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13 ALLERGICLIVING.COM HEN MANY PEOPLE think of a kitchen garden, they jump to thinking about the food you get and the money you can save. But we take a different approach. Our garden is a special place of peace and calm. My family treats it as a “learning garden,” and the kids even call it that. Our kids do not feel burdened or upset when something goes wrong. And in the garden, things will go wrong! From unfriendly bugs that can ruin months of progress, to the extreme weather conditions we can get in Georgia, as well as random plants growing well one year and doing not so great the following year. Creating a learning garden has helped our kids to build their self-esteem while learning about respon- sibility. My kids’ allergies preclude pet owning, but If you thought gardens were just for food and flowers, think again. Amid our greenery, my family has found a richness of experience: tending, discovering, overcoming food fears – and creating meals without limits. BY AMBER SPANN