In spring I have great ideas of what to plant in our small garden. And a plan that involves my girls helping, harvesting, learning and eventually getting them to eat more vegetables out of the experience.
I’ve slacked off this year on all of these expectations and adopted the garden as my place. Of course little feet wonder in and out and squeal at the joy of pulling beets and carrots out of the ground. But ultimately, it’s been my place to enjoy morning times watering the garden or the afternoon times outside pulling those pesky weeds. I’m always thankful for the time outside. With my hands in the dirt, pulling me way from chores and things I think have to get done when really….they can wait.
I started planting in early spring, with hearty greens and root vegetables. Since then I’ve moved in a succession method (learning from our CSA farmer) onto summer vegetables as the colder hearty things bolted as temperatures quickly warmed up.
The girls still claim a raised bed each for their own, with their favorite things planted in them. Basil for the pesto eater, tomatoes for one, snap peas for another and classic potato standbys for all – as well as carrots! The one vegetable they will all eat raw, a miraculous site for a vegetarian mom who strives everyday to create veggie loving kids (nearly an impossible goal I know).
My laid back view of getting the girls involved this year is partly due to them getting older and gardening is really the most fun for the pre-school ages. Once they discover it’s work, it’s harder to get them involved. But when it happens voluntarily, it’s fun, and the reward is so much greater. When they truly enjoy something they value the experience and the end result. Just like we do, naturally.
Gardening this year has been about the process, getting to it when we can, and me always being grateful when I do. Even if it was pulling greens out too late and feeding them to the school’s chickens because they turned too bitter before we ate them all. My little girl and I loved feeding those leftover stalks of arugula and mustard greens to the chickens while we waited for the big girls to be dismissed.
We are going from one season of vegetables to the next, one vegetable at a time. Along the way I did take a few pictures. And I do love garden pictures…
Like this one, of little hands harvesting spinach in early May. They gained a new understanding of how much spinach cooks down! That big bowl full doesn’t really make much. But it was great in our Spinach Frisbees.
These are few of the sites outside my kitchen door, greeting us home every time. Flowers are always wonderful, but it’s even better when I can eat what’s in the garden.
The beets were harvested today – a lovely treat sitting on my doorstep, and seeing my older girls involved. Maybe they’ll eat those beats for dinner soon. 
With a side of herbs from the herb garden.. 
What a beautiful garden! How inspiring! Our is in its infancy – I cannot wait for luscious beets like these!!