10 Reasons to Garden
As I was shelling dry beans for five hours today - a continuation of what I wasn’t able to finish yesterday - I reflected upon why I, or any one for that matter would embark on gardening. It’s a task filled with trials and tribulations, and requires time and care. Nevertheless, I and many others keep coming back to it. So, I’ve listed 10 reasons to start or keep a garden.
1. Low investment
You can purchase lettuce seed, a pot, and potting soil for about $15. Or, if you’ve got a bit of yard space, just a couple dollars to get your seed sown in the ground directly. That’s all you need. And, let’s not forget the money to be saved by not having to purchase that food from the grocer.
2. Community
Planting one too many zucchinis, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. is inevitable. Being swamped by some type of produce seems to be part of every gardeners journey. What this “mistake” offers is a chance to connect and give to neighbors, friends, family and strangers. Nowadays, the act of giving is often reserved to holidays and birthdays; to be able to share a bounty is an uplifting act not experienced by many today.
Or, if you’re in an urban area, consider joining a community garden. A community garden is a fantastic option for those with limited space and time; all while enjoying the harvest with your neighbors.
3. Opportunities to learn
There are so many types of gardening (container, permaculture, intensive, companion planting, etc.), and there are so many types of plants that can be incorporated. The research and philosophy is endless, so if you’re the type of person that likes to dive deep into your hobbies, look no further.
4. Mindfulness
I’m not someone who gravitates to my meditation cushion, especially in the summer time. Instead, I find solace and silence in weeding the garden, or doing trivial tasks like the aforementioned bean harvest. It’s a great avenue for those that are a little…restless…to find the peace that a yoga mat may bring.
5. Patience
Sometimes a plant just doesn’t look like it’s going to make it, and then, suddenly it gets the weather it wanted and starts bearing fruit. Or, sometimes it doesn’t and you have to call it a loss. Gardening is the epitome of patience. We plant in the spring, tend and care for plants throughout the summer, and finally harvest those long-developing squash and pumpkins. And, when it doesn’t work out, it’s necessary to not get defeated and just say, “there’s always next year.”
6. Seasonal Living
Tending to something so integral to the seasons fosters that seasonal spirit within us as well. Fresh lettuce in early spring, the taste of snow peas in late spring, or tomatoes finally ripe on the vine in summer, and squash maturing in the fall. And the gardeners energy follows suite - excitement and energy in spring, indulgence and care-free, and finally calm and gratitude in the fall.
7. Wildlife close encounters
Whether friend or foe, gardening gives a unique opportunity to see or hear wildlife that may be difficult to achieve elsewhere. Rarely are we so closely examining the same space time and time again. Looking closely at what may be carving through leaves and then to unveil a moth, beetle, or caterpillar. Or, maybe something bigger moves in, a toad, bird or friendly snake to help you maintain the fruits of your labor.
8. Enjoying the beauty
This was a point so obvious, I nearly forgot it. The beauty of a garden is something I sometimes take for granted and then, when there seems a sudden change because of the weather, I stand back and view my garden with the fullest of hearts. Even if you’re just growing a head of lettuce, the color of green and curvature of leaf can invoke such a sense of awe. Or, perhaps you want an herb garden, full of various flowers. No matter what plants are chosen for a garden, it provides a lovely contrast to the endless sea of green-grass lawns.
9. Time Investment is Relative
I mentioned the many hours I’ve spent gardening, but I say it with an air of jest. I knew what I was getting myself into, as every gardener does, whether it’s to be admitted or not. The amount of time a garden takes, is entirely relative to what the gardener chooses to take on. How large the garden is, the type of gardening, or management style (weed-free garden, or more laissez faire). So, if a concern may be that it will take too much time, I challenge you to reframe what a garden means to you.
10. The food - of course!
I like tasty food, and I’d rather not pay an arm and a leg for it. Queue gardening. Fresh food….yum! And, you can’t get much fresher than home-grown veggies. Additionally, a whole world of food options opens upon starting a garden. The variety of seeds you can purchase makes the growing and eating of that food exciting and endlessly interesting.
I hope this list inspires someone to pick up a seed packet and give it a go, or reinforces the long-time gardener of why we do what we do. Enjoy the adventure!