Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Yes….that’s me.
A small, little version of “Scout” from To Kill a Mockingbird.

My parents recognized my early desire to be in the dirt, and never squelched my imagination. I was given my own little garden to tend in our backyard. I spent hours dreaming, planting, eating lilacs and wild mushrooms, or simply digging to China. My Dad once told me that the day I stopped gardening with him on Saturday mornings was the day he lost his little girl. Childhood is fleeting. Children do grow up and the time to walk among the wild things becomes more limited. Realism takes over, and imagination becomes squelched. As children become adults, many see less wonder in a butterfly or the random bloom of a field lily, and more necessity in the competitive rush to keep up. A walk among the wild things is like a reboot for the human condition, young and old.

Studies show the importance of nature, and how it affects the overall well-being of a child. Mental health issues like the “nature deficit syndrome” are rising at alarming rates. Too much time plugged in can radically affect your mood. There are now schools that provide children with simple outdoor play, which used to be a childhood norm. One of my favorite books, “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv, gives a startling look at the issues children face with too much screen time. Mr. Louv also gives simple, realistic ideas to provide children unrushed time in nature. In an ever-anxious, fast-paced society, finding time in the garden becomes more important than ever.

Another great book is “Sunflower Houses” by Sharon Lovejoy. In fact, all of Ms. Lovejoy’s books are wonderful resources to help children fall in love with gardening. Her books are full of old-fashioned projects to do with children. There were many years I grew Poppies just so my girls could make Poppyhead Dolls. I honestly can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a garden, but I also can’t remember ever having that one moment of pintrist-perfection within the garden either. Gardens are messy and so are children. Our goals need to shift from a momentary gardening photo shoot to a lifetime of digging. Instill a life-long love of being among the wild things.

Happy Gardening, my friends. Enjoy your precious, unplugged moments with your children. Dig a garden plot just for them. Set free the imagination to explore the incredible wonders of nature.
Love, Keenan at Heirloombulbgirl