My grandmother had a magnet on the fridge that said, “Every generation has to learn the stove is hot for itself.” Well, yes and no.

While some life lessons fall on the deaf ears of wide-eyed youth, the accumulated knowledge shared from an experienced gardener is often well received. Gardening tricks developed over years of experience by previous generations offer powerful lessons. Before the luxuries of a garden center down the road or omniscient search engines, parents and grandparents gardened for survival. Those that have been digging where we stand, offer invaluable cultural and environmental insights. In fact many of today’s “new ideas” for garden spaces echo gardens from years gone by. 

The term “intergenerational gardening” is any act of an older adult passing along plant information, gardening skills and cultural traditions to younger generations. This often occurs in and among families. As the daughter of talented gardeners, my roots firmly planted in rich soil, it is no accident that I pursued a career in the horticultural world.

In the community setting, teachers and volunteers, such as Master Gardeners, present gardening education in an effort to share their unique knowledge. Likewise, the Routt County Master Gardener program has adapted its program to reach future generations who are now full-time workers or parents. An online Colorado State University curriculum allows interested gardeners to become part of the Master Gardener program at their own pace and convenience. And with growing interest there has never been a better time to enroll.

Recently, the return to nature and the surge in cultivating gardens has been well documented. Gardens provided the necessary space for multiple generations to interact safely outdoors. While eclipsed by homemade bread baking, the movement to know where our food comes from and how to grow it ourselves has continued to grow in a post-lockdown world. Likewise, the desire to reconnect with the earth is widespread across the youth of today. In fact, when given the choice most school children prefer to be outdoors learning. Not only is being in nature and gardening desired by youth, it is good for their brains too.

The garden provides a tangible opportunity to apply routine classroom assignments in science and math thereby strengthening these system-based skills by adding real-world value to classroom education. One study published in “Frontiers of Psychology” found a significant difference in the graphic representations created by students across age levels depicting a garden before and after instruction in a “Learning Garden.”

Specifically, the drawings displayed a significant increase in systems thinking models as opposed to classroom instruction alone. The science and art gained by getting little hands dirty is unparalleled when compared with a standard curriculum. Tips for young children: Start with a container herb garden on a patio/ window sill or create a halloween planter with spooky plants.

Intergeneration gardeners are cultivating relationships and encouraging social skills like listening and talking. As experienced gardeners share the challenges of the past that gave them expertise, young gardeners grow an appreciation for problem solving and resiliency. Intergenerational gardening may have its roots in the landscape but it also inadvertently connects us which is great news for our modern lives. In both children and adults a “loneliness epidemic” has been identified as community organizations and interaction give way to social media connections.

The consequences of poor social connection include increased reports of loneliness and isolation along with physical ramifications including a 29% increase in heart disease, a 32% increase in stroke and a 50% increase in dementia for older adults, according to “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” published by the U.S. Surgeon General. The garden provides a unique space to share cultivated life experiences that enhance budding interests for young gardeners.

The sage wisdom of a gardener coupled with modern tools and a growing youthful interest creates a powerhouse for gardening capability. I encourage you to give the gift of gardening to your children and grandchildren. Share some of your seeds of insight with a new generation of gardeners. They might just emerge in time for next spring filled with wide eyed excitement. 

Steph Appel is a registered Colorado Landscape Architect in Steamboat Springs. Apple brings her expertise in design and horticulture in her dedication to encourage human and environmental health in the environment and throughout the community. She volunteers at the Yampa River Botanic Park, Yampatika, Heeling Friends and the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition.