Grow A Little Green Thumb

DENVER -- With all the bulbs on sale at the hardware store and nurseries, people are already planning for spring. But why do this alone?

As any parent knows, most kids like to get dirty. So why not put that to good use and grow a little gardener in the process?

That's the idea behind KidsGardening.com. The Web site shows parents and teachers how to nurture a future green thumb and teach valuable lessons about life and the world..

The site lists a number of hands-on gardening activities that are age-appropriate. For example, digging and seeding may be fun for ages 5 to 7, but preschoolers can soon lose interest, so the Web site suggests letting them explore. Let them dabble in a little of everything, like weeding or watering, until they get bored.

Whether you want to start on a project that will take months -- such as designing and growing a theme garden -- or want a simple idea that can be done in an hour, the place to look is here.

The site also gives lesson plans and articles for teachers who want to incorporate gardening into class. If you are a teacher who has your own gardening project for your class but still needs supplies, apply for a grant.

The site is giving away tools and materials for teachers with a plan.

There are a lot of ideas here and even someone who doesn't know much about gardening could pick up a few tips and inspiration from this site.