Family Herb Corner 

A Child's Garden of Herbs

Introduction

Gardening transcends the boundaries of gender, race, age, and social status. Working in a garden soothes the anxiety of daily life and for children, helps them develop an appreciation and anticipation of the natural world from something as simple as a planted seed breaking through the ground. Herb gardens stimulate not only the five senses but also the imagination and curiosity of children and adults. From the first leaf popping through the soil to the development of a fragrant smell or interesting texture, herb plants unfailingly tend to attract interest and speculation. Whether used in medicines or foods, as decorations or symbols, herbs and garden plants play an important part in the folklore and history of every culture. Herbs and plants awesome abilities to survive and adapt in adverse circumstances teach and encourage hope in tomorrow. Their mysterious and marvelous powers to heal the mind and body fascinate us and affirm human's connection to the natural world.

Every plant has a special story to tell. Today there is much focus on teaching our children the importance of cultural diversity, improving and building understanding through shared experiences common to all cultures and families. Every plant has a place of origin, a past, present and hopefully, a future. Working together toward a common goal on projects, such as planning and planting gardens with plants used by different cultures, gives everyone a chance to share recipes and plant histories. It is a fun and comfortable way of bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together on the same level. Everyone has a favorite traditional family food using herbs or spices. Adults become young again when they share memories of a homeland or a childhood experience. Children listen and learn that everyone has a family and a cultural heritage. More importantly, they have a growing knowledge and understanding of the persons working in the soil beside them. 

Children learn many things when they garden and play outdoors. Perhaps most notably are the things they learn about their relationships to the earth. A garden is a place that encourages and invites children to discover for themselves the magic, wonder, and unexpected surprises that Mother Nature will reveal to anyone who wants to take a closer look. We, as adults, all have that special body of knowledge that we learned on our own as children about the outdoor world. How a wild strawberry tastes, the smell of wet soil in the spring, or what happens to an apple after it falls to the ground. We, as adults, have the awesome responsibility of providing opportunities, companionship, and guidance to encourage and stimulate children down a path of self-discovery. 

A Chinese proverb spells it out well:

"I HEAR AND I FORGET 

I SEE AND I REMEMBER 

I DO AND I UNDERSTAND"

The garden does and will talk back, sharing successes and failures to those who love to garden. Failure is part of the gardening experience. How children learn to respond to failures will decide the success of their gardens and gardening experience. 

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