Children will love to tend this small, pizza-style garden, especially when they learn that the fruits of their labors will end up on their pizzas this summer.

Many pizza ingredients, such as tomatoes, sweet Peppers, onions, jalapeno's, basil, oregano, thyme, and parsley, require similar growing conditions. Each require good soil, regular watering, feeding and full sun, so you can plant them in the same patch of dirt in the backyard.

Instructions:

Divide an 10-foot circle into equal-size "slices," If your squeezed on space, put two different herbs in the same slice.

Hint: remember, to tag all the slices, so the kids can go out and pick the ingredients you need.

Purchase: (16 pack) Roma tomato plants, (16 pack) green or red sweet pepper plants, (16 pack) jalapeno plants (this one is for the adults) (2) sweet basil plants, (1) oregano plant, (1) thyme plant, and (2) parsley plants

Note: Place the tomato plants in the northernmost slice so it won't steal sun from shorter plants, then plant the remaining ingredients in the other slices.

Once planted... Water well, then apply a 1-11/2-inch layer of mulch to help suppress weeds and conserve moisture.

Mulch with cedar or straw because it mimics shredded cheese on the garden "pizza."

Continue to water and weed the garden. In two months, kids can harvest the veggies and herb.

Best Step, have kids help cook the sauce. Next make or buy a pizza crust, add the pizza toppings, cook and UMMMM. I can smell it already. OK, time to sit down and let the whole family pitch in by eating.

Maryjo & Steve Bedford