Gardening Lab for Kids has 52 fun experiments to learn, grow, harvest, make, play, and enjoy your garden.
How to make rain barrels is one of the projects in the book.
Creative Gardening Projects for Kids
The book has instructions for 52 projects plus ideas for ‘digging deeper’.
If you have kids, grandkids, homeschoolers, unschoolers, campers, or students and want creative outdoor projects, this book is packed with great ideas. I don’t have little kids at home now but I still found a bunch of projects I want to make as well.
Consider it a great resource for nature nuts (or kids who just need a little nudge) who just want to get outdoors and do fun stuff.
If you want to see an excerpt from the book, have a look at this DIY rain barrel project. Good for those who like building and art.
The list below shows some of the projects you will find in the book plus links to related projects here on Empress of Dirt.
The images below, by Dave Brown, are from the book. The commentary is my own.
1. Make A Bird Feeder
What a great way to start a relationship with the garden: make a bird feeder and see who comes to visit! Some kids who have never had the opportunity to really play in the mud and watch insects can be really squeamish about getting outside and exploring. A bird feeder can bridge that gap as they see the direct cause and effect: Hey, I put out that bird seed and look who came to visit us!
Other bird-related tutorials
Make a bird feeder from water bottles
Make a hummingbird feeder with mason jars
2. Seeds In A Bag
How beautiful is this? This project is a great way to see not only the new growth that would be above the soil, but what goes on underground. Very cool.
My best tips for starting seeds indoors are here:
3. Rock Bugs
A fun idea for the crafty kids: research various bugs, paint your own, and then display them or play with them in the garden.
I have two rock and stone painting tutorials:
4. Pollinator Palace
I love how bug hotels / pollinator palaces have become so popular lately, combining funky garden art with the intention of attracting a variety of wee wild things.
More on wildlife houses:
How to Choose a House for Birds, Bats, Owls, and More
5. Rain Barrel
Food grade containers can be transformed into functioning rain barrels with some plumbing supplies.
The tutorial is here:
More projects/ labs in the book:
- Make a rain gauge
- Grow mini pizza and salsa gardens
- Make your own seed tape
- Grow a butterfly garden
- Make a clay pot fountain
- Create a compost bin
- Make a toad abode
- Make a plant press
- Grow a sweet pea teepee
and more!
I would have loved a book like this when I was a kid and I found plenty of projects I want to make now.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
