Community Gardens and Child Safety

Keeping The Whole Family Safe In A Community Garden

Millennials are the fastest expanding group in society growing their own food in gardens and shared community gardens across the States. 13 million 18-34 year olds are known to be keen vegetable gardeners, a number that is believed to keep growing. This is great news for people’s health, bank balances and for gardeners throughout LA. Individuals in this age bracket are also more likely to have young children and it’s particularly beneficial to teach children the benefits of nurturing and consuming their own produce and encourage them to pitch in with the garden fun. However, keeping the entire family safe when taking them to a family friendly community garden is especially important.

Set boundaries

Community gardens are large spaces with plenty of places for small children to hide. As soon as you arrive, show your kids around so that they can get used to their surroundings. Point out the areas in which you are happy for them to play in and set clear boundaries as to where they’re not to go. Use poignant flower beds or objects which will stick in your child’s mind to show them the section they are restricted to.

Tidy up

Power tools and garden implements left out can be a hazard to anyone. Ensure that all tools and pieces of equipment are safely stored away when not in use to prevent an inquisitive child picking one up or an elderly gardener tripping over. Keep packets of seeds and anything that could easily be consumed locked away and out of sight and store items at a height which are unreachable for children but not so high that another member of the family could injure themselves reaching for them.

Gardens are often home to fertilizers and other chemicals to encourage plant and crop growth. These products should be stored out of reach of children and any animals which may venture onto the community garden site, too.

Water safety

Ponds and pools of water are potential dangers for the entire family. However, children who love to swim, or splash around in the bath will be much more tempted by a pond than others. Therefore, ensure you teach your child the dangers of the water when you’re showing them the fun they can have in it, too. Just like with swimming pools, algae tends to build up in ponds and similar chemicals and products should be used to clear algae and similar nasties to maintain the chemical balance of the pool of water.

Many American families benefit from growing their own fruit and vegetables in community gardens. So as long as you take steps to keep everyone safe, the whole family can have fun and enjoy the fresh produce they’ve helped to grow.

Article by Jane Reed