Fall Gardening in Miami with Kids

You know that saying about signs coming in threes? Well, today all three signs were pointing me toward writing this post about fall gardening in Miami, with kids, of course.

First, I happened to hear a Diane Rehm Show with guest Darrin Nordahl about "Urban Gardening." During the show, one of the callers, an Indianapolis schoolteacher, told a story about her urban school, and the homeless people living adjacent, and her students' concern that the homeless wouldn't have enough food during summer break because during the school year they offer food to the homeless, so they planted a garden and posted a sign saying that the produce was free for the taking, and how excited her students were when they could tell that their produce was being picked and eaten, and, and....there was more, and it was seriously impressive and inspirational, and man I was seriously tearing up on The 826. And yes, I know that run-on sentence would probably totally upset above-mentioned schoolteacher, but her story really wowed me. Nordahl went on to respond that this teacher's project was great on so many levels, and he talked a little bit about how gardening with kids is vital, it helps them understand where their food comes from, seasonality, the value of gardening, etc. That would be Sign # 1, because I had already been toying with the idea of a post about fall gardening in Miami with kids.

Sign #2 would be the article that came over my facebook newsfeed this afternoon about San Francisco's mandatory food recycling law that made me think about composting with kids, and

Sign #3 would be the postcard from Fairchild Tropical Gardens about the Edible Garden Festival this weekend. Which, of course, features a session on Sunday at 1:30 called...."Square Foot Gardening with Kids." (btw, the session is led by Hunter Reno, who I think is Janet Reno's niece. I googled it. I can't help it; I *heart* celebrity of any kind.)

So, now to the nitty-gritty, as my dad would say. A handful (or bushelful, if you want to be clever) of resources for fall gardening in Miami with the kiddies:

Edible Garden Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

The previously mentioned Edible Garden Festival is this weekend at Fairchild, and the seminars are all really well-suited to someone interested in putting in a garden in Miami for the first time this fall. The lectures and demonstrations cover everything from container gardening, to putting in a raised bed, to pests, to heirloom tomatoes.

www.kidsgardening.com

Couldn't quite believe that there was an entire site and magazine devoted to kids gardening, but was glad to find this awesome resource. The Parents Primer walks you through gardening with kids at every age, and the site offers project ideas with kid appeal--so your kid will see all the greeny coolness in gardening activities.

Miami Herald's Garden Calendar

Who knew that The Herald had a Garden Calendar? It appears to list all activities even remotely garden-related (there are several birding tours in the current edition), but lists some unique South Florida gardening events in the "Meetings & Classes" section.

Composting In Miami With Kids 101

This momsmiami.com article covers just the basics of composting, with a local spin, and in simple enough terms that the whole family will understand, and get excited.

Miami-Dade Extension Office Website

Great, Miami-specific gardening website. Includes a Florida Gardening Calendar, a Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide, lists of publications and workshops, and about a zillion other resources for Miami gardeners. Fab resource, very up to date, and user friendly. Perhaps the best Miami-Dade government website I've seen yet--all by and for folks that seem to be obsessed with Ficus....

photo credit: sxc.hu/Picu