Starting a family garden has loads of benefits. There’s the unbeatable freshness and health perks of eating veggies right from your yard. But more than that, it’s a fun family project, from the initial planning stages to enjoying the fruits (and veggies!) of your labor. We started our own garden a few years ago and nothing makes me happier than seeing the kids picking veggies and eating them right from our garden!
I love having my kids help me in the garden. It's a practical way for kids to learn about responsibility, nature, and science. Observing a plant's lifecycle — especially when it transforms from a tiny seed into something edible — is pretty cool and teaches kids a deeper respect for the environment. Plus, it’s a clever strategy to encourage outdoor time, moving them away from screens and into the sunshine. Read more about the benefits of gardening with kids.
 Kara Murphy | Macaroni KID |
Making markers for our garden.
Many of the veggies mentioned here can thrive in containers or in the ground, making gardening more accessible, even if you’re not up for digging a big plot in your yard.
Introducing a themed garden idea is a great way to kickstart your family's gardening journey, and get a child excited about gardening. Here are three kid-friendly themed garden ideas:
 Katerina Homes | Canva |
Homemade pizza sauce and toppings are so yummy.
1. Pizza Garden
Turn mealtime into an exciting farm-to-table experience with a garden that grows all you need for the perfect family pizza night.
- Tomatoes: Easy to grow and fun to pick, tomatoes are a pizza staple for sauces and toppings.
- Bell Peppers: Add a splash of color and sweet flavor.
- Onions: Hardy plants that offer a lesson in underground growth.
- Garlic: Simple to cultivate and great for teaching about bulb plants.
- Herbs (Basil, Oregano, Thyme): Fast-growing and aromatic, these herbs introduce kids to a variety of flavors.
2. Salsa Garden
Create a zesty garden where kids can harvest ingredients for homemade salsa, learning about the different tastes and uses of each vegetable.
- Tomatoes: The base of any good salsa, tomatoes are versatile and provide a big harvest. Get a few varieties in different sizes!
- Peppers (think jalapeños, bell, habaneros): Offers a lesson in the variety of spice and heat, plus they grow in fun shapes and colors.
- Onions: Show the diversity of uses in cooking, from fresh to grilled.
- Cilantro: A fast grower, cilantro teaches about leafy herbs and their flavors.
 Kara Murphy | Macaroni KID |
Some of the veggies from our garden last year.
3. Salad Garden
Encourage healthy eating habits with a garden where kids can pick ingredients for their own salads, seeing — and tasting — firsthand how delicious growing your own vegetables can be.
- Lettuce & Spinach: Quick to sprout and harvest, these leafy greens are the backbone of almost all salads.
- Cucumbers: Fascinating for kids to watch grow, especially when they can pick and eat them fresh.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet and bite-sized, perfect for little hands to pick.
- Radishes: Offer a quick reward, as they're one of the fastest-growing vegetables.
- Carrots: Fun to pull from the ground, providing a surprise reveal of their size and shape.
This growing season create lasting memories and learning experiences for your children with a garden. Whether it’s a few pots on a patio or a larger plot in the yard, what matters most is the journey of growing, harvesting, cooking, and eating together. Happy growing!
SEARCH OUR CALENDAR HERE SUBMIT AN EVENT HERE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER SHARE ON FACEBOOK
Are you interested in member-only giveaways, events, and discounts? Did you know that we host FREE events just for subscribers, have a MacKid Birthday Club sponsored by amazing local businesses, provide treats and goodies to PTA's and non-profit causes our subscribers are involved in, and more? Make sure that you are a free member to get inbox exclusive information!
Denton+ Macaroni KID® is a FREE hyperlocal publication for kids, parents, and caregivers. We have giveaways, kid-friendly crafts, reviews, tips and tricks, member-only discounts and much more. Thousands of members love us because we do the legwork for busy families by finding TONS of free and very low-cost events and activities for the whole family - each and every week.
Proudly published by a local dad for families in Denton+, we are your #1 Resource for Local Family Fun! We proudly cover family-friendly businesses and activities around - Denton, Corinth, Ponder, Stony, Dalton, Drop, DISH, Justin, Propwash Airport, Lake Dallas, Jagoe and more.
