh as I would have liked.  In the future, I will try to save those branches for decorations.

The evergreen in these pictures come from what is called a “Weeping Norway Spruce”.  It is a strange tree and I really cannot decide if I like it.  It “weeps” over so that the branches are leaning towards the ground.  It has beautiful, vibrant green branches and really nice sized pinecones.  It is ugly and beautiful at the same time and I have come to appreciate that!  It certainly is an interesting tree.  The Missouri Botanical Garden has some of the best information on this type of tree that I have found.

Any spruce or evergreen would be great for these types of centerpieces. Working with small pieces will make it easier to arrange and get the look that you desire.

Additional Natural Decor Ideas

While the ideas for natural decorations are endless, a few great ones that you could use today are;

  • Pinecones
  • Branches
  • Leaves
  • Holly and other berry bushes

I really wanted to incorporate some pinecones into the decor this year, but I had a difficult time finding any quality ones to use.  I think that next year, I will start trying to forage for them earlier.

I do not have a holly bush on our property.  How awesome would it be to have a holly bush accessible for cuttings?!

However, as much as my boys love berries of all kinds, incorporating them in the decorations would probably have to wait until they are older.  With that said, I might try to plant a holly bush next year so that it can have time to grow for when we do want to use it.

The possibilities are really endless! Go check out your backyard to see what kinds of materials you can incorporate into your decor this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Leaf Family!

Your 1st Step to a Simple Living Lifestyle!

 

A great place to start with Simple Living is to start making your own cleaning and personal products!

With this FREE eBook, you can easily get started with over 10 quick but effective recipes that use ingredients you already have in your house!

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Please assume that all Amazon links are affiliate links. Affiliate links are links to third-party products and services. If you use those links and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission. Using these links will not cost you any extra money. An affiliate relationship does not change or influence the nature of the recommendation or opinion.
13 Gifts Every Gardener and Homesteader Will Love

13 Gifts Every Gardener and Homesteader Will Love

If you have anyone on your gift list who is an aspiring homesteader or beginner gardener than this is your ultimate gift list.

To be honest, this is basically MY wish list.

Several items included in the list I already own and use.  I wanted to share them with you because I LOVE them.  Others, I just really want myself.

There is something for everyone on this list so hopefully, you can find something for the gardener/homesteader in your life!

I also want to include an extra affiliate disclaimer here.  Please assume that all external links to products are affiliate links. I am an affiliate for Amazon and Burpee.  I am including only products that I trust and own or would purchase and use myself.  I do receive a small percentage for any purchase made using these links, with no extra cost to you.   Please be assured that an affiliate relationship does not and will not influence my opinion on a product.  I choose to be an affiliate ONLY with companies that I trust, use, and would confidently recommend to my readers.

Books and Resources

1) Gardening Journal

One thing that I am really going to improve this gardening season is my notetaking and planning process.

I am not great awful at notetaking and I am even worse at remembering notes that I was supposed to take.  I always think that I am going to remember the details like; what kind of seeds we used, what type of pests were a problem, or how long we waited to harvest a particular vegetable, and I can never remember any of it.

THIS YEAR I will be purchasing a good gardening journal and really spend some time taking notes.  Any gardener would love a pretty and organized journal. It is a thoughtful gift for any occasion!

This journal got some great reviews on Amazon, but if you aren’t crazy about this one, there are hundreds to choose from!

2) “Welcome to the Farm”

by Shaye Elliott

I bought this book for myself after reading rave reviews about how it is the ULTIMATE beginner homesteader book.

First of all, the photos in the book of her homestead and life are just beautiful.  Her story and journey to homesteading is inspiring and really helped me hone the vision of what I wanted for our homestead.

I have only read parts of it and will read more as I take on the different homesteading projects that she writes about but I think this is an awesome book for anyone interested in homesteading.  It is a really great inspiration to take the plunge.

I can’t wait to read more of it.

3) “The Chicken Chick’s  Guide to Backyard Chickens”

by Kathy Shea Mormino

I have heard great things about this book. I have not read it myself but I would love to purchase it when I get closer to planning my chicken coop this spring.

I originally heard the author, Kathy Shea Mormino, speak on the “Living Homegrown” podcast that I frequently listen to and she was so knowledgeable about all things chickens that her book is on the top of my list of resources when it comes time to planning.

Kitchen Tools and Gadgets

4) Rapid Thaw Defrosting Tray

I want this now!  I am constantly forgetting to pull our meat for dinner out of the freezer.  While I would hope that the Homesteader in your life is more organized with their meals than I am, I am sure they forget once in a while.

Defrosting frozen meat is a necessity for every Homesteader so this tool will be perfect for them (or really any cook you know!)  This Defrosting Tray has gotten great reviews on Amazon.  This holiday, I plan to get one for several of our family members.

Getting a gift that will solve a problem for your loved ones is awesome, and forgetting to take out the ground beef and having to resort to frozen pizza for dinner can definitely be a problem.  It is also highly affordable.

5)  Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

I wrote a previous post on the cleaning and care of cast iron pans.  When I first started using them, I had to clean the rust and dust off of them.  They also needed to be reseasoned.

Since then, I use my Lodge Cast Iron Skillet several times a week.  I love it, and I swear it makes me a better cook!

They are actually very affordable, durable, and a great gift for any new cook.

6)  Kitchen Compost Pail

This compost pail would be an awesome gift for anyone interested in composting. 

A couple years ago, I began composting and my husband built me a compost bin made out of cinderblocks up in the woods on our property.

Needless to say, it is far walk from the house and not one I wanted to take on a daily basis.

I reused a coffee container as my kitchen compost bin but this pail would be awesome to have to keep under the sink.

Click the Image above to check out compost pail on the Burpee website

7)  Herb Scissors

These herb scissors look awesome!  I am not great at dicing herbs and these would save me so much time.

For the gardener who enjoys growing and using fresh herbs, these would be a perfect stocking stuffer!

Click the Image above to check out herb scissors on the Burpee website

Garden Tools

8)  Felco F-8 Classic Pruner

Every gardener needs a good pair of hand pruners.  A good hand pruner is a necessity.

I previously posted an article on choosing the best garden hand pruner for any job. The Felco F-8 Classic Pruner came out on top.

While the price tag is heftier than other garden hand pruners, the reviews show that this pair is well worth the price.

You do not want to purchase a cheap hand pruner. They can be dangerous and most will not last more than one season.

Invest in a good one for the gardener on your list and they will thank you for many seasons to come!

9)  Gardening Cart

This gardening cart would be such a thoughtful gift for anyone.  According to the description, it is easier to use than a wheelbarrow!

It would be so helpful to have this type of cart when doing gardening or yard work.  It looks durable and easy to use!

Click Image above to check out Gardening Cart on the Burpee website

10)  Gardening Hat

I really want to purchase a hat this season and this one is really cute.

It is unisex so it would work for anyone on your list.

This hat would protect them and let them look the part of expert gardener!

11) Burpee Gift Card

You can start planning your garden at any time of year! It is never to early to start.

For the person in your life who loves to garden, a Burpee Gift Card is the perfect gift.

Soon they will be busy planning which vegetable and fruit they will start from seed indoors and which ones they plant directly in the ground.

Even a seasoned gardener loves to try something new, and a gift card will give them the freedom to do so this spring!

Burpee has everything you need for seeds so it really is a one-stop shop. I have used it for our seeds in the past and they have been wonderful!

Click the image above to check out the gift card options on the Burpee website

Food Preservation Tools

12)  Herb/Flower Drying Rack

I would love how this rack would look hanging in my kitchen or pantry in preparation for making dried spices. 

It is compact but can accomodate a good number of herb bunches at one time. It is also a very affordable gift for anyone interested in preserving thier herbs or flowers.

Click the image above to check out the herb drying rack on the Burpee website

13) Easy Ferment Kit

I am not experienced in fermenting so I would definitely want to purchase a kit when I first start learning.

While I have made some vinegar without any special tools, I would love to purchase a kit and ferment some vegetables in the future.

This kit is the best rated one on Amazon and the reviews are really good.

 

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Please assume that all Amazon links are affiliate links. Affiliate links are links to third-party products and services. If you use those links and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission. Using these links will not cost you any extra money. An affiliate relationship does not change or influence the nature of the recommendation or opinion.
How to Choose the Best Garden Hand Pruner for Any Job

How to Choose the Best Garden Hand Pruner for Any Job

One of the most important and most used tool of a gardener are hand pruners.  It is one of those tools that a gardener will have with them every time they head out to the garden.  Just about every time I head out to our garden to do something whether it be water, check on an ongoing problem, pick anything that is ready, I find some reason to pull out a set of garden hand pruners.  It has become one of those tools I take with me for every trip to the garden. After putting away our gardening gear for the season, I realized that we really need a new garden hand pruner for next season.

If you are serious into gardening or yard care, it will probably be beneficial for you to have one of each type of hand pruner. Regardless of what type of prune you determine you need, there are a few aspects to consider when choosing one.

When choosing pruner of any kind, look for these features:

  • comfortably fit into your hand
  • be lightweight
  • should be able to be locked one-handed.
  • have blades coated to reduce friction and rust
  • have blades that are durable and able to be resharpened.
  • Bonus: Company sells replacement parts, this means they intend for the product to last a long time and are not disposable after one season.

Not all hand pruners are the same and there are some brands that are far superior to others.  This article will focus on the different kinds of hand pruners so that you can choose which one best fits your needs.  It will also look at the differences between brands Some aspects we considered were, type of grip, locking mechanism, shape of blade, customer reviews, and price.

What type of hand pruner do I need?

There are three main types of hand pruners:

 

  • Bypass Pruners
  • Anvil Pruners
  • Snips

Brand Comparison

There are so many gardening pruner brands on the market today. Many of them are just junk. Dull blades, faulty locking mechanisms, loose screws and springs. I have bought my fair share of cheap (under $5) pairs in the past.  A good pair of gardening pruners that will last you multiple seasons is something worth researching prior to purchasing. We compared a number of popular brands in this article and summarize which ones may be the best fit for you.

Bypass Pruners

These types of pruners have a curved blade on top and a curved hook on the bottom. The curved hook on the bottom is used to hold the branch in place while the curved blade on top makes a clean cut.  Bypass pruners are used on live plants because it allows for a clean cut that will not damage the branch or stem of the plant.

Anvil Pruners

These pruners have a sharp blade on top and a flat plate on the bottom blade. The blade will come in contact with the plate and will smash the branch, breaking it into pieces. These are intended to be used on dead limbs and branches. If used on live plants, it could damage and kill them.

Brand:Fiskars
Smooth Action Anvil Pruner
Felco F-31 Anvil Pruning Sheargonicc
Anvil Pruning Shears
Corona
AP 3110 Anvil Hand Pruner
Image:
Price:$$$$$$
Cutting ability:1 in diameter branches1 in diameter branches1 in diameter branches3/4 in diameter branches
Weight:N/A10.9 ounces6.4 ounces7.8 ounces
Material:SteelBlades are made of steel. Handles are made of forged aluminum.Blade is ultra-fine polishing SK-1 steel.Blade is fully heat-treated steel with non-stick coating. Grip is vinyl-coated.
Blade design:Top blade has a low-friction coating that is designed to cut smoothly through branches and resist rust.Both top blade and bottom anvil plate are made of steel. Double gear level provides one-time cut. Easy-to-replace anvil and precision-ground blade.
Grip:Soft grip.Rubber non-slip gripShock absorption to soften impact and protect hand and wrist. Lightweight and comfortable.Pistol-grip handles are comfortable.
Locking Mechanism:Opening or closing is done by pushing an orange button and sliding it up or down.While squeezing the handles together, move the black locking mechanism to the left to unlock.Squeeze handles together whole holding in one hand, Use thumb to pull down metal safety lock. Squeeze while holding in one hand. Use thumb to push the metal latch into the notch.
Reviews:Numerous recent reviews said that the quality was bad. Locking button fails, blade damage and dulls after little use.Great reviews. Customers say these are the best and well worth the price. They report that this is a larger set of pruners so if you have smaller hand you should purchase their smaller model: Felco F-2 Manual Hand Pruner for Smaller Hands.Many positive reviews about product being a great value. A few negative reviews about large size of pruners.Very disappointing reviews. Many customers were unhappy with the quality of these pruners. Customers reported dull blades during first use.
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Snips

These are sharp with scissor-like blades. They are perfect for deadheading flowers, trimming herbs, and shaping small plants.

Brand:Fiskars
Micro-Tip Pruning Snips
Felco F-310 Picking and Trimming Snipsgonicc Micro-Tip Pruning SnipCorona Thinning Shears
Image:
Price:$$$$$$
Cutting ability:Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants.Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants.Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants.Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants.
Weight:2.4 ounces4.6 ounces4.3 ounces4.3 ounces
Material:Fully hardened, precision-ground stainless steel blades.Blades are made of steel. Stainless steel blades and aluminum and PVC handles.Forged alloy steel blades and aluminum and rubber handles.
Blade design:Two sharp, precision blades with non-stick coating.Both blades are made of stainless steel. Two straight blades.
Grip:Comfortable Softgrip handlesHard plastic gripLightweight and comfortable, non-slip handlesCushioned, non-slip grip
Locking Mechanism:Squeeze handles together and slide orange button upwards.Metal locking mechanism can be locked/unlocked while holding in one hand.Black strap attached to one handle will be slipped over other handle.One handle has a small hook which will attached to a small ring located on the other handle.
Reviews:Customers reported very positive reviews about these snips. They said that the quality was good and that they easily cut through the flowers and herbs that they were using. Snips are used for very delicate cutting so naturally these snips would not see the size branches that would be cut with a bypass or anvil pruner.Excellant reviews. Customers rave about how easy these are to use and how they have held up after years of use.Awesome reviews about durability, strength, and ease of use. Comments say that these snips are worth the moneyAwesome reviews, Customers lover hoe lightweight they are and how cleanly the cut.
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Best Pruners

Best Bypass PrunerBest Anvil PrunerBest SnipsIf you were only going to buy one hand pruner of any style
Corona BP 3180D Forged ByPass Prunersgonicc Anvil Pruning Shearsgonicc Micro-Tip Pruning SnipFelco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner
We chose this one as the best overall bypass pruner. Receiving excellent reviews, these pruners are reasonably priced. Owners speak to the durability and strength of these pruners. For these reasons, this set is the best value. These pruners received great reviews from customers about how good of a value they are. They are comfortable, affordably priced, and can be locked with one hand.Many reviews stated that these were worth the money. They are lightweight, and have sharp, precise blades.While the Corona bypass pruner came in at the top due to it's great durability and affordable price, if you were only going to purchase one hand tool for your gardening and yard needs, you should splurge and purchase the Felco Classic Hand Pruner.
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Hopefully this post provided you with guidance on how to choose the type and brand of your next garden hand pruner.

After purchasing several cheap hand pruners over the last few years, I was looking for a long lasting hand pruner. After examining the features or these hand pruners, I planning to purchase the Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner for next season.

 

Are there any hand pruners that you have that you love? Any other types of pruners that are necessary for gardeners and homesteaders to own? Leave a comment below!

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Please assume that all Amazon links are affiliate links. Affiliate links are links to third-party products and services. If you use those links and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission. Using these links will not cost you any extra money. An affiliate relationship does not change or influence the nature of the recommendation or opinion.
Gardening with small children: 6 tips to be successful

Gardening with small children: 6 tips to be successful

Gardens are hard work and are time-consuming.  Add a few small children to the mix and you might find that you haven’t had time to look at your garden in days.  If you work full-time the weekends are used to catchup on all of the gardening work you didn’t get to during the week.  Sometimes having kids involved can make a project last forever, however it is so worth it. I have definitely struggled with it tending to a garden with two kids under 3. However, the skills they learn and the memories they build is definitely worth the craziness.

While gardening with children may be a little more difficult, there are so many wonderful reasons why to pursue it and make it apart of your while family’s life.  Let me share a few tips that have helped me survive the chaos and still be productive in the garden.

Dreaming of Having a Vegetable Garden this year?

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1. Plan your garden as close to the house as possible.

Just being able to observe what is happening once a day can be really helpful.  Being able to pass by the garden daily on your way to the car or being able to sneak out really quickly for 5 minutes can make all the difference.  A lot of the problems come from not seeing an issue develop early on and having to play catch up as a result.  This recently happened to me with our broccoli plants.  I didn’t notice that we had cabbage worms for a few days and once I finally observed the damage they had caused it was too late.  Those cabbage worms are fast!

2. Fence in your garden.

Pest prevention is a major way that you can be proactive in the care of your garden.  Although many insect pests will still be able to access your garden, other highly destructive animals such as deer and rabbits will not.  Deer can cause so much damage because of the number of plants they will eat in one visit, as well as, the damage they do due to trampling.

One night of deer activity can result in entire plants being eaten to the ground.  This happened to us with our pepper plants.  Right before they started producing fruit, the deer came and ate them to the ground.  A simple fence will prevent these major headaches.

Gardening with children can be difficult, that is why automating tasks or finding ways to make some aspects easier for yourself is so important.  Taking the time to build a fence will provide you with so much piece of mind in the long term.

garden fence

3. Let them explore the garden

Next time you are outside working in the garden, bring your small walking children with you.  Not only is this a wonderful outdoor activity, but it also allows them to be exposed to and observe what you are doing in the garden.  This is another reason why a fence around your garden will really save you some time and headache. 

If your kids are beyond the age where they are constantly putting things in their mouth then they should be pretty safe to let roam and explore the garden if there is a fence in place.  Having an eye on them inside the garden but allowing them to explore will give you some time to address any minor issues and maintenance.

Dreaming of Having a Vegetable Garden this year?

Grab the Your Dream Vegetable Garden Plan for FREE to get you started today!  Start growing your groceries this year!

4. Plan a place for the kids to play outside.

When planning where the garden will be, also plan somewhere safe that you can have the children while you spend some time gardening.  Is there a small area that you can fence in or place a play yard that is visible from your garden?  Or somewhere shady where you can set up a pack and play or play yard? Even if you have really small children or babies, bringing them outside with you while you garden is always beneficial.  We use this play yard for my oldest:

Click image above to check it out on Amazon.

For our youngest, we used this one because it is so easy to put up and it doesn’t let them have access to the ground.  Not having access to the ground is important when they are still putting things in thier mouth.  I love using this for babies and small toddlers, plus they come with a shade attachment so you can make sure they are not directly in the sun. 

Click image above to check it out on Amazon.

These truly  have been a lifesaver for outside gardening with children.

5. Give them a task

Small children love to be involved in tending to the garden.  My two year old loves going out with me to pick tomatoes (although sometimes he gets carried away and only picks the greens ones).  Having them look for pests, pick fruit, pull out rocks, etc. is a great way to indoctrinate them into the gardening work at an early age.  The task doesn’t even have to be purposeful, just something that will keep thier little minds and hands busy.  

Another reason I love gardening with children is that there really is a task for everyone at any age.  You can use it as a way to encourage and reward children as they grow. For example, once they master a certain task, they can get to use a small trowel or rake or some other type of age-appropriate tool.  Older kids can be given more responsibilities as thier skills and knowledge progress. 

child watering garden

6. Garden at nap time or right after bedtime

Afternoon naps are essential to getting things done when you have small children.  Once they fall asleep, make the most of your time and spend it doing tasks that require full attention.  This is another reason why you want to plant your garden as close to the house as possible.  Make sure the monitor signal will reach you while you are in the garden and that you are close enough to the house that you feel comfortable gardening while they are napping.  If the garden is too far from the house, you will not want to spend your precious nap time in the garden.  Also, summer time means longer days, which will hopefully provide you with some extra time right after you put them down for bed.  This will afford you some daily time in the garden to make sure that everything is going smoothly.

 

Gardening with small children is definitely difficult but being able to use the fresh homegrown produce in your family’s meals is so awesome.  Teaching your children gardening skills will encourage hard work, patience, resiliency, and problem-solving.  Sharing the love of gardening with your children will provide your family with precious memories and knowledge and appreciation for where their food comes from. Start gardening with your children from the very beginning!

Check out the podcast episode all about Gardening with Children. You can listen to it below!

Dreaming of Having a Vegetable Garden this year?

Grab the Your Dream Vegetable Garden Plan for FREE to get you started today!  Start growing your groceries this year!

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Please assume that all Amazon links are affiliate links. Affiliate links are links to third-party products and services. If you use those links and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission. Using these links will not cost you any extra money. An affiliate relationship does not change or influence the nature of the recommendation or opinion.
How we Overcame our Garden’s Top 5 Challenges

How we Overcame our Garden’s Top 5 Challenges

The 2018 Gardening season has definitely been a challenging one for us. We planted our biggest garden yet and we expected to have a lot of trial and error with all of the new plants we were experimenting with. We always tend to go overboard in our initial planning (so many possibilities!).  We weeded out some plants such as potatoes and brussel sprouts.

Here are the plants that made the final cut this year:

  • 5 types of tomatoes
  • Bib lettuce
  • Lettuce Leaf
  • White Onions
  • 5 Bell Peppers
  • 5 Jalapenos
  • Cantaloupe
  • 2 Broccoli
  • Yellow Squash
  • Zucchini
  • Watermelon
  • Lima Beans
  • String Beans (pole and bush)
  • Peas

As this was only our third garden, and we have added an extra 5 x12 plot to the existing 10x 12 plot we had used in the past, there were still a lot of challenges that we faced for the first time.

Here were our top 6 challenges and how we faced them:

1) Rabbits

The first challenge we faced was rabbits. I first realized it when I went to do my routine evening garden check and I noticed that one entire pepper plant was chomped to the ground. It was only about 5 inches tall at this point and was the only one eaten. Right next to our peppers were our lettuce, and I noticed that there were about 2 heads of lettuce that were gone. I walked over to our other plot, which was dedicated to all the beans and the watermelon and out jumped 3 fat rabbits! Tummies full of watermelon leaves. In the upcoming weeks, these guys really focused on the lettuce and we only harvested about ¼ of the lettuce we planted. Looking back, I should have treated the problem with some rabbit deterrent and just replanted some lettuce. Now we know!

2) Deer

The deer were out of control this year!  We have never had problems with deer in the past.  While our backyard consists of some wooded areas, our gardens are in our front yard, not far from the road.  We never bothered to fence in our garden.  Well, let me tell you if you haven’t experienced the damage deer can cause, I can assure you it is devastating.  One day, I saw two string bean bushes full of beans, ready to be picked.  Probably two dinners worth for our family.  I decided I would pick them the next day.  Overnight, the deer must have visited because our garden was demolished.  The string bean plants were licked clean.  The bell pepper plants were eaten to the ground, leaving just a little nub.  The most damage though was to our poor tomatoes which were full of big green fruit just waiting to ripen.  The branches of every plant were chomped down.  Green tomatoes littered the garden and were trampled, smashed, and squished.

We were really upset.  We were so close to harvesting some great food but we decided that since it was only early June, we had plenty of time to try to repair bring the garden back to life.  After researching deer repellent, I decided to try the Irish spring soap method.  We had Irish soap on hand and thought it was something easy to just try.  Apparently, deer do not like the scent of Irish spring soap so if you hang them in your garden, they will stay away.  I hung 4 bars in total, 2 in each plot.  The damage seemed to taper off some deer activity but since the deer must sneak in in the dead of night, I couldn’t really tell if it was working.  So I also tried a natural animal repellant product as reinforcement called: “I Must Garden, Animal Repellant” I sprinkled this mixture throughout the garden and waited.  And then our next challenge hit!

 

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3) Rain

Wow, we had so much rain in such a small amount of time.  There were several weeks that consisted of 4-5 rain days and there was just too much water in the garden.  To start our zucchini and squash developed blossom rot, which is where the ends of the fruit rot before they get to size, thankfully they did eventually recover.  This uneven watering also affected the tomatoes. We had a ton of beautiful green tomatoes but they would never ripen.

4) Cabbage Worms

This was the first year we planted broccoli and we were really excited.  The plants were growing beautifully with nice bright green leaves.  That is until the cabbage worms struck, and let me tell you, they are no joke.  I swear I saw some damage one evening and checked to see if I could identify any pests.  I did not see any worms that that time.  Within a few days, the two plants were absolutely destroyed.  The leaves looked skeletonized and there were little green worms everywhere.  After some research, I found that they are called cabbage worms. I read several articles that said that they can be held at bay by sprinkling the plants with rye flour or cornmeal.  Next year, I will have my cornmeal handy!

5) Nitrogen-rich Soil

I know the experts tell you to get your soil tested prior to planting to help determine any nutrient deficiencies and acidity so that any adjustments can be made to help ensure a healthy garden.   However, I have always poo-pooed the idea.  I just never took the time or effort to get our soil tested.  Our first garden did really well, so I didn’t worry about it this year.  I will not be making that mistake again!  Through research, I found that the reason our pole bean plants (string and lima beans) and our cantaloupe plants produced ZERO fruit was because we had Nitrogen-rich soil.  Having too much nitrogen can cause plants to be beautifully green, but produce no fruit.  That was what we experienced. It was so disappointing.  Our dreams of canning endless amounts of string and lima beans (my sons’ favorite!) were crushed!  Not next year, we will be testing our soil and treat it accordingly before I plant.

6) Time

I know that everyone experiences the challenge of not having enough time to focus on their garden.  It happens every year.  Life gets in the way and it seems to be as soon as all of those plants start producing.  What has helped us is making sure that I at least do a daily walkthrough to help determine if any action needs to be taken.  Even if I am too busy to tend to things, I want to make sure I am observing the activity of the garden so that I know better for next year.

Even with our failing garden, we learned so much!  I will not let the failure of this garden deter us.  We really enjoy gardening and producing our family’s food.  I have so much to incorporate next year.  I know what actions to take if we encounter certain pests so next year, they will not be an issue.  I think this is the best way to garden when you are first learning.  You can’t possibly be prepared for everything early on so learning as we go really works for us.  After all, we are just wingin’ it!

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. Please assume that all Amazon links are affiliate links. Affiliate links are links to third-party products and services. If you use those links and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission. Using these links will not cost you any extra money. An affiliate relationship does not change or influence the nature of the recommendation or opinion.