Giving Back to Mama Earth

Ahhhh…spring time, and the task of tending to the garden—a perfect way to celebrate what Mother Earth has to offer (with Earth Day approaching and all).

And while there aren’t many activities that give you and your kids the feeling of gratification more than working in a garden, if you live in Victoria (the Canadian promised land for horticulture), you know it can be intimidating getting started. Here are two places to visit that will inspire your family to learn and create new ideas for your garden.

Glendale Gardens and Woodland is 103 acres of gardens, woodland and green space, run by volunteers and created to promote gardening in the city. Kids under 16 are free and can spend hours on wooded paths, stepping stones, in fields, looking for birds, bees and butterflies. The Children’s Garden was created to stimulate young imaginations with Fairies and Fauna. You can spend hours in this hands-on garden connecting literature with environmental learning, understanding where food comes from and what it looks like outside the supermarket. We like searching for the Fairy Houses that are scattered throughout the garden.

Don’t miss the summer programming which includes a Junior Master Gardener Camp for 7 to 10 year-olds or the Spring Plant Sale with excellent deals, on April 30 to May 1. 

Another fun green spot to visit with your kids is The Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre, a non-profit that provides composting and organic gardening education to CRD residents. The site and learning platforms are designed for preschoolers to grade 12 students, with lots of information and hands-on activities for everyone in between. Workshops, camps and even birthday parties with ‘Worm Cakes’ are offered, all in an effort to educate kids on sustainability and learn how easy it is to compost. 

So with visits to these resources, you will be on your way to turning your own garden, however large or small, into a productive green space to enjoy all summer long. The best part is your kids will feel satisfied that they helped to create it. 

We like to give thanks for what Mama gave us. What better way than giving back (just like she taught us)?