It’s more about the year than the food

The last few recipes I have shared have been birthed out of the season of life I find myself in – ‘busy’. Life seems pretty bossy these days, more about what I have to do than what I want to do — or is it just me? But I am never too busy to do some kitchen gardening with my kiddos – after all, isn’t it more about our year together than our food? 

I have been trying to get the kiddos interested in more types of food. The boys like beans, but Gracie isn’t a fan, yet. So I decided we should start playing with our food. The last few times I have made beans for dinner, I have set aside a few and let Gracie put them in a wet paper towel. We stuck the beans in a baggie and I told Gracie to pick a sunny spot & leave them there.

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Gracie has really gotten excited and the boys are enjoying it too. They love checking the progress of the beans daily and you can imagine how giddy they were when then beans sprouted a root, and when leaves came out — we all cheered! I saved a great egg carton that is clear, turned it into a mini-greenhouse and had Gracie fill the wells up with dirt from the backyard & we gently stuck 2 beans in the soil.

They have really taken off and have even sprouted some blooms. I am going to have to stick them in a pot with a trellis this week! Can you believe it?? I think I am more excited than the kids are!! As we watched the beans take off I got the idea to do the same thing with lemon seeds. ((If you look closely, I stuck a piece of eggs shell in each well for a natural fertilizer))

So far, the lemon seeds have done very little aside from dropping their seed coat — but the things the kids are learning have added a new level of excitement in our kitchen, our food & our year. The kids (& I) are looking in the pantry & fridge for what else we can grow. So far, I have saved the bottoms of the green onions and the core of 2 heads of Kale and 2 bunches of spinach. We stuck them in water and guess what?? They rooted too! (The rosemary hasn’t got the memo that it’s supposed to root, but I am still holding out hope!!) 

I don’t think beans will suddenly be Gracie’s new favorite food, but I bet the next time I serve beans she will be much more interested in trying them than she was a month ago. But what I’m sure of? — slowing down long enough to teach the kids a few things about what they are eating has definitely piqued their interest in what’s going on in the kitchen. Have you ever thought about growing food from what you are eating? I bet your kiddos would enjoy playing with their food as much as mine have. Any fun tips to share about your kitchen gardening experiences? Please share — I would love to hear all about t!