—Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May 1981, 80
photo source
With the approach of spring, the signs of new life appear—trees begin to bud, plants long dormant send out tender shoots. Now is the time to consider planting a garden. If you have not gardened in years, this might be the year to start anew.
In addition to the tangible benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables, gardening promotes independence, provides opportunities for wholesome family fun, and brings you closer to nature. So where should you start?
The resources below have been prepared to point you in the right direction. Good luck with your garden this year.
American Society for Horticultural Science
BBC Gardening Site
Benson Institute
Food for Everyone Foundation FAQ
Gardening Advice
National Gardening Association
Organic Gardening
Square Foot Gardening
US Dept of Agriculture – Home Gardening section
Additional Gardening Links
Gardening Tips on Provident Living
Patio/Container gardening:
http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-336/426-336.html
You tube videos:
If you go to Youtube.com and type in " gardening tips". You will get several "how to" videos.
Hands-on lesson:
If you want a hands-on lesson on how to garden there is a
Watertown, Ma. adult Education gardening course in May: http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us and download brochure.
Instructor: Scott Clarke, AOLCP
Think you don’t have the time, space, or energy to
grow plants successfully? Think again! In this one-
session workshop, you’ll learn how to make your
garden work by making the best use of your available
space. We’ll compare and contrast various growing
techniques, from traditional row crops to square foot
gardening in raised beds. We’ll also compare modern
sustainable gardening practices with more traditional
methods. There’s more to successful gardening than
planting and watering. Learn the secrets of soil
building, plant selection, companion planting, and
extending the growing season. The session will take
place on the Farm at Gore Place during the Annual
Plant Sale. Some great varieties of heirloom plants
and vegetables will be available for purchase and
everyone will go home with a free variety-pack of
heirloom tomato plants. Wear your gardening clothes
and bring your gardening gloves and trowel. Be
prepared to get a little dirty! Students of all levels are
welcome. Scott Clarke is the Director of Buildings
and Grounds at Gore Place in Waltham and has been
gardening for 30 years. He is an Accredited Organic
Land Care Professional (AOLCP).
1 Saturday $30
May 15 10-11:30am
Class held at Gore Place, 52 Gore Street, Waltham
Potential Ward Activity:
Find a family in the ward that has a vegetable garden or does container gardening and is willing to have a small group come over during planting season to learn and ask questions.
Quotes about Gardening
"Grow all the food that you feasibly can. . . .Develop your skills in home [food] preservation and storage."
—Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May 1976, 124–25
"We have asked everyone wherever possible to assist with a home garden for the production of food so you may enjoy the efforts of your labors and help provide for your needs. We urge parents not only to engage in this activity, but to let their boys and girls share in helping with the garden. They will not only learn the value and joy of work, but it will help them develop a sense of responsibility as they participate in such family projects."
—Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Nov. 1978, 4
"Children may be given assignments also to take care of the garden, and this will be far better than to have them for long hours sitting at a television."
—Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May 1976, 5
"Who can gauge the value of that special chat between daughter and Dad as they weed or water the garden? How do we evaluate the good that comes from the obvious lessons of planting, cultivating, and the eternal law of the harvest?. . . Yes, we are laying up resources in store, but perhaps the greater good is contained in the lessons of life we learn as we live providently and extend to our children their pioneer heritage."
—Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball (1982), 376–77
FHE Ideas for spring for young children
As spring begins our thoughts sometimes turn to our gardens; what to grow this year and when to begin planting. Why not turn some of your planting into a Monday night lesson?! If you don't have a garden, you can plant a potted plant and still have an effective FHE. Below are four topics you can choose from to go along with your spring planting:
As you plant, discuss with your family how plants die in the winter but come back in the spring (bulbs) and how this relates to Jesus' death and resurrection. Depending on the age of your children you might want to use this to lead into more talk about the Atonement.
For younger children you can teach that growing things should always remind us of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. He created this beautiful world for us to live in, and gave us His only begotten Son to die for us that we might live together forever with our Him.
Faith, like the little seeds you are planting, grows a little at a time as we nourish it with prayer, scripture study and righteous actions.
Testimonies also grow as we "fertilize" them, by attending our church meetings, sharing our testimony, prayer and the "light" of the Gospel/Scriptures.
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