A circular pizza garden is a fun outdoor activity for kids to learn how to garden. Children will love seeing where each ingredient of their pizza comes from. It's all hands on deck for this cool nature project so put on your gardening hats and don't be afraid to get some dirt under your fingernails.
Step 1: Draw the Circle
Put a stake in the ground or have your child stand in what will be the center of your garden, holding a two-meter string, to draw the diameter of your circle.
Step 2: Building the Garden
If you want a raised bed, to protect the plants from digging animals, start building the sides. Consider filling it with a lasagna using alternating layers of green and brown (dry and organic matter) to make a nutrient-rich bed for plants to grow in even while you are building up the soil.
If you plan to dig, give some shovels to the kids or let them get their hands in the soil to start loosening up the dirt about eight inches deep. You might want to mix some vermicompost and activated charcoal to enrich the soil.
To help your soil get richer faster, start composting food waste. Either make compost tea or, as some “lazy gardeners” like to do, throw your kitchen scraps directly onto your garden bed. Only throw raw plant-based food – never meat! -- into your garden.
Step 3: Plant!
The most important part of any organic gardening project is the soil. Once you've got good soil, you can go dense with your planting. Put a good variety of plants and vegetables. Look up which ones grow well together for best results.
As you are literally creating a new ecosystem, don't worry if the first few plants die or get infested with pests in the beginning. Even if weeds find their way in, simply pull them out and drop them back on top. These pioneer plants are usually, though not always, nitrogen-fixers and will help your garden get started.
Plants to Grow in Your Pizza Garden:
Herbs – You can also grow these in clay pots in your kitchen or balcony:
Thyme
Oregano
Basil
Rosemary
Greens:
Arugula
Spinach
Vegetables:
Peppers and Chilies– make natural pesticides from chilies to keep slugs and bugs out.
Tomatoes
Onions
Garlic
Companions – These will attract pollinators, keep away pests, and you can eat them too!
Sunflowers
Marigolds
Give your garden time to find harmony with nature and create a thriving food garden for your whole family. Be patient because this process may take a few seasons. Most important of all, have fun making your pizza garden with your kids. Let them water, mulch, compost, watch, touch, observe, and explore as the seeds grow into plants you can eat.
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Article by Jan
About the Author
Jan is a travelling yoga teacher and writer who advocates spiritual growth while leading a conscious, earth-centered lifestyle, as close to nature as possible. She currently lives on an island in the Philippines surrounded by tropical jungles and white sand beaches. She and her partner conduct sound meditations and journeys while advocating sustainable and organic gardening practices.