How to Get Kids Involved in Gardening, Gleaning, and 4-H
Kids are naturally curious, messy, and into snacks - which makes them the perfect little gardeners and gleaners. Getting your child involved in local food projects isn’t just an adorable excuse to post on socials. It builds life skills, community roots, and a healthy relationship with nature (and veggies!).
Here’s how to get started:
Start Small in the Yard (or on the Balcony)
Give them their own garden bed or container. Let them choose what to plant. Cherry tomatoes and strawberries are huge hits. Beans, peas, carrots, and potatoes can all be grown on small balconies in pots as well. Don’t overthink this one. You don’t have to rush out and get a fancy setup. Reusing an empty milk jug can grow beautiful plants just fine. My kids loved growing leafy greens in milk jugs on our upstairs patio before we moved into a house with a garden.
Join 4-H or a Local Youth Gardening Club
4-H has programs in almost every Idaho county. Kids can raise plants, animals, or even do community service projects like organizing a glean. I cannot overstate the importance of getting kids involved in 4-H. Even if they never aspire to be farmers, knowing where your food comes from and getting familiar with those animals is critical to their healthy eating habits as adults.
Volunteer Together with BAGs
At BAGs, we believe in making community involvement truly a family affair. We welcome volunteers of all ages - especially the younger ones who are bursting with curiosity and energy. When kids join a gleaning event, they’re not just tagging along - they’re part of the team. Whether they’re harvesting plums, sorting apples into crates, or helping pass out bags of produce to families in need, they get to see and feel the importance of their contribution.
And bonus: It’s not just educational, it’s a whole lot of fun. There’s something about climbing a ladder to pick pears, getting dirt under your nails, and working alongside neighbors that turns volunteering into an adventure. For families looking to connect more with each other and their community, gleaning is an experience you won’t forget.
Tie it into School Projects or Homeschooling
Gardening and gleaning aren’t just good deeds, they’re also amazing hands-on learning opportunities. With a little creativity, you can turn volunteer time into school credit or a homeschool unit. Think about it:
Science: Learn about pollinators, plant life cycles, soil health, and weather patterns.
Math: Weigh the harvest, calculate how many meals it could make, or track food waste reductions over time.
Social Studies: Explore the history of gleaning, food justice, or how local food systems impact communities.
Art: Let kids design signs, paint garden markers, or create a collage from found nature objects.
Writing: Journal their gleaning experiences, write letters to local officials about food waste, or pen thank-you notes to farm friends and donors.
The lessons stick because they’re real and the pride your child will feel when they share a story about “saving the peaches” is better than any worksheet.
Celebrate the Wins
Every zucchini pulled, apple sorted, or bouquet clipped from a community garden is a reason to celebrate. And celebrating those small wins can spark something big in a child’s heart. Bake a loaf of zucchini bread with the day’s haul, and throw in some chocolate chips just for fun! Snap a photo of your kid proudly holding a bucket of grapes. Let them help drop off donations to a pantry and say, “You helped make this happen.”
When children see the impact of their hands and hearts, they build confidence, develop compassion, and feel a real sense of belonging in their community. These moments matter and they’ll remember them for years to come.
Bottom line? Get your kids dirty, curious, and involved. The world needs more young gleaners and garden lovers.
