April is an exciting month for the boys. It usually starts off with Aidan's birthday, the drama of our Holy Week traditions, and Easter Sunday. Shortly after, things begin to grow. I have to confess that I get pretty excited as well. Every spring I feel the urgent need to dig in the dirt and breath in fresh air.
All four of our boys love dirt, so when they're asked to help me get the garden ready for planting I get very enthusiastic responses. Generally they start off strong, raking up dead leaves and stalks from last year and carting them off in the red wagon to our brush pile. Then comes the digging, which they also are zealous about in the beginning. (We really need to invest in a tiller, but it is great exercise!) Before too long they're digging trenches and making hills.
I got about a quarter of the garden dug up (via shovel) when my brother and his daughter stopped by. He has the best timing! This is not the first time he has arrived mid-dig with no warning, and as usual, offered to help. Despite my (weak) protests, he took over digging while I raked the soil, and he ended up doing the rest. Otherwise, it probably would've taken me two days to finish.
Almost forgot to snap the "after" shot!
A couple days later my Dad (bless him) stopped by with his tiller and worked in some lime and organic fertilizer. "Wow, that worked up really nice!" Dad said. Yes, Dad, yes it did. Thanks to my brother and the trusty shovel! After the rain of this weekend, tomorrow we'll be able to plant some of the early plants. The boys are excited to start watching for baby veggies sprouting!
The seed box
This month for our science project, we grew beans. You can look at all sorts of charts and illustrations, but nothing compares to seeing the real thing! It especially helps the boys to see how fast a tiny little seed becomes a plant. I simply took an old pickle jar, lined the inside with damp paper towels, and slid a pole bean between them and the jar.
Day 2
Day 4
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 10
Day 11
I told Aidan (our child who has a phobia of any green food) that we were growing them in the house so we could pick fresh green beans straight from the table for him. He was not a fan of the idea.
Are you growing a garden?
