• Find a good place for the Minigarden planters. A firm and flat surface without any deformations is recommended. It should be a place with good lighting (around 5 hours/day) and access to water (make sure the water that is used to water the plants is clean and pure).

• Necessary material. All that is needed is a small gardening kit composed of a pistol planter, a transplanting trowel (small shovel), a small hoe (with peaked peen) and lastly, a watering can.

• Soil Fertilization. Fertilizers are used to help the growth and strength of a plant. The fertilizers used can either be chemical or organic. In the case of a minigarden garden made by children, the fertilizers should be organic, this way they aren&rsquo,t toxic and there is less impact on the environment. Products that come from this kind of production are better for our health and for the environment.

How is an organic fertilizer made?
An organic fertilizer is a natural fertilizer. The technique used to form an organic fertilizer is called composting. Composting consists of a method of biological decomposition of organic material by aerobic microorganisms. These microorganisms decompose the organic material into simpler composts, creating sterilized compost that can be used as a corrective component, amongst other uses. This process can be done domestically. A natural fertilizer can be obtained by composting, which is usually used to yield organic materials.

Composting can be done directly, in a composting pile or in a composting bin (a container specially constructed for composting).

How do you construct a composting box?
Four pallets of wood will be enough to construct the composting box. Three of them are united by their ends. Hinges are then placed on the last one to make a door. The box is perforated to allow air to enter. The ideal place to install the box is under a tree. The composting bin must be protected from the sun.

Compost formation
Vegetable residues produced in the yard, garden or kitchen should be placed in the beds, alternating vegetable residues with organic residues. The compost must be kept humid, watered whenever necessary, as humidity and heat are important to activate the composting process. The composting bin should be placed on the ground to allow microorganisms to enter and water to drain. In optimal conditions, composting can produce usable compost in one or two months.

Planting
Sowing is done by burying a seed with a fine bed of soil, equal to or twice its diameter. If the plant already has sprouted and has been transplanted to the minigarden planter, it must be buried at least 6 centimetres deep. The plant must be pressed firmly into the soil. Transplanting should be done in the afternoon, when there is less heat. After sowing or transplanting, the plant must be watered.

Maintenance
For plants to grow healthy and strong, much attention must be paid to watering. The plant cannot be given too much water or be left to dry. Watering must be done during the morning or when the sun goes down. Lastly, one must only be patient and wait for the little plants to grow.

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