Written by Naomi RaMona Schliesman, West Central Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator for Upstream
Photo by: Jon Solinger

I come from a long line of farmers and so does my daughter.

Some of my earliest and most meaningful memories are rooted in the land. My grandmother grew her own vegetables and fruit trees, and our childhood was shaped by living close to that abundance. I remember watching her can our food and share it generously with others in the community. My grandfather, Lawrence, farmed alongside his brothers as part of Lehman Farms. From them, I learned not only how to grow food, but how to pay attention to the seasons, to the weather, and to the rhythms of the land here in Minnesota.

Those lessons have stayed with me, and now I’m passing them on to my daughter.

I’ve been teaching her about growing food since she was a toddler. One of her favorite things to say to people was, “If you put things like leaves and manure in your soil, your food will grow big and healthy.” It’s simple, honest, and true and it speaks to the magic of healthy soil and natural cycles.

In our backyard, we’ve created spaces for vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Each one plays an important role. The flowers aren’t just beautiful, they welcome bees and butterflies, creating a habitat where pollinators can thrive. And when pollinators thrive, our gardens do too.

Our garden has become a place of sharing. We grow more than we need, and I make it a point to share with neighbors and elders in our community. When kids come over to play, they’re invited to snack right from the garden, picking strawberries, crunching on green beans, or grabbing a cucumber as they run through the yard. These small experiences help children understand that food doesn’t just come from a store, it comes from the land, from care, and from patience.

If you’re a parent wondering where to start, know that it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can begin small. Raised garden beds, buckets, planters, or even a small corner in your backyard can become a space for growing. Invite your kids into the process, ask them what vegetables they want to try, what fruits they love, and what flowers they’d like to plant. Talk about how certain flowers attract certain pollinators, and why that matters.

Gardening is also a powerful way to teach stewardship. When children take part in growing food, they begin to understand responsibility, care, and connection. They learn that the health of the land is directly tied to our own well-being.

In Fergus Falls, we’re lucky to have resources like the local library’s seed library, where families can take and exchange seeds. It’s a simple but meaningful way to build community while teaching kids about sustainability and sharing. We have a local Farmer’s Market year-round!

The values I learned from my grandparents of respect for the land, generosity, and awareness of the natural world are the same values I’m working to instill in my daughter. Gardening has become one of the ways we live those values every day.

When we teach our children how to grow food, we’re doing more than planting seeds in the soil. We’re planting understanding, responsibility, and a lifelong connection to the place we call home and loving where we live.

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