DIY Decorative Outdoor Planters & Gardening with Kids
Simple backyard gardening, garden with kids, growing vegetables and raised garden beds in a small city backyard. 20 DIY outdoor planters.
Simple Backyard Gardening with Kids
In a time filled with social media, video games, youtube, and television it’s sometimes difficult to break away. So when it comes to the kids we always try to keep them involved with some of the DIY projects that we do around here, like building outdoor planters and gardening. Gardening with kids seemed like a simple addition to all the other things going on. It’s definitely easier than the Building a Shed from Scratch, so if we can involve them in that major project, then we can certainly involve them with this 😉 
Gardening with Kids Means Rarely Sticking with the Plan
A little dose of reality when doing anything with young kids, or at least our kids, things never really stay on course. So when it comes to gardening with kids this is no different. Our morning started with a bit of yard clean up first, which turned into chasing the kids with the blower. 
Who knew something so simple would be such a blast? 
DIY Raised Garden Beds
Once the crazy calmed down we could get to work. We’ve been gardening for a few years now and last year we added to our gardening journey by building raised garden beds. Each year we change things up a bit and grow different crops. We always grow tomatoes so we can make tomato sauce in the Fall. We also compost which makes everything that we grow taste that much better. And we always try to have strawberries because they’re delicious. Though it seems lately our tomato plants have been taking up more and more space in the garden leaving less room for the strawberries.
This year we built another outdoor planter along the side of the house next to our existing one. It is probably the easiest garden bed that you could ever build. With some simple wooden 2 x 12 boards, we built a rectangular box and filled it with soil. Easy peasy.
Gardening with Kids and Letting them Decide What to Grow
This year we decided that since we are letting the kids be more hands-on and involved we would also let them decide what they want to grow in the outdoor planters in our backyard garden. They chose carrots of course, and sugar snap peas. I think Layla was a little angry that her brother got to hold the carrot seeds and she had to wait. But she’ll get over that.
Planting the Seeds
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This weekend’s adventure of gardening with kids we are planting our seeds in the raised garden beds that we built last year. They are small and sit along our back fence. Remember, we live in the city and don’t have a very large backyard.
Each of the kids are given a chance to plant their seeds. A location was chosen in the garden beds and a shallow line dug in the soil. The line mainly gave the kids a place to plant their seeds rather than sprinkling them everywhere.
They were so excited to be involved.
After the carrots were planted the snap peas were next. The snap pea seeds were much larger than the carrot seeds.
In addition to the veggies we also grow our own herbs, so the kids were able to help plant our herbs as well.
Other Crops in the Yard
In addition to planting these seeds, our small strawberry plant is already growing in the stenciled outdoor planters along the back.
Along the side of the house, in our original garden bed, we are growing garlic which is accompanied by our garden gnome.
At any given time Jackson can tell you what is growing and where. 
The newest raised garden bed will be full of tomatoes. 
Last but not least, along the back we have smaller round planters where we grow hops. Since hubby brews his own beer he has decided that he wants to grow his own hops as well. It isn’t visible but there is a small trellis that runs up and down the back for the hops to grow upwards as they progress.
Getting the Kids Outside
Sometimes just getting the kids outside can lead to other things, and memorable photos because at the end of the day no matter what we are growing in the garden we are making memories too <3
20 DIY Outdoor Planters
If you are an avid gardener or just starting out be sure to check out these amazing 20 eye-catching DIY outdoor planters. 
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Such a great post Kandice! What a wonderful way to spend some quality time with your kids, and so many lessons learned about reaping and sowing, too. They must be so excited to see the seeds they planted sprouting and growing each day. I just loved the photos of your kids being “leaf” blown–made me literally laugh out loud 🙂
The kids look like they were having a blast. I bet they are so excited and proud as they watch their crops grow. Soon they will be rewarded with the fruits of their labor and you helped create a memory that will last a lifetime!