Artie here with a simplistic, 1950s approach to building a better society. While I dont completely buy into the argument that propping children in front of the playstation is responsible for all of society's ills, I do think that *some* of the little misfits might benefit from time spent nurturing life in an organic, natural setting.

This ties in with some of the ideas raised in the 'urban sprawl' thread, but I dont see it as being limited to those of us with 1/4 acre+ blocks. If you have ever seen the stories on the productive garden at the base of one of Melbourne's hideous public housing 'projects', you will know that anything is possible if people want it badly enough. Jeremy from GA also did a story on the residents of a tiny 'alley' in Sydney who enlisted the aid of the council to ban vehicles from their street so that they could line it with pots containing some amazing plants - people power at its best. Even a small herb garden or a Bonsai starter kit might make that crucial difference in attitude between adolescents who give a damn and those who throw their Maccas container into the creek ...

No, I dont have any children of my own, and I dont have all the answers when it comes to raising anyone else's gangsta rappers. My guess is that it is too late by the age of 12, but that still leaves us with a large group of todays kids who might just make tomorrow's world a little greener for everyone.

(fade to riotous applause and the people's ovation...)

Thanks - I'm here all week.

Artie, Iron Gardener Australian

Here I am eating a new season Jonathon apple, just thought I would have a look at Gardenweb, and now I have to type a response, fingers sticky, oh dear !

What a great topic to bring up. I agree with you 100%, I see gardening as a nuturing activity and I think if you are a nuturer, you wont want to destroy. I think all schools should have an organic garden going for the primary children. Each child could grow seeds, and nuture something or other, everyone should know how to grow food, at least.

With my daughter, now 19, I spent most days pottering around the garden, from when she was a bub. We looked at flowers, clouds, made things out of leaves, twigs, grew things, ate them. You name it we did it together. Much to my utter disappointment she told me the other month, she hates going outside, its all too boring ! So I guess, as a parent, you can instill a love for the garden, but dont mean they will take it up.

Whats going to happen when all the fossil fuel runs out, we will have to grow our own food, cause there wont be any in the shops !

Popi

I think we should be spending more time with our kids as a family not just driving them to sports training or similar. I know the kids need the exercise but shoving them into competitive sports isn't the answer. I think we should have more friendly, non-competitive games not competitive sports which is only pushing the kids all the time. They need to be able to relax, have fun and be kids.

We need to spend more family time together kicking the ball in the backyard (or park), gardening together, going on bushwalks, even playing hide 'n' seek. Remember, families that play together, stay together. Kids are less likely to get involved with the bad elements if they have a close relationship with their family.

There has been articles in a couple of papers over the last few months about reclaiming the streets. One neighbourhood has gained permission to use a cul-de-sac every Friday afternoon to have a neighbourhood street cricket match, etc. Parents take seats and refreshments and sit on the footpath chatting while the kids play and ride bikes on the road. A good idea though not always practical but can work in certain areas.

I can go on about this for ages as I think it is very important. Starting the kids young is one answer. We need to get more schools involved. We're having trouble at school as even though the teachers agree in theory they don't want to be involved in practice. It is not hard to incorporate outdoor actvities with education. Then we need the parents to back up the teachers. Sometimes I feel like giving up and I'm running out of ideas so am looking forward to following this thread, it might help motivate me to motivate teachers and parents.

Gardening is fantastic exercise, as well, we have lots of obese children in this country.

Love the cricket idea Goldhills, that fantastic !

It all starts with the parents, though. So many out working to pay for the Mcmansion and 4 wheel drives, then no time for pottering in the garden, but what garden...with the house taking up so much of the block !

I think I made the point that almost any dwelling, even an apartment, can have something resembling a herb garden (at least), and even the largest dwelings have courtyards. Failing that, we should be petitioning local councils to fence off sections in each park for produce gardens - your family goes onto a waiting list for a small plot, each plot being 'recycled' at the end of the season, and volunteer gardeners help newbies get started. Even the simple act of everyone mingling in the garden would be positive,and the produce could be sold to buy more seed for the following season.

Yeah, I know its all a bit Utopian, but there has to be an alternative to the way our society seems to be heading - something to do with hell and a handbasket ....

I also accept that we dont always perservere with the things which fascinated us as children, but its a start. Lets see more kids standing in the garden with beaming smiles, and a few less loitering around Maccas :)

The local high school installed a greenhouse, and it promptly got vandalised. The youth centre beside the shopping mall is surrounded by weed infested tanbark. It's crying out for a garden but no-one seems interested. I think you're right Artie, by the time they're finishing primary school it's too late. (By the way, can I assume you're an Iron Chef fan?)

I've found that the kids that are most receptive are the younger grades but the older ones are slowly starting to come around and even at the high school they are talking about an adopt-a-garden scheme. At least it's a start.

But its a one day wonder as the plants were never looked after at home, so what chance does a poor plant have when you get this " But Nana I want to play on the PS 2 or I am off to watch a DVD" but the best is "Hey Mum take that pot plant home with you as it will only die here you know I cant be bothered with things like that"
Very sad but I have tried ...Cheers...MM.