Despite its title, this book isn’t about raising eco-conscious kids. Growing up green is actually intended to help parents and kids make meaningful connections with each other – in this case through gardening.
You won’t find any technical jargon, complicated techniques or lengthy explanations of gardening here. The goal of this book is to encourage you to get outside and have a successful experience with kids in the garden.
This focus and approach has a lot to do with the book’s author. Dr. Charles E. Majuri is a clinical psychologist who’s been using gardening as a way to connect with kids for more than 30 years.
I found Growing up green to be a quick-and-simple read that offers a ton of hands-on activities. There’s a garden space-planning map, oodles of interactive gardening activities, a month-by-month gardening guide, plus room to make observations about your gardening experiences.
Growing up green is sold in a variety of formats, including paperback ($14.99) and e-book ($9.99).
The Nitty Gritty on Growing up green
- Best for newbies who want to share time in the garden with kids; experts and seasoned gardeners may be frustrated by the book’s simplicity
- The author’s short, concise, simple approach is easy to digest (avoiding information overload is good for those new to gardening)
- The month-by-month gardening guide offers ideas for the entire year (I neglect my garden for half of the year, so this is really helpful!)
- The monthly garden activity ideas help extend the experience beyond simply planting and harvesting to nature crafts and cooking
- Includes a handy glossary of gardening terms so you can learn the difference between perennials and annuals
- There are a few black and white photos included, but I wish the book featured color photography! After all, color is one of biggest joys of a garden
The Giveaway
If you think Growing up green might improve your chances of success in the garden, you’re in luck! I’ve got a copy of the book to give away to one lucky reader!
To enter, leave a comment below telling me what you’d love to try growing in your own garden.
Please leave your email address, twitter name or blog site so I have a way to reach you!
- This giveaway will run through midnight PST on Friday, May 27, 2011.
- Sorry, but this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
- The winner will be chosen using the nifty random number generator at random.org.
- Winner will have 24 hours to reply to my notification; if I don’t hear back after that, I’ll pick another winner.
Note: I received a free copy of Growing up green for review, but you can be sure I’ve shared my honest opinion. I encourage you to read my full disclosure policy for more information.
Thanks for all of the great entries! Congratulations to "Brother See, Sisters Do" for winning! 🙂
I want to grow herbs and vegetables in my garden. I have a black thumb and things start out nice and green but go down hill from there! <br /><br />rachelereyna@gmail.com
I would love to grow sweet tater's, tomato & cucumbers…yum :)<br /><br />us3parkers@msn.com<br /><br />Happy Memorial Day!
I would love to start an asparagus bed. The garden is pretty set, so a nice bed of asparagus that comes back year after year would be awesome.
I was just at the farmers market Saturday looking at all the herbs. (asking the Merchant what could and couldn't be mixed) I would love to just plant/garden with my son. Would love to share and enjoy the art of gardening with him. In fact he just did a science project about 'What's inside a seed?', quite interesting.<br /><br />Shane<br />sfeagin@hotmail.com
I forgot to put my email… dgaeta628@verizon.net. <br /> Thanks, Debbie
Roses! I always try to grow them but something terrible always happens to them.
I don't have children yet, but I think my niece and I would love to grow some strawberries. Oh they are so delicious…
My kids and I would like to try our hand at sunflowers. Not only for us, but to help feed and nurture our new baby chicks as they grow!
Thank you for offering this giveaway. This book looks great! I think I'll pick up a copy even if I don't win.<br /><br />We are growing a bunch of different things in the garden now, but I really want to try our green thumbs at growing our own popcorn. The kids love popping what we got from the local farm last year and there are so many homeschooling ideas I can think of surrounding the
I would love to start a garden, but am not sure where to begin! I think this would be a great family activity and would love to walk outside to pick carrots, peppers and more!<br />Rachelhetland3@aol.com
I was introduced to arugula in Australia. I absolutely love the peppery flavor. Will give it a try in my garden.<br /><br />Thank you, Debi, for this opportunity!<br /><br />Jane<br />janesaunders@me.com
We've been working on gardening, but I can't tell the weeds from the plants. These past few days I've been tilling the earth for a wildflower garden. I shouldn't need to weed that right?<br /><br />sunny@wildbound.com
I have been trying to start gardening with my girls this spring, but nothing is surviving 🙁 I would love to grow anything at this point, but especially some wildflowers in our fairy garden. <br /><br />abbazabba16@gmail.com
I would love to try growing sweet potatoes in my garden. Also the above comment about growing a salsa garden sounds great. YUM!<br /><br />pamelabcain@yahoo.com <br />(sorry, i forgot e-mail on previous comment) 🙁
Excellent review, Debi. Thank you for sharing this book with your community!
I would love to grow a salsa garden or honestly, just about anything. We haven't been able to up until now and my kids would love it.<br /><br />djodb5 <at) yahoo