DIY Network

The Dirt On Gardening with Kids This simple gardening project helps teach kids that pizza is more than just pepperoni and cheese. From "The Dirt On..." episode DTDO-104

	Ahmed Hassan. . .
	and friends. . .
	create a pizza garden.

Kids love planting, and letting them help you in the garden is a great way to spend quality time together. It's the perfect opportunity to teach them about science and nutrition without them feeling like they're in school.

Here's a fun kid-friendly garden project that will get your kids' green thumbs growing. It's called a pizza garden.

Materials:

plastic children's pool
6 wooden stakes
sturdy string
potting soil
veggie plants

If you have good soil you can plant directly in the ground and just draw a circle to define the space. The kiddie pool is a fun, colorful option though that kids seem to like. Either way, make sure to pick a spot that receives full sun. Here's how to create your pizza:

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• Parents, cut some drainage holes around the sides of the pool at the bottom (figure A). Place a small pile of gravel or some rocks on the ground and lay your pool on top of this. The gravel pile should be in the center of the pool, elevating it a little bit so the water will be directed out to the drainage holes (figure B).

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

• Fill the pool with potting soil.

• Set six stakes around the edge of the circle, equal distances apart.

• Tie string to the stakes connecting those that are directly across from each other. This should divide the "pizza" into 6 slices (figure C and D).

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  	Figure E
  	Figure F
  	Figure G

• Plant a veggie in each slice (figures E, F and G). Ask your children what they like on their pizza. Tomatoes, peppers and basil are popular options. It's a great way to get kids to each their veggies so venture out and try something they haven't had before in one of the slices. They may find a new veggie favorite.

• Water and fertilize your new "pizza."