spring is springing

Depending on where you live the weather is getting warmer and spring is spring around you. a great way to teach your kids about nature (and food which we will talk about in June) is to start a garden! Who doesn't love to play in the dirt? Ok well some kids don't but my DD (dear daughter) is a tactile person and if she could play in dirt and water all day she would be one happy kid. weather you have a windowsill or a huge back yard you can plant something. you can sprout seeds and put them in the dirt and water them and watch them grow and if they are food eat them in the end. herbs are good for this because most of them seem to be pretty hardy.

table top herb garden
(great to do with a moms group or group of people so you can share the seeds)
you will need a a few herb seeds say 3 different kinds
an cardboard type egg carton
dirt
some rocks or gravel
a clear glass wide but not to tall vase such as this one from target
http://www.target.com/Glass-Hurricane-Vase-8-2/dp/B0026RMDOQ/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

to make
put rocks in bottom of the vase
put dirt on top of that
put some of the dirt in the egg cartons.
put a few seeds in each dirt filled egg carton. Cut those ones out and place them on top of the dirt in the vase. Water and make sure they are getting good light

as time goes buy your seeds will sprout. you can talk to the kids about thinning the seeds. Have your child or children pick which ones they think look strongest and take the selected ones and plant directly into the vase. you can continue to water and care for the plants per the instructions for that herb and you have a fun centerpiece that is educational and interactive to some extent.