I know a lot of people say you can't start seeds without a grow light setup and heat mat, but I've been successfully starting all kinds of seeds every year with just a south-facing window. Sometimes there are leggy seedlings, especially if we've had a lot of overcast days when they sprout, but I've planted them deeper if possible and they've worked out just fine. To be honest, I see the minimal requirements for a beginner gardener to be a few tools like spade and trowel, seeds, and seed starting soil. Not much expense at all. Like the rest of us, gardeners just catching the bug this year will collect up the rest over the next couple of years, fencing next year IF they have a problem with deer or rabbits, maybe a canner or dehydrator the year after when they get more confident and enlarge their tomato patch. If they REALLY catch the gardening bug, a rain barrel or composter. If they want to get into a competition with their neighbours for the earliest tomato, they can get a heat mat and grow light setup to get a jump start on the year. They can try all sort of different tomato cages to see which ones suit their needs best. Keep in mind these things are optional and free alternatives are possible. I use hockey sticks with broken blades from the arena for my tomato stakes. (Nice and sturdy!) Composters can easily be made with free materials or just a compost heap used. A drum to use as a rain barrel can be found for free from some places, but plastic food grade drums can be bought for less than $20.00 if you're willing to cut the top off yourself. Seeds can be started in a south window using free materials. Someone suggested yogurt containers, which is a great idea. Check recycling bins if you don't buy yogurt for yourself. Most soil is at least marginally OK for growing plants so replacing your own soil with topsoil is optional. For those who have really bad soil, some form of lasagna gardening might suffice. We all want the best soil but sometime we have to work with what we got, yet we still manage to get food out of the ground. My point is...for those of you who are just starting out, don't be discouraged by what is being said in this thread. Sometimes, gardening is just as easy as sticking a plant in the dirt and letting it grow. It doesn't have to be expensive and it doesn't have to be backbreaking. As you learn and get experience, then think about expanding the garden and canning food for the winter.

haha yea i would be totally into visiting a botanical garden, but they might not be that into it... i have been keeping my eye out for botanical gardens where we have been looking, and if they dont wanna go i can always go myself! a cabin would be so lovely, but it might get to be too much having the kiddos there for a week with nothing much more to do... my son will be 4 1/2 and my daughter will be 2 1/2.... so we have been trying to maybe look into places where they have child themed parks... such as sesame street play place, or busch gardens or some sort of theme park or something that they could have fun doing for a day... a few years ago we went to new jersey for a week and it was aweseom!!!! we were in a hotel right on the beach, we could see the pier from our hotel window... we cant go back there now because that stupid "Jersey Shore" show was made there and im sure its now full of drunkin' kids.... there are so many ideas swimming around in our heads right now. ill definatly bring up staying in a cabin to my hubby, even if its only for a few days. i think more than anything we are gonna be looking for something to do... we live in the country now, so my son gets to run and play as he pleases... so a cabin in the woods is really not far off from how we live every day!

Afternoon Jen, That scout camp was at Alpine,NJ. Not bad sites decent size but they were quite a trek from the parking lots. What one lacked in distance to the sites was made up in elevation. When I packed, I packed as if it was "van within 50 feet" camping. Not within 2050 feet camping. Luckily, I brought a Little Tikes wagon but was repositioning the cargo constantly. Unfortunately, it was very uncomfortable during the seminars and show and tell sessions the camp was providing and the kids couldn't wait to leave. I waited as long as possible for the weather to break but it never did. With my 10y.o. clinging and telling me that everyone else was leaving, I had no choice. Packing up after the rain, sleet, snow, and hail in 32° temps was a real trip. I ended up putting my numerous ice ridden mounds of nylon in large storage containers I happen to bring. I've never partaken in winter camping before. With forewarned exposure, it would be different experience when prepared. Thankfully, my son had mentioned he still enjoys camping and we went again as soon as possible to get right back on that horse. I, myself, can't wait till the next outdoor excusion. Maybe in April or May this year cause next year, when he's a "boy" scout, it could be any time during the calendar. I think I have a few purchases to make before then. Enjoy the holidays, Elliot

One of the most memorable things I have ever done in my life was tromping through the everglades a couple summers ago. Took my husband and three kids. Paid a great company called 'Garl's coastal Kayaking' to take us on a day tour of the everglades. Instead of looking from a road, we really did trudge through the everglades in our mosquito suits , into a mangrove, next to an alligator hole. There were no alligators in the hole though. The water was supposedly too high. I Passed by tall trees, brown snakes, 15 kinds of Orchids, airplants, moss. My shoes wouldn't stay on so I had to walk through the muck barefooted, which my guide said was what "Garl" always did. Our guide was a young Doctor, we called him Dr. Don. He was funny and very excited about everything. While traveling down the long lonely Evergaldes highway to the ocean, he saw a giant Eastern Diamond back rattle snake crossing the road. He quickly pulled the white van over, jumped out with his camera and gave us some arousing information about this snake. We went on to the south Florida boarder where our Kayaks were. Dr. Don and his friend took us on a six mile paddle (no current!) where I saw a three gators, about a thousand jumping fish (no good for eatting) , one wild flamingo, lots of sea birds, Storks, ducks and a group of wild manatees. Paddling along shore on the way back we stupidly braved out the mosquitos who flew out to greet us in the dark. I recommend putting the suits back on, looking back at our complaining and flailing arms. Dr. Don had wine, crackers and cheese for us out on the water but we declined because we were determined to get back before dark, which still didn't happen. Although I've been to some pretty interesting places, I'd love to return to, the Everglades was one of the most hands on and the most enjoyable. (in the USA). I have some out of state places in mind that were equally wonderful. Have to add, the electrified tennis rackets Dr. Don gave us, worked great on the mosquitoes. We were gratefully sizzling the tiny beasts all day. One more thing. Go to FRANKS fruit market near the park, Mangos the size of footballs. Frank even cut one up for us to take on the trip. Sooooo GOOD!