Gardening provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose while encouraging children to learn new skills, connect with nature, and eat healthier. ItGardening also encourages families to spend quality time outdoors while learning something about Gardening!
Benjamin recalls how, at first, garden failure was often met with disappointment and anger; now, he sees it as an opportunity to learn. For beginners interested in starting their own gardens, he suggests sketching an outline and reading seed packets carefully to establish spacing requirements and understand spacing needs.
It’s a great way to connect with nature.
Gardening provides an oasis in a world often marred by noise, lights, and crowds. It offers a place to find quiet reflection and reconnect with nature. From growing vegetables or flowers to simply sitting back with a good book in your garden, Gardening offers relaxation while engaging with our natural world.
Gardening not only offers physical health advantages but can also be an excellent way of bonding with families. Gardening together allows children to form strong relationships with their parents and siblings while learning the importance of taking care of themselves and maintaining good health.
Gardens can provide an incredible way to connect with nature, and adding native plants and animals into your garden can bring even greater connectivity with Mother Earth. Just the buzz of bees, splash of birds in the water, or sighting of a fox running through can instantly get a greater awareness of the present moment.
Another way to connect with nature is through thinking about the history of your garden or property. For example, it can be fun to think about who lived before us in any old barns or silos on your land and appreciate more fully what nature has provided as part of their environment.
If you are getting into Gardening, it is wise to begin gradually and build up. This will give your body time to adjust to the physical demands of Gardening while building strength and endurance. Labor-saving measures in your garden could reduce the amount of work needed to be done by hand: irrigation lines or soaker hoses could reduce hand watering needs, while mulch or organic fertilizers could decrease weeding efforts. Avoiding pesticides, which can harm beneficial insects and the earth itself, is also prudent.
It’s a great way to exercise.
Gardening may seem leisurely, but it can provide a rigorous workout. Digging and spading soil burns 186 calories in just half an hour–more than skateboarding or softball! Plus, it increases your heart rate while strengthening your arms, back, core muscles, etc.
As with any physical activity, those new to Gardening should gradually build up their fitness and intensity level before commencing gardening tasks that involve lifting or bending. Stretching can also be done by walking around your yard/garden or simply standing up periodically and walking around. To avoid injury, it’s also helpful to begin short sessions before gradually increasing their duration or intensity. Likewise, it can help warm up before beginning lifting or bending tasks by taking short walks around them before beginning, laying out plants where you need them, or standing up occasionally and walking around periodically. In contrast, gardening tasks require lifting/bending actions like this before commencing any tasks involving lifting/bending activities such as this or standing up occasionally and walking around!
Alongside its physical benefits, Gardening provides families an enjoyable activity to bond while nurturing something together. Gardening also teaches children the value of cultivating food while instilling pride in the accomplishments of their labors – giving each child their plot or section gives them an outlet to express themselves creatively in nature and artistically!
Once your garden’s bounty is ready to be enjoyed, it can be an unforgettable opportunity to create delicious dishes from fresh, homegrown ingredients and share that experience with family members—not to mention bond over creating something tasty together!
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, more people than ever before are seeking new ways to reconnect with nature and nurture healthy bodies and minds. Gardening provides an engaging way to do both! Let it become part of your routine today and witness first-hand how planting seeds can transform lives! We invite you to discover your inner gardener – they promise much!
It’s a great way to spend time with your family.
If you have a garden in your backyard, it can make the ideal spot to bond as a family. Not only can Gardening teach children about where food comes from, but it is also an enjoyable activity that promotes physical fitness, which may help ward off health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Starting a garden can also serve as an effective means of connecting with your community. From growing veggies for family meals or flowers to decorating your home, Gardening is an enjoyable and relaxing activity that brings people together. Furthermore, Gardening enables people to develop new skills while taking pride in their accomplishments.
Gardeners describe Gardening as a form of “productive escapism,” offering respite from daily stresses and strains. Many also compare caring for a garden to caring for an older or disabled body in which you must adapt to changing conditions and new limitations over time.
However, they stress the importance of ensuring everyone in a community garden understands precisely what is expected regarding responsibilities and commitment. Too much pressure placed on one individual could cause stress or burnout, so community gardens require a leadership team large enough to share management responsibilities among several members.
Many gardeners also found Gardening immensely satisfying in its social aspect; sharing their harvest with those they met during their efforts was incredibly gratifying.
As part of a child-centric garden plan, it’s also beneficial to involve kids from an early age in helping feed their families’ needs while developing an appreciation of sustainability practices such as reusing and recycling items. Plus, early gardening learning could open them up to a lifelong gardening passion!
It’s a great way to save money.
Growing food and flowers at home is an effective way to save money, especially if you choose more expensive ingredients from stores. By planning and planting crops suited to your climate and soil conditions and labor-saving practices like installing soaker hoses for reduced watering needs or mulching exposed soil with mulch to decrease weeding needs, Gardening is an economical choice that could save thousands over time.
New gardeners may spend too much on supplies, so planning and shopping is wise. Test your soil before purchasing seeds or seedlings to ascertain which nutrients it requires and lessen reliance on chemical fertilizers. In addition, look for ways to cut costs, such as reusing containers, flats, stakes, and ties from previous seasons.
The key to maximizing your garden’s output with minimal time and effort investment is to focus on producing as much produce as possible with the space available. Beginning gardeners often set an ambitious goal of planting enough produce for friends and family—this may become daunting over time! Instead, focus on cultivating varieties you know will please your palate before expanding further.
One of the greatest joys of Gardening is sharing its bounty with others. You will experience the satisfaction of eating fresh, healthy meals while reconnecting with your community, and you may also gain new friendships!
Many gardeners have turned to Gardening during this pandemic as a source of purpose and solace, providing a place of respite from feelings of isolation and loneliness. Gardens can help new gardeners regain a sense of purpose while simultaneously learning patience, self-sufficiency and enjoying growing and cooking their own food – thus finding joy and inspiration in soil. If Gardening interests you, contact your local extension office to get started. Classes, workshops, and resources such as our resource library offer assistance in everything from garden design to pest management and more!