These days it’s pretty difficult to get the kids off the couch with the Internet and all the video games to contend with, let alone getting the entire family together for a group project. Nevertheless, if you’re inclined to give it a try and get your family to connect on something around the home that will do everyone some good, why not start a family garden?

There are several benefits to having a garden and when you add the whole family, it becomes extra special. You can teach your children a little bit about nature, the current condition of the planet, the rewarding feeling of growing your own food, and save money at the same time!

Growing your own food in the yard with the family can also be a great way to bond and spend some quality time on a regular basis. You can all share in the reward of the delicious first dinner that was prepared with fresh fruits and vegetables that came from the family garden you all grew together.

Here are a few tips to help you get started on your first family garden:

• Prepare and plan
  The biggest reason that people don’t have a garden is that they don’t understand what’s involved or know where to start. Get everyone in the family involved, read up a bit on gardening and plan out the start date on a weekend when the whole family is available for a few hours.
• Decide what you will eat
  Choosing what it is you want to grow can depend on the time of the year you are starting the garden and what the climate is like in your area. Either way, you should still have plenty to choose from.
• Go organic
  If you want the true experience and also want stick to the whole green living family idea theme, then be sure to use organic gardening products, fertilizers, and insect repellents. You don’t have to use chemical pesticides. Adding friendly insects like ladybugs will take care of the pests. Also, this allows you to have fresh food that can be eaten straight out of the ground, if so desired.
• The garden tour
  Be sure to take your kids through a quick daily tour of the family garden so  that they can watch nature at work as well as feel the rewarding sense of accomplishment as their food pushes through the soil.