Win tickets to see Sesame Street Live,

April 7, 1:17 PMDenver Organic Gardening ExaminerAmy Peck

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I often joke to people that I don't allow my children to come anywhere near me when I am gardening, and in fact I'm only partially joking. Gardening for me is like meditation. I go to my garden to find a peace of mind that in most of my other daily comings and goings eludes me. So occasionally, I am afforded the luxury of gardening without my children in the mix. And I relish those times.

I also know the importance of teaching my children how to garden. I want them to grow up knowing how to grow their own food someday, to tend the land, to eat locally and organically. When they were smaller, they would play garden with me. They had their own play garden tools and while I worked they would dig and plant pretend plants, but being young boys with lots of energy, their attention was easily over taken by a ball or a bug and off they would go in more adventurous timekeeping.

As they get older and their attention span is capable of longer periods of concerted effort they have become more helpful. They pull weeds and water and understand that there is more to gardening than just planting a seed and watching it grow. Gardening involves hard work, patience, setbacks and lots of tangible rewards in the form of fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers.

My boys are now old enough, aged nine and seven respectively, to take on more responsibilities in the garden. This summer they will each have one portion of a raised bed to plant whatever they like. My oldest son has already brought home a cabbage plant from school, so half of his portion of the bed is already accounted for.

It's never too late to introduce your children to gardening, and by contrast, it is also never too early. Leave it to the wonderful people at Sesame Street to create a live program dedicated to teaching children about growing plants.

April 16th through the 19th, Sesame Street Live, "Elmo's Green Thumb" is playing at Magness Arena on the campus of the University of Denver. The show tells the tale of Elmo and his sunflower Sunny and includes Elmo's friends and Sesame Street favorites Big Bird, Zoe, Telly and others. Come explore the garden with Elmo as he learns about patience, overcoming fears and appreciation for nature.

I have been given the wonderful opportunity to give away a family four pack of tickets to one lucky reader. Please leave a comment with your name and valid email address on this article. I will choose one winner in a random drawing on April 12th.

Sesame Street Live has also provided me with a discount code for everyone to use. If you order via the Ticketmaster website, enter the promo code ELMO and receive $3 off.

• 8 delightful performances April 16 - 19
• Tickets on-sale March 2, 2009 at the box office and all Ticketmaster locations (charge by phone at 800-745-3000).
• Ticket prices: $15.00, $20.00 & $25.00. Limited $35.00 Gold Circle seating available.
• Opening Night (April 16, 7:00 PM)—All seats $12.00 (excluding Gold Circle seating).
• Kids’ Matinee (April 17, 10:30 AM) – All seats $10.00 for school/daycare groups 15.
• Additional group discounts available.
• Additional fees/surcharges may apply.

**Update**

We have a winner! Congratulations Rise Keller! Your comment number was chosen by the random number generator at random.org! Thanks to everyone who left a comment. Remember you can get discount tickets by using the promo code ELMO when purchasing tickets through the Ticketmaster web site!