28 Don't Pull Your Hair Out, July 2010 Gardening Grow your own greens
Getting kids to eat their greens is tough for many parents, but there could be asimple, healthy solution -get them to grow their own.
By Lisa Salmon R
ESEARCHcommissioned by the National Trust has found that 72 per cent of UK children
would like their own space to grow fruit and vegetables, and 63 per cent of them would rather eat fruit and veg they’ve grown themselves than buy it from asupermarket. To capitalise on the youthful enthu-
siasm about growing food, the National Trust is giving away 170 mil- lion free seeds as part of its Food Glorious Food campaign, which aims to inspire children to plant, grow and eat their own food. The seeds, which have been spe-
cially selected so they can be grown in both containers or gardens, are now being given away during family events at National Trust properties across the country. They will produce 2.5million thyme plants, 3.2million leaf salads and 2.8million bunches of carrots. Tomato seedlings will also be available. National Trust spokesperson Laura Palmer says: “It’s to show how easy it is to grow your own food, and how much fun it is. “If you get kids engaged in growing their own food, they're more likely to
carry on with that behaviour when they grow up. They’re more likely to eat it if they grow it too -that’s got to be agood thing.” She advises parents to get kids to
grow amixture of vegetables, such as cress, which grows very quickly, and carrots, which take much longer. “By teaching children where food comes from -that it doesn’t just come from the supermarket, it grows from the ground -you’re instilling within them an understanding of sea- sonable, sustainable food that will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” she adds. The Trust has also created the Sowing Squad, which will promote growing food and help inspire the next generation to get planting, and eating, the food they grow. The squad has got its work cut out,
as the National Trust survey of chil- dren aged 8-12 years revealed that 42 per cent hide their greens under other food on their plate so they don’t have to eat them. Another 30 per cent throw vegeta-
bles in the bin when no-one’s look- ing, 23 per cent sneak them on to someone else's plate, and 17 per cent feed greens to the family pet. The survey also found that chil-
dren’s favourite vegetable was sweetcorn, followed by potatoes and carrots. Strawberries were the most- loved fruit, and the Brussels sprout remains children’s most hated veg- etable. Kids who try to hide their greens
might learn to like them alittle more both by planting some of the National Trust seeds and reading the Growing Vegetables Is Fun! mag- book, which tells children all about growing vegetables at home. The magbook, which includes
some vegetable seed packs for kids to get started, features advice from Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins, information about different seeds and plants, advice on how to plant them indoors and outdoors, and ascrap- book and seed diary. The magbook’s author, Emma Cooper, says: “Growing vegetables is great fun -kids can play in the dirt and get muddy without being told off, and watch tiny seeds grow into enormous plants. “What’s more, when the plants are
fully grown they'll have tasty treats they can pick and eat themselves, or share with their family and friends.” As well as growing at home, gar- dening at school is agreat way to encourage green-fingered kids. And as part of its Campaign for School Gardening, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has this week launched Get Your Grown-ups Growing, to bring teachers, pupils and local adults together to develop school gardens. The idea is to get primary schools across the country planning garden-
ing events at which parents, grand- parents and other adults can join children and have fun in the garden. Registration is now open and teachers signing up will receive afree RHS pack, including how-to guides and activity ideas, seeds, posters and stickers. Gordon Seabright, RHS acting director general, says: “Gardening brings out the best in children social- ly, emotionally and physically. “It introduces them to the idea of growing their own food, caring for wildlife and learning outside the classroom. For many, school pro- vides the only opportunity to get involved in gardening, and we want to make sure that as many schools as possible can create and maintain an exciting growing space. “To do that, they need the support
of their community and Get Your Grown-ups Growing is agreat, fun way to bring in that support.”
INFORMATION
■ To find your nearest National Trust property visit
foodgloriousfood.org.uk, where there is also avirtual vegetable patch in which children can grow comput- erised vegetables in real time. ■ Growing Vegetables Is Fun! by Emma Cooper is published in paper- back by Dennis Publishing, priced £5.99. It is available from WH Smith,
magbooks.com and
amazon.co.uk. ■ To register or find out more about Get Your Grown-ups Growing, visit
www.rhs.org.uk/gygg
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