These days, it’s hard to get the kids off the couch with the Internet and video games to contend with, let alone get the whole family together for a group project. However, if you are so inclined to give it a shot 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 get together on a regular basis. You can all share in the reward of the delicious first dinner that was made with fresh fruits and vegetables that came from the garden you all grew together.  Make sure to take pictures to make the memory that much greater.

Here are a few tips to 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.  If you would like to start small, consider an egg carton with seeds and soil.  This is a great one for kids to do.

• Outdoor Planters We wanted to make a green decision and I knew I had a few 5 Gallon Buckets laying in storage.  A hammer and a nail were very easy to make draining holes in bottom of the bucket.  We painted the outside and top 1/3 of the bucket.  Fill bucket 3/4 full of soil and planted zucchini plants.  Decorating the outside of the buckets is your choice.  Make it a solid color to blend the colors or have a your kids color.

• Decide what you will eat
  Choosing what it is you want to grow can depend on the time of year you are starting the garden and what the climate is like in your area. However, you still should have plenty to choose from. Go to a local greenhouse and ask any questions you might have in regards to soil, time of year, or best items to plant.

• The garden tour
  Be sure to take your kids through a quick daily tour of the family garden so they can watch nature at work as well as feel the rewarding sense of accomplishment as their food pushes through the soil. Make sure to recruit the kids to water the plants and to assist in tending the garden, regardless how small.  It will be a great reward for everyone.

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