Kiddiwinks on the lottie

[Lizzie]

Hello,

Does anyone make a point of taking their children (or someone else's - maybe if you're a childminder, for example) along to the 'lot? I was wondering whether it's a good way to start a healthy interest in the environment etc...

Any thoughts?

Ta,
Lizzie

[Lizzie]

[Mrs Ava]

I do, altho sometimes they love it, sometimes they hate it!  Depends on the height of the stinging nettles on the unused areas!  I love getting them over there when things need picking.  My kids know where brussels sprouts come from, they love to dig spuds with their dad and they are in  charge of strawberry and raspberry picking.  Tends to be short visits, no longer than an hour really.  I am also quite strict that they stay to paths - I don't want anyone walking around on my plot, so I definately don't allow the sproggles to walk around on other peoples plots!

The high-light of my year (saddo that I am) is Christmas Eve when I wrap the kids up in woolies and wellies and we go down to the plot to get our Christmas dinner veggies!

[robkb]

Hi Lizzie,

Only got my lotty a few weeks ago and so far I haven't been there without my daughters! They love it, it's like being in the country for them - which in Sarf East London is quite an achievement. So far my eldest daughter has built a scarecrow out of old bits of wood and string, they both help in digging out couch grass roots, and they're very interested in all the wildlife on the site. They know not to mess around and seem to enjoy chatting to the other plot holders. I think it's really important for them to know where there food comes from and how it grows (ie. not pre-packaged from a supermarket), and luckily for me, so far they both seem to agree and are both raring to get planting next spring.

EJ - the Xmas eve thing sounds wonderful, can't wait to try that next year!

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[GREENWIZARD]

The high-light of my year (saddo that I am) is Christmas Eve when I wrap the kids up in woolies and wellies and we go down to the plot to get our Christmas dinner veggies!

that sounds wonderful~wish i had a lottie :'(

[Meg]

For some reason we have no children on ours. We have had an influx of young people so perhaps we will just have to wait!!

[agapanthus]

I always take my 6yr old granddaughter down with me when she visits. She has her own little plot where she grew strawberries flowers and onions last year..it was really pretty. Although this year she's just going to grow flowers and strawberries...lol

[wardy]

Loads of kids on ours and they're all very good.  No problems with any of em so far.  Two new sproggles just lask week, one only a baby yet but sits there in the pram watching the world go by.  Little brother was up the plot the other day in a pair of dad's overalls.  Miles too big but he didn't seem to notice  ;D   

We have a communal plot and there are 3 or 4 very young children regularly visiting and they behave extremely well but then they know they have to but they get given jobs and they get one with them.  When they aren't working they play at shop in the shed or take my bad dog for a walk (he gets very bored and restless)

[terrace max]

I was wondering whether it's a good way to start a healthy interest in the environment etc...

The best.  :)

[moonbells]

Well it worked on me. I used to pester my grandad mercilessly to take me to his allotment; he used to let me stand on the old five-bar gate while he swung it open, and after I'd changed sides,  swing it closed again. Then I could see all the amazing veg, most of which I wasn't interested in, but the marrows fascinated me (probably because they grow fast enough for an impatient little girl to see from week to week) and they are still my favourite today - I'd grow them in grow bags if I didn't have a garden! (Have done, too)

Oddly, grandad was one of those folk who grew for size rather than taste or tenderness, and he used to drive Mum nuts because she had to spend hours hacking away at runner beans and the like! But the seed was planted...  Dad has always just grown flowers with (since the greenhouse) tomatoes and some runners.  I was the one who inherited the vegetable bug!

moonbells

[chriszog]

My 5 year old loves to join me on the lottie, she spends her time filling a small barrow with soil which i then empty and she starts filling it again. I enjoy watching her sow seeds and the look on her face is fantastic when things start to grow. She has her own little area where we grow sun flowers and other flowers that we can take home for mum. Although next year she tells me she wants to grow Water Melons???
I think its very educational and we should encourage youngsters to learn about the environment and green isues.
Regards
Chriszog

[kentishchloe]

I always take my 14 month old - on tuesday i showed him how to plant tulip bulbs and he did a whole row for me! (had to follow him making sure they were the right way round but still ;D) I was always fascinated by growing stuff when i was little so hopefully he'll find it interesting too. I have great plans for getting him going with sunflowers, cherry toms and pumpkins next year.

Mind you, it was a two-bath day on tuesday, little boys really are mud magnets  ;D ;D ;D ::)

[robkb]

Mind you, it was a two-bath day on tuesday, little boys really are mud magnets  ;D ;D ;D ::)

Must be a bloke thing, my daughters always come home loads cleaner than me!

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[Heldi]

I take my 7 year old and my 2 year old. At first they couldn't do much because of all the rubbish and glass.  My daughter sat in her pushchair whilst my son poked around a bit in the long grass. 

Now we have a spot cleared it's much more fun. My son hates vegetables. He sowed some carrots last year but soon lost interest. He's mad about our hens which keep him amused for a while. My daughter is in to everything. She planted broad beans the other day.  She is always absolutely scruffy. Her favourite pastime is collecting worms and walking about with them half strangling the poor things. She doesn't mean to, she thinks she's being nice to them,she talks to them and says they are cute! The pram is scruffy,her new shoes are ruined...had to go to put chooks to bed after getting her brother from school and had forgotten her wellies.

All in all I think my kids benefit from going to the lotty. They even ask when they can go now.

[spacehopper]

I knew that was a great idea when we were woken at five in the morning by little toddler hands trying to put shoes on our feet and saying " 'lotment "  ;D