EPICURE Winter Issue 2020/21
The Festive edition is here, filled with lovely features to warm you from the inside out - even if it is cold out there. From festive treats to gifts, plus a home transformation feature, there's lots to keep you entertained over the festive period.
The Festive edition is here, filled with lovely features to warm you from the inside out - even if it is cold out there. From festive treats to gifts, plus a home transformation feature, there's lots to keep you entertained over the festive period.
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<strong>EPICURE</strong> home<br />
GARDENING<br />
FOR KIDS<br />
Here our resident gardener and<br />
radio personality, Matt Biggs aka<br />
The People’s Gardener, explains the<br />
benefits of getting children involved<br />
in the garden and how it provides<br />
them with skills to help their<br />
development...<br />
You and your children will enjoy every stage of the<br />
process. We hear a lot about children not knowing where<br />
their food comes from and, of course, if we don’t give<br />
them the info then, with all of the distractions of modern<br />
living, it is not surprising if they think a chip comes from the<br />
freezer aisle and kohlrabi is a character in the latest Star Wars<br />
film!<br />
Gardening for kids is just such a great thing - exercise,<br />
knowledge, fun and hopefully an interest that will last them<br />
a lifetime, what more do we need? Many garden centres offer<br />
kids activity days, whether that is pumpkin carving, seed<br />
sowing or making animals out of fruit and veg. Many garden<br />
centres have clubs for children, and this is a good option if you<br />
have one near to you.<br />
There are lots of skills involved in all of these activities, from<br />
maths - how many plants do we need for the space, to practical<br />
skills in making things, to research and planning skills. If you<br />
have a local country show or fayre there will probably be a few<br />
children’s classes in that too - making a miniature garden or a<br />
dinosaur from fruit and veg. Whatever it is take advantage of<br />
it - country shows are a great day out!<br />
So, having got the kids organised it is time to do our own<br />
planning for summer, whether you have a window box, a<br />
court-yard or acres of space there is summer colour for every<br />
option. If you are fortunate enough to have a greenhouse<br />
then you can start early and bring on your own plants, you<br />
can share with neighbours or garden clubs which is a very<br />
economical way of gardening or you can visit your local<br />
nursery or garden centre to see what choices are available -<br />
and there is a lot of choice.<br />
Every year Chelsea highlights a new favourite plant or colour<br />
scheme, gardening magazines and books have so many ideas<br />
- one of the most pleasurable jobs in the year is planning your<br />
garden - and then - best bit of all, enjoying the fruits of your<br />
labour!<br />
www.mattbiggs.com<br />
<strong>EPICURE</strong> | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2020</strong>/<strong>21</strong> 43
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