Why My Kids Love Fresh Picked Green Beans

My great uncle had a farm in Kenosha, Wisconsin and my family would help him on weekends. He sold the farm when I was very little but I will never forget the many sensations of picking green beans and eating them fresh and warm (and a little dirty) right in the field.

That memory never left me and it’s why, even though I grew up a city girl and my parents didn't grow food, I always wanted to. So when we bought our house the first thing I planted the next year was green beans. 

I didn't realize how well I had described my personal experience of eating fresh picked green beans until my children picked ours. All three of them snapped the bean in half, smelled it, and took a bite...they all smiled, made little yummy noises, and declared how wonderful it was.

It was like I was watching myself out in that field years ago when I saw my children do exactly the same thing. But I realized what I had done. My memory was so strong and I was so passionate about it I must have described what I did and how I felt several times that summer while I tended to the green beans. My kids almost had no choice but to act the same way (a little scarey how well I had brain-washed them).

3 Berry Juice, our strawberries & raspberries, neighbors mulberries

Now we have cherry tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, and yellow squash (little gourds too, but not for eating). My kids get excited about anything I bring in from the garden. But I'm even more excited because I know I'm sharing something special with them, my love of gardening and growing my own food.

I greatly increased the chances that they will grow their own food and flowers by sharing with them, especially when they were only toddlers and preschoolers. They understand that food grows from the soil; that water, sun and insects are a part of growing food; and they can do it.

Anything you want your kids to value or do, introduce it at an early age and let them see you doing it. Young children learn most from modeling. They copy their parents. My kids bird watch, drink water, and poke around the yard because that's what I do (I won't mention my bad habits they've copied).

I was lucky to have that farm, if only for a brief time. That was all it took. But you don't need a farm to instill the love of gardening. You just need a window, a pot, a seed and a model!