So many of us gardeners credit our parents and grandparents as our gardening inspirations. Memories of eating peas fresh from the pod on a golden, sunlit afternoon and those carefree feelings we felt on a Sunday morning when out in nature with our hands in the soil, have stuck with so many of us and sown the seeds and passion for our gardening journeys to come. That is why I think the importance of the time we give our children and grand children now can never be overstated.
I was driving along talking about sowing some seeds the other day and my oldest said “Mum, I just love listening to you talking about gardening.” It stopped me in my tracks and even choked me up a little bit. What I had thought may be boring him was actually having an effect and I could tell my passion and enthusiasm was rubbing off. The excitement my little boys feel when a new seedling pokes through on the kitchen windowsill is palpable and being able to pass on this joy that we all feel at the start of spring is a gift that I am so grateful to be able to give.
However, gardening with young people is not always easy. Those five minute jobs quickly become thirty minutes when little hands are involved, as our little “helpers” undo and then redo our good work. This means it can often seem easier to leave them out when time is short and get on with those jobs alone. But remember, whilst things do often take twice as long, the inspiration and knowledge we are imparting is priceless and the memories they are making will be the fuel which creates those passionate gardeners of the future. As it all began for us, it now begins for future generations of young gardeners.
