We can do many things to encourage children to enjoy nature. Growing a garden is one of them. Making it fun is another. Choosing a suitable garden space could be your secret weapon in getting the kids out in nature.

Upcycling is the new buzzword. It’s transforming by-products, waste materials, and useless or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. For example, this broken toaster was rubbish and turned into a funky little plant holder. Find out more about the 10 R’s of sustainable living here.

Container gardening can be fun to bring colour and visual depth into your garden. Container gardens are an excellent solution for small urban spaces such as balconies and small backyards. In addition, it is a great way to upcycle all the ‘stuff’ you don’t need or want anymore.

When planting in containers

• Use a soil mixture suitable for pots. Garden soil compacts very fast in containers, so make a mix of well-matured compost, sand and soil. Coconut shell fibres can be placed in the container to maintain moisture. Sand is essential for preserving drainage, but if your soil is already sandy, skip the sand.

Inevitably, the nutrients in this soil will be consumed by the plants over time. So every few months, use a little bit of natural fertiliser or worm juice to boost the soil’s microbiome.

Remember that the containers may need extra water during summer plants as the pots dry quickly.

If you don’t have many pots, you can buy them cheap at the tip shop or charity shops. I find that using a good diversity of pots, whether small, big, colourful, simple, or odd shapes is lots of fun for kids. Look for any objects that can become fun container gardens. Read more about how you can garden everything.

Need more help with your gardening skills?  Get your organic garden questions answered in our Permaculture Garden Series. More than 300 combined pages, jammed packed with information, tips & tricks and DIY recipes. 

The complete Permaculture Garden Series – eBooks