I used to have "emergency needs" children who through no fault of their own needed safe housing. Watching something grow and helping was really good for their self esteem. They used to have a couple of pots each and be able to choose what to grow, one year a 5 year old boy wanted to grow potatoes, so we did in a pot. We had the most beautiful "early" new potatoes you have ever tasted! I nearly adopted that boy, but we managed to find him a loving foster home not too far away and he was later on adopted by them. : D
I forgot to mention, and as this is a horse thread, thought I should, the new Mum and Dad bought him a horse (they had lots of land) for a "welcome to the family" present. It was silver grey with specks of white on it and he called it Shadow.
"I used to have "emergency needs" children who through no fault of their own needed safe housing"
You are such a good person.