Cress, carrots and runner beans.

We’re now the proud owners of our very own homegrown vegetables after taking part in #SowandGrowUK, a campaign by innocent drinks and not-for-profit organisation GIY (Grow-It-Yourself) designed to get kids to grow their own veg in order to help them better understand where their food comes from.

Growing our own vegetables at home isn’t something I would previously have considered because we live in a flat, but I’m so glad we’ve done it because we’ve had a scream.

We’ve got our hands dirty planting seeds, we’ve watched our seeds sprout and grow and – much to my surprise – BB and Little B have even eaten the fruits of our labour (‘green’ isn’t something they would usually entertain!)

Here’s what we’ve learnt.

5 great reasons to grow your own food

1. Anyone can do it. You don’t need green fingers and you don’t even need a garden or any outside space – a sunny window sill will do. Despite living in a fourth floor flat we’ve managed to grow cress, carrots and runner beans all from our enclosed balcony.

2. It’s not as messy or hard as you think. I absolutely hate crafting or anything that involves making a mess so I usually steer clear of such activities. But as long as you put a wipeable mat down potting up and planting seeds is surprisingly hassle free!

3. It’s educational. The whole growing process has prompted BB to question where her food comes from – not just the cress, carrots and beans we’ve grown but other fruit and veg as well as meat and fish. According to a survey carried out by innocent getting outside and learning about nature and growing at home or in the classroom are the top ways for children to learn about eating healthily.

We’ve now planted our runner beans out on our allotment and within minutes they’d attracted a ladybird, so the kids are learning about wildlife too. I’m not sure who was more excited about the ladybird – me or the kids!

Planting out our @innocent #sowandgrowUK runner beans on the allotment & look who has come to say hello! #ladybird #wildlife #family #fun #childhoodunplugged #outdoors #gardening #allotment #simplethings #simplepleasuresoflife @giyireland

A post shared by Natalie Brown (@confessionsofacrummymummy) on Apr 14, 2017 at 7:58am PDT

4. It’ll create memories that last a lifetime. According to innocent’s poll 89% of over 50s surveyed remember their parents or grandparents growing fruit or veg when they were younger. Apart from the fact I was in the early stages of labour with Littlest B when we first planted our seeds (and I’m not likely to forget that in a hurry!) I’m sure BB and Little B will remember the growing process. Little B pushing runner bean seeds into the soil with his fat chubby baby fingers, BB jumping with excitement when her cress grew the fastest – I’ll certainly look back on the time with a smile.

5. It’s fun! We’ve had a ball taking part in the campaign, and you can too. Following the repackage of innocent kids’ drinks you can win seed packs by following the instructions on pack, and now is the perfect time of year to get growing – and eating!

Have you ever grown cress, carrots or runner beans? Did you find it as much fun as we have?

We’re working with innocent as Sow & Grow ambassadors for the duration of the #sowandgrowUK project. As always all opinions are my own.

Is your school signed up? If so then upload your photos at https://innocentsowandgrow.com/ to be in with the chance to win monthly prizes from innocent and see your classroom crowned as Sow & Grow champions! Following the repackage of innocent kids’ drinks, consumers can also win seed packs by following the instructions on pack. Available nationwide now in most major supermarkets. Good luck!

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