Earth Day Party
by Jennifer Cooper, posted on April 21st, 2010 in Ideas and Inspiration
Photo Credit: D Sharon Pruit
When I was in my late teens, I took up gardening. It’s kind of a strange thing for a young adult to take up, isn’t it? It was as if one day, I woke up and said, “Today, I’m going to start a garden.” There was no real rhyme or reason to it as I recall.
I had my then boyfriend (who incidentally is my now husband) help me start a garden in a plot of yard at my parents’ house. I grew all sorts of herbs and veggies. I used loose straw to make pathways and broken tree limbs to section off beds. I even put up a little white picket fence from which white twinkle lights were hung. It was magical.
Now I would be lying if I said I was a good gardener. I wasn’t. The veggies didn’t grow much. I planted the garden next to a black walnut tree. Apparently, black walnut tree roots send out toxins to prevent any sort of competition. Who knew? But the one thing I was good at growing were weeds.
Thankfully, there are farmer’s markets.
But the lack of successful growing didn’t stop me from having my Martha moment. Each morning I would take a little stroll to see what was happening in the garden. Did the peas finally sprout? Did the eggplant blossom? Perhaps I was a strange kid. But creating a productive space from just ground and seedlings? Well, it was quite a remarkable feeling. And it’s something I’d love to have my children experience.
That’s where Sue over at Motherhood and Me comes in. I heard she was hosting an Earth Day Party. I was so positively inspired by her idea, I just had to share it with you. It’s a creative way to celebrate the earth and teach how the earth, when treated properly, provides our nourishment.
Here’s what she’s doing: She’s invited her daughter’s friends over for a planting and lunch party. She instructed everyone to bring a fruit or vegetable to plant and a lunch dish to share with the group that involves the fruit or vegetable they are planting. Brilliant right?! It’s the perfect blend of community, education and fun.
She’s also planned to have some other fun kid-friendly activities that you should check out. Sue is a mama after my own heart!
I’ve lost some of my gardening mojo over the years. It seemed that either working full time, being pregnant or running after little ones, took up so much of my time that I let my love of gardening slip away. Right now, my little plot of backyard is looking rather pathetic. But I’m hopeful. And I’m determined. Plus, my kids are old enough now to do their part.
And when we all do our part, everything is better.
Jennifer Cooper Says:
Amy O. Says:
