Spring has come to Northwest, Colorado! Finally…

With Spring in the air, we thought it was a perfect time to pull out our dusty spades and forgotten garden gloves and prepare for a few fun months of growing stuff. Gardening with children is not only enjoyable, it is an experience that connects them to their world in a way that nothing else can. They become stewards of the land one small pot or planting bed at a time. In a climate like ours, one of the best ways to garden is to use a container for your plants. I have used the square foot gardening method for years. I find that it keeps the complexity of the task to a minimum and rewards maximum fun for minimal effort.

As we mentioned in our April newsletter, “Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew is a fantastic resource for anyone who is looking to garden efficiently. With a busy work schedule, family schedule, and activities, most parents don’t have the time or resources to delve into a summer garden. Mel’s book cuts down on all of the maintenance once the beds have been established.

Here in the Yampa Valley, it can be difficult to grow warm weather veggies like tomatoes and peppers, but leafy greens and beans just love this climate. Everything from kale to spinach and squash can easily be grown during the summer months. Some people choose to start their seedlings indoors during the month of May so that they can easily be transplanted in June. Spinach and lettuces work best by directly seeding them into the garden, but leafy veggies like the cool weather, so you should feel fairly safe planting them just before the end of May.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Ask anyone who has been gardening for years and they will happily recount all of their failures. That is part of the fun. The trial and error of growing food helps all of us both big and small appreciate and understand how difficult it can be to grow our own food. You will come away with a renewed sense of appreciation for our farming communities. Their dedication to craft allows us the freedom to pursue other careers, while knowing that our food supply is in good hands.