Mumsnet users discuss getting their children to understand where food comes from with innocent

[JustineBMumsnet]

This activity is closed

Getting your DC’s to learn about and understand where their food comes from, can be a great way to ensure they are engaged with what they are eating...particularly healthier foods such as veggies and fruit. innocent would love to hear about your own growing experiences, and/or any barriers you may face growing your own food at home.

Here is what innocent has to say: “With 9 out of 10 young people not getting their 5-a-day, we’re on a mission to get kids growing and eating their own veg. Growing at home doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need seeds, soil and a windowsill. In such a fast-moving, instant gratification world, growing their own food also teaches kids the value of patience, and gives them an understanding of where their food comes from. More time getting their hands dirty, less time glued to screens.”

Did you ever grow food with your parents when you were younger? Do you grow your own fruit and/or veg with your children so they can see where it comes from? If you do grow your own food, tell us what works and what doesn’t – and your tips and tricks for growing! Do you grow in the garden, or indoors? Or perhaps you would love to grow your own food but you feel you don’t have enough space?

Whatever your experiences and methods comment on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Did you ever grow food with your parents when you were younger?
We didn't have much of a garden for growing, but my Dad used to take us out to pick mushrooms, blackberries, mint for the roast lamb etc.
Do you grow your own fruit and/or veg with your children so they can see where it comes from?
We gave them a patch and let them grow their favourites, but living where we did, we couldn't eat them as all the local cats used the freshly turned earth as their bog :/
If you do grow your own food, tell us what works and what doesn’t – and your tips and tricks for growing! Do you grow in the garden, or indoors? Or perhaps you would love to grow your own food but you feel you don’t have enough space?
Now we have more space, so we keep chickens too!
The fruit / veg growing isn't that great as the deer get in and decimate anything we plant. Wish they'd eat the weeds! They even destroyed the tumbling tomatoes we grew in hanging baskets.

Yes used to garden with my dad. Potatoes, carrots, beetroots and radish.

We never grew fruit or vegetables as children but it is something we do now. Therefore my son has seen fruit and veg being grown.He loves being in the garden and enjoys picking the produce when it’s ripe. Raspberries are his favourite and when I see the canes moving I know where he is! We have had some successes but failures too. Potatoes were something he was looking forward to but they were a great disappointment. He has always loved the story ‘Oliver’s vegetables’ where a little boy realises,while staying at his grandparents, how much he enjoys vegetables and how to recognise them.

We had a huge garden with an area for our own veg. I can remember my dad being proud of his rhubarb always seemed to be lots. We also grew peas, lettuce, tomatoes and potatoes. Needless to say now have my own home we grow our own veg and salad

My mum had a large greenhouse , and grew tomatoes. But I mainly remember her growing rhubarb and making the family a delicious rhubarb crumble.

My parents never grew anything but weeds :) I made a point of learning and teaching my kids to grown fruit and veg - even got a few chickens for fertilizer and eggs. I have moved about a bit and have found some areas grown certain crops better e.g: broccoli grew like wild in Norfolk, most thing grew well in greater London bar cauliflower and I'm now in Kent where cabbages grow amazingly well.

We had a big garden and greenhouse and my Dad grew a wide range of fruit and veg. Think apples pears plums cherries raspberries gooseberries strawberries tomatoes. My mum tried to add kiwi fruit in but that wasnt sucessful and the vines climed into the ròof. Veggies were potatoes carrots beetroot leeks onions courgettes sweetcorn cauliflower broccoli and more including some slightly odd veg that was always going to be a challenge for kids - think asparagus peas and kohl rabhi!

Our garden isnt condusive but ive squeezed in an apple tree and a greenhouse i grow tomatoes and aubergines. Our eldest refuses to eat all of it so far.....

My grandad always used to grow tomatoes, peas and beans when we were younger.

I have grown carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, kale, beans and peas with my children, they found it very interesting going out and picking there own food for dinner. We do talk about all sources of food as think they need to know where all of their food comes from.

My grandad had a huge growing area, he used to take me around every weekend, teaching me about all the different produce & I’d pick what was ready or ripe

I’m not a natural gardener but we’ve tried our hand at cucumbers and tomatoes, which turned out ok

When I was at home my parents grew lots of fruit and veg it was lovely going into the garden and picking fresh veg for our meals, unfortunately we have not got the space but we are looking into having an allotment

I remember when my parents tried to grow corn-on-the-cob in their greenhouse ... we ended up with tiny (mostly white) tiny cobs, which weren't particularly edible! My mum and I also put an avocado on top of a jar of water and watched it (eventually) sprout, but that was as far as it got unfortunately ...

I can't remember growing veggies as a child, had my own garden which I grew flowers in but both my grandads had huge allotment size vegetable patches. I have grown veggies with my son and he has some seeds growing at the moment though they are mostly flowers, as I'm working now I don't have time to keep a veg patch going.

Yes as a kid we grew lettuce, onions, carrots etc. With my dad. Some of my fondest memories as a kid are being in the garden with him and learning about nature and agriculture. I am now following suit and we have a small patch of land that we grow a few vegetables in and turn to my dad or granddad (farmer) for any advice.

No, when I was younger we never grew any herbs or vegetables. I have grown tomatoes, lettuce, courgettes, strawberries and herbs with my children and they love to see them grow although sometimes they are a little impatient for the end result!!

My family had a nursery so I grew up growing things! I have very fond early memories of sitting in the sunshine with my Aunty shelling (and eating) peas! There were raspberrys and blackberrys growing wildly behind a big long greenhouse and squeezing down the path to pick them was an adventure! I've grown lots of herbs and salad leaf things in pots on windowsills and even had a bay window full of tomatos one year! I love it!

We used to always grow cress and then at the end you'd make yourself an egg and cress sandwich with jt

I never grew food with my parents. Sadly we lived on a lot of processed food due to being a family of five children and a single mum but i was always fascinated with growing my own. I first tried tomatoes when i was younger and although i only managed to grow one i celebrated so much that i had actually done it!

Ive always encouraged little lady to try and grow things. Weve successfully grown tomatoes and strawberries so far (although strawberries never last last long as its usually one for the basket and three for little ladys mouth!)

Sadly we dont have a garden so everything is grown in tubs so its difficult but very rewarding. I love little ladys face when she is so proud of what she has grown and this also helps encourage her (and me) to try baking and cooking new and exciting things. I find its an amazing bonding experience too

We grew up on a farm so always grew fruit and veg and it's something I've carried on and try to get our kids involved with

My family and I have never grown our own food.

I'm thinking of starting off growing fruit and veg so possibly starting with tomatoes and strawberries.

I'm sure they must taste better when grown at home.

I never grew my own as a children and neither do my little ones now.

My parents, however, now do have a vegetable garden at home so my offspring have learned about the trials and tribulations of growing your own. We have a had a few successful years of tasty homegrown veg, albeit a little wonky!

Well sort of we had a massive garden where we had Gooseberries, blackberries & Rhubarb growing wild. which we enjoyed picking and eating. x

Every year we had tomatoes and cucumber. Anytime we ever tried anything else like lettuce, corn etc... they failed miserably. Much the same as me now :-).

We have never grown any fruit or veg

We did yes, we had fruit trees, rhubarb, potatoes, grandad had lots of poles with runner beans galore, and indoors we grew cress always....how times have changed!

Grow your own strawberries. I used to do it with my grandparents and its a real hit with the kids. Especially when you grow them in random places like wheelbarrows. They love it!