It seems that kids spend most of their time indoors playing video games or watching television these days. Want a way to get your kids off of the couch and save some money at the same time? Start a family garden.

The benefits of a garden are numerous. First of all, you get to save money on food. A garden is not just for flowers, although there are some that have edible leaves. In a garden you can grow fruits and vegetables which have been the staples of a healthy diet since humans first discovered them.

Number two, a garden is very eco-friendly. By growing your own food you save on trips to the grocery store which saves gas and decreases pollution. Also, fresh foods contain more of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs so you’ll be getting healthy.

Introduce your kids to nature in a way that shows how it directly benefits them. If you take the care to tend your garden, you will have delicious food to eat anytime. There’s nothing like feeling hungry and going outside to pluck a juicy red tomato off the vine.

Here are some tips for families who want to “go green” by producing their own food in a family garden.

1. Get everyone involved. Tilling the soil is a big job. The entire family can help prepare the ground for the garden.

1. Read up on gardening. The reason so many people don’t have vegetable gardens is because they don’t know what’s involved. When you start without a plan, you are soon to fail.

1. Decide what you will plant. Most gardens are begun at certain times of the year depending on what vegetables you choose and where you live.

1. Use organic fertilizers and insect repellants. Organic gardening products are eco-friendly and allow you to eat foods right off the vine or out of the ground if you choose. Early settlers didn’t have chemical pesticides. Adding friendly insects to your garden, like ladybugs, will take care of undesirable pests without any chemicals.

1. Weed the garden. Weeds can choke growing vegetables and ruin a garden. Regular weeding is a necessary part of bringing your vegetables to harvest. Take turns so no one feels like they are doing all the hard work themselves.

1. Freeze or give away extra vegetables. You will have enough for the months when nothing is growing. Sharing your vegetables with friends and neighbors might inspire them to begin their own garden.

1. Watch your garden grow. There’s nothing wrong with taking a daily tour of the garden with your kids. They can see the fruit of their labors as the vegetables enlarge and push through the soil. You have a front row seat to see nature at work.

Do you want a family activity that is environmentally sound and saves money? Start a family garden using the tips above. Also contact your local cooperative extension office for more on gardening.

No one likes to clean up – especially the kids. Instead of fighting with your family to get it done, or worse, doing all the work yourself, create a day when everyone pitches in and gets the job done fast. A family chore day gets everyone involved in taking care of the home. You all live there so it is everyone’s responsibility to keep it looking nice. Family chore day can be all day or just in the morning. It’s best to start in the morning when the entire family is peppy and fresh. That way, the afternoon is left for other more fun activities.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should leave the house an utter disaster area until that “one” day. If company is coming over or the sink is full of dishes you might have to take care of the issue. But, for the most part, family chore day should take care of the things that no one wants to do during the week. Some specific items that come to mind from my own house are: washing clothes, cleaning bedrooms, washing windows, vacuuming, etc.

You will have to have a few ground rules for family chore day. Everyone agrees to be available for that particular day and period of time. This is important, especially when you have teenagers who make plans on the weekends or dads who want to spend some time with the guys.

1. Decide on a day. You can rotate the day each week or keep it the same. Keeping it the same lets everyone plan around the activity easily.

1. Make a list of what chores need to be done. You can team up to tackle big jobs so it doesn’t take as much time.

1. Get your supplies ahead of time. When Saturday morning (or whatever day you choose) rolls around, you want to be able to hit the ground running. Have buckets, cleaners, equipment and paper towels or rags all in one area ready to grab and put to use.

1. Make it fun. On that day, the family gets to eat out for breakfast. Feeding everyone will keep them from pooping out too soon. Listen to some music while you work. Take turns choosing music so you satisfy everyone’s tastes.

1. Family chore day saves energy and thus, money. Washing clothes on one day means full loads which saves water and energy over washing a half load every other day.

1. Change chores assigned each week. No one wants to get stuck cleaning the bathrooms every week. Take turns doing the yucky jobs.

Are the dishes piling up or does the house look a wreck? Try a family chore day to share the job of keeping your home livable.