Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children Paperback – May 1, 1999

This book has activities, information, recipes, poetry. It is gardening in instructional narrative, like being out learning with a cherished elder. With the sweetest lifelike drawings, to inspire ones own attempts to draw what they see. There is plenty of info, some history, but mostly a real plan to watch and involve oneself in nature, not just the garden but observe all the life it attracts. The title is perfect, simply and lovingly gardening with children.

Sharon Lovejoy probably wasn't the very first gardener to think of creating fairy gardens, pizza gardens, sunflower houses and flower mazes; but I'll give her credit for introducing them to the gardening public like no one else had before or since.ROOTS, SHOOTS, BUCKETS AND BOOTS is a delightful introduction to gardening for children and the people who cherish them. The book is grounded on the idea that gardening should be shared with kids at a young age, the better to nurture a lifetime of healthy pleasure and respect for nature: therefore, learning how to grow things should be a fun experience, without a lot of restrictions, rules and long waiting to see results. Every project is scaled for children -- with a little help from parents - to be quick, do-able and fun.Parents will appreciate that the theme gardens in RSB&B will not send them running to the local garden center to charge up a small fortune in tools and materials. In keeping with organic horticultural practices, the author explains simple, homemade composting techniques and recipes to build soil and feed plants. Whenever possible, readers are encouraged to use found objects around the house and garage for cultivating and planting: she gives "permission" to dig and work the soil with spoons and forks, pot up potatoes in colanders and herb gardens in old gardening boots, and find new purpose for rusty old wagons as movable feasts of annual flowers.Kids can't help but learn quite a bit from their experiences in sowing and growing. The author opens up a world of wonderment that tantalizes kids to learn from the changes and growth taking place. She subtly encourages kids to watch for all the insect and animal life their gardens will attract. RSB&B is densely packed with fun factoids like, "Run your fingers over the pumpkin vines. Farmers use them to protect the plots of other crops" and "If you like the taste of licorice, you won't be able to pass your fennel without nibbling. Fennel is called the weight-watcher's herb because it satisfies an appetite."Designed with humor and illustrated with charm, RSB&B will prompt people of all ages to rediscover why they love playing outside in the sun, fresh air and dirt.

I'm in the early stages of planning a garden for my 4-yr old daughter (and 2-yr old son, if he eventually develops an interest!). This book caught my eye immediately so I bought it, and was not disappointed! It's a book that grabs you as soon as you see the cover. I just wanted to sit down immediately and read the whole thing! Beautifully illustrated by the author's own watercolors, it contains a wealth of ideas and information. It's obvious that the author is very enthusiastic about gardening and wants to ensure that you, and your children, have a successful and enjoyable experience.I disagree with the reviewer who said you need a huge plot of land to use this book. While the designs (if you follow them exactly) require plots ranging from 10 foot square up to 18 foot square, the author herself states in the introduction that her garden designs "aren't set in concrete; they're grown in soil, so experiment, change, add to or subtract from them." She has an entire chapter on container gardens, and most, if not all, of the plants in her top 20 can be grown successfully in containers. Use your imagination!I also saw a comment that the plants in her top 20 can be hard to find. She offers a substantial listing of sources, but I'll save you the trouble! If you can't find the plants at your local nursery, look no further than Bluestone Perennials and Burpee seeds, both of which you can shop on-line. I was able to locate everything in her top 20 list between those two companies, except for the mimosa plant seeds which I found on eBay, of all places! Bluestone is a excellent family-run company whom I have had great luck with--the best mail order nursery around in my opinion. You need to plan ahead and order your spring plants from them during the winter, but your patience will be rewarded with large healthy plants that come guaranteed to grow.Happy Gardening!