Summer break has officially started, which means it’s time for us to create meaningful experiences for our kids—and one of the big ones this year is learning about gardening.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!We’ve already started planting and including the kids in the process. Soon, we’ll begin harvesting some of our crops, but in the meantime, we’re focusing on the basics: watering, sunlight, weeding, and keeping pests out of the garden. These will all be part of our daily conversations and learning.
Mornings in the Garden
Each morning, our goal is to start the day with a routine:
- Getting dressed
- Eating breakfast
- Getting ready for the day
- Then heading outside to check on how things are growing.
As we walk through the garden, we’ll observe which plants have gotten bigger, which ones are beginning to produce fruit, and what changes we notice from the day before.
The kids will also have the chance to help water our fruit trees. This has been made easy for them to help with because each of which has its own 5-gallon bucket. The rest of the garden is equipped with sprinklers that we rotate manually, switching between sections. Our blueberry bushes are in a different area of the property. We’ll need to check on them separately to ensure they’re getting enough water. Eventually, we hope the bushes will grow large enough to provide some privacy between our home and the neighboring daycare and church.
Science in the Soil
All of this outdoor time naturally leads to rich learning opportunities. We’ll talk about the plant life cycle—how seeds grow roots, why we use fertilizer and compost, and how nutrients help plants grow stronger and more productive. The kids were already involved when we spread fertilizer and horse manure across the garden. This really helped them start to see the connection between soil health and plant growth.
We’re also talking about bees and pollinators, and how every little flower on a plant—like on tomatoes, cucumbers, or green beans—needs to be pollinated to produce fruit. The kids are learning not to be afraid of bees! We want to welcome them, because they play such an essential role in the garden. We even planted some flowers just to attract more pollinators.
Nature Lessons Beyond the Garden
These daily garden visits are becoming our morning “science time”. The kids are learning that the more we care for our plants, the more those plants will give back—providing food that we can preserve and enjoy through the winter months.
It’s also a perfect time to enjoy the outdoors while it’s still cool. Once mid-July arrives and the heat and humidity kick in, it becomes much harder to enjoy extended time outside.
We also love to take walks around our property, watching for wildlife like deer and birds. At the very back of our land, corn and bean fields border our property. It’s fun to see how those crops grow and change throughout the summer.
Engaging All Five Senses
This summer, I also want to help the kids experience nature through all five senses. Whether it’s the smell of fresh dirt, the sound of birdsong, the texture of a bean leaf, the sight of tiny new blossoms, or the first taste of a ripe tomato—we’ll take time to notice and reflect on it all. It’s a simple yet powerful way to connect with the world around us and with each other.
More Summer Fun to Come
Lastly, we’re working on more fun summer activities to make the most of this season—projects, outings, and ways to explore together as a family. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue growing, learning, and making memories in the sunshine.
Would you like help creating a series of posts with garden updates or summer learning themes? I can also help you turn this into a printable activity plan or companion post with Scriptures or reflection prompts.
Faith
As we care for our garden each day, I’m reminded of how similar it is to growing in our faith. Just as plants need sunlight, water, and nutrients to thrive, our hearts need time in God’s Word, prayer, and the presence of the Holy Spirit to grow strong. We don’t see the roots forming beneath the soil, but they are—just like how God often works in unseen ways within us.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
— Colossians 2:6–7 (NIV)
We talk with our kids about how faith grows little by little—how doing the small things each day (like kindness, patience, or prayer) is like watering the soil of our souls. And just like a garden takes time, faith isn’t instant—it’s a process, a journey.
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)
These garden moments help us remember that while we do the work of tending, God is the one who brings the true growth—in our plants and in our lives.