I’m trying to teach my children the importance of growing our own food to reduce waste and help the environment. Planting herbs is an easy way to start gardening and getting kids involved. Plus, it’s fun and creative decorating the pots for the plants. After the herbs sprout, engage all your kids’ senses with these aromatic and edible plants.
Materials:
- Terra cotta pots
- Craft paint
- Plate
- Paintbrushes
- Paper towels or newspaper
- Cup of water
- Herbs (seeds or plants) and dirt
- Popsicle sticks
- Marker
Instructions
- Place your pots on a paper towel or newspaper. Pour your paints onto a plate in sections by color. Add some water to your cup and set it next to your painting area. Paint your pots, washing out your paintbrush each time you use a new color. Decorate your pots however you’d like. Let the pots dry completely.
- Choose which herbs to plant. Pick out seeds or plants with your child—but make sure they are herbs that you will use. We chose mint, basil and parsley.
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If you’re starting your herbs from seeds, fill your pot with soil, then plant your seeds according to the package instructions. If you’re using an already growing plant, simply transfer it into the new pot, with its own soil. Press it down into the pot, brush off any extra soil and water it well. - Write the name of your herb onto a Popsicle stick with a marker and stick it into the soil with the name easily readable. If your child is old enough, let them write the words. This will help them learn the name of each herb.
Encourage your kids to compare the different plants’ leaves, textures and smells. Show them how to use and enjoy their newly planted herbs by making a homemade tomato basil pizza, some spaghetti with parsley, or a little mint lemonade to drink.
SOURCE:http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/herbs-in-painted-pots/