The Joys of Gardening – The Secrets to A Happier Life

When I was little, the joys of going out to the backyard with my parents became something I looked forward to every day. Tending to the colorful flowers that grew serendipitously in the ground, or plucking off a fresh Golden Delicious apple made my day just a little brighter and easier. I don’t know exactly when my love for gardening started. Perhaps I’ve always enjoyed the crispy, fragrant outdoor air. Or being beckoned by the lonesome canopy of trees. Or just being able to be myself and be in the moment in the garden. Whatever came from being a “nature girl” eventually grew to a love of horticulture.

Now that I teach gardening to elementary students, I hope to give children a safe place for them to grow their imagination in the garden, and to have even just a tiny bit of knowledge of survival. Our ancestors gained and harnessed the knowledge of horticulture and passed down through ages of trial and error. Some gained through painful discoveries but eventually led to a plethora of fruits and vegetables that we now can grow, harvest, and eat.

So how can the joys of gardening lead to a happier life? For starters, gardening is a true solitary activity. You don’t need anyone to do it for you or with you. That way, you can set your own designs and decide how you want your garden to be. Let your gardens be wild and rambunctious, or groomed and organized. Plan it out or just throw a bunch of seeds and see what happens. Regardless of your reasons for gardening there really isn’t a downside to it. So start today, invest in some time and money, and soon you’ll have a small feast that’s beneficial to you, the planet, and the environment around us.

10 HAPPIER BENEFITS TO GARDENING:

1 – Grow for food – Back in the days before grocery stores were abundantly available, people grew their own food in their backyards, front yards, and inside their homes. Food such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and apples were expensive and difficult to get in stores. The scarcity of certain fruits and vegetables were also a factor in growing your own food. Now, with the rising costs of inflation many fruits and vegetables are also expensive and not very tasty. In fact, growing your own basic fruits and vegetables might be more cost effective in the long run. You end up with a hefty bounty of delicious food that can serve the whole family and maybe even your neighbors. If you’re a beginner gardener or don’t have enough space outdoors, you could try growing in raised planters or large garden pots like this Galvanized Raised Garden Bed from Amazon and a handy beginner’s guide book (sponsored links).

2 – Mindfulness Gardening – Gardening can be simple or complex. But to truly put your mind into gardening requires a bit of self reflection. Ask yourself the 3 W’s: Why, Where, When. Why do we garden? Is it for food sustainability or to show off to our neighbors, friends, and family? Where do we want our garden to grow best? Outdoors in the ground, in planters and pots, or indoor only? When do we take care of our garden? If you’re like me, you’d want to be outside in your garden all day long. Take some moments to think about the kind of garden you want. Envision what your garden will look like 2 or 3 months down the line. Do you see tons of fresh carrots and cabbages ready to be plucked and eaten? Or do you see gorgeous orange-yellow Sunflowers dancing in the light summer breeze? Whatever reasons you may have for starting a garden, try to create a safe place for you to relax and enjoy nature.

3 – Beneficial to Children – Children are like sponges. They soak up everything around them especially when they’re young. If you want your children to develop a love for gardening then you must model that behavior. I took my son to garden centers and arboretums when he was an infant. I wanted him to experience the same – if not similar – enjoyment when I’m surrounded by plants. As he got older, I gave him opportunities to grow his one plants with easy to grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Whenever I went out to our garden I took him with me. Sometimes he stayed longer, other times he got bored. The main idea is to get children to develop an appreciation for nature and that includes plants, animals, insects, and the world around them. Here’s another fun Raised Garden Bed on wheels (sponsored) that would be wonderful for kids to manage on their own:

4 – A Great Escape – No, I’m not referring to any magic tricks, although, *ahem* gardening is magical to me. Rather, I’m offering you a chance to escape from your daily worries and troubles. There is scientific and data-based proof that gardening and taking care of plants can improve one’s mood and health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/

We live in a world with constant stress and anxiety, and some are worse for others. So what’s the best way of relieving daily stress? Why, gardening of course! Even if you don’t have the space or time for an abundant yard full of fruits and flowers, you can grow something as simple as fresh herbs on your windowsill and breathe in the fresh, therapeutic scent each day. Having some kind of garden is a paradise waiting to happen.

5 – Be a Pal to Beneficial Insects – You might think, “yikes, be friends to insects?!” How can we be friends to insects that most of us consider as pests? It all depends on your perspective and of course, the real reasons to keep beneficial insects around your garden. Insects such as butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and praying mantis are considered nature’s pollinators. Pollinators help to pollinate (the act of transferring pollen from one plant to another) almost all of our entire food system. Without certain pollinators we would not be able to enjoy healthy and delicious food such as apples, strawberries, cucumbers, watermelon, potatoes, and so forth. Plus, seeing adorable bumblebees with their fluffy yellow body working throughout your garden is a delight. In the end, your plants are happy, the insects are happy, and you are happy with an bounty of fully grown plants. I like to give my little pollinators a place to rest and sip some water. You can create your own bath plate which is similar to a Bird Bath(sponsored), or find a pretty one to put in your garden.

6 – Find Your Zen – You know those people who never get angry, never let anything bother them, and always seem to be at peace when thrusted with frustrating circumstances? Yes – there are people like that in our universe. But why are they always at peace, offering you sagely wisdom with a calm aura around them at all times? It’s because they found their inner “Zen”: a state of inner calmness and acceptance. The next time you’re out in your garden, I want you to take some moments and practice finding your Zen. Clear your mind and thoughts but don’t be afraid of thoughts running rampantly in your mind. Just let those thoughts wander away on their own. Picture your surroundings in your mind. Breathe in the air around you. Do you smell the fragrance of your beloved plants? Do you feel their presence? Once you are attuned to your garden, it will be easier to find that inner peace and solitude in your garden space.

Perhaps that is the zen of gardening—you become one with the plants, lost in the rhythm of the tasks at hand.— Irene Virag

7 – Build What You Love – The art of gardening or horticulture requires one’s own sense of gratitude. Be happy with what your garden brings you, regardless if you failed a dying tree or seeds that never grew past their seedling stage. Your garden should be based on what YOU love to do in it. Do you want a garden where pollinators visit? Or a garden where you grow mostly food for your family? Or even a garden that even Martha Stewart envies? If you build a garden with the plants, decor, and theme that you love, then you will surely find much happiness there, no matter the time of day you embrace your garden.

8 – It’s Okay To Be Alone – We all fear of being alone or lonely sometimes in our lives. But when you have a garden or even a small patch of land for your plants, you’re never truly alone. As I said earlier, gardening is a solitary activity. It is a fulfillment that only one who gardens truly understand. When I feel sad, angry, or stressed, I wander outside to my ever growing garden and I stand there for a moment, letting the moment seize me. My thoughts immediately drift to how my cherry tomatoes are doing, checking vigorously for any bad worms or bugs, while excitedly eyeing my eggplants to see if they grew from the day before. My garden is filled with flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruit, and they are all alone in their own little world. I too am like my plants – solitude and alone yet not really alone while I’m out there with them.

9 – Embrace Change – Change can be a good thing. An evolving, heightening, abrupt movement through life that can be both cataclysmic and fortuitous. It’s when we embrace the changes that happen that we can become enlightened. The same theory applies to your garden. Your garden will evidently change throughout the days, seasons, and years. Your garden can grow exponentially or dwindle down drastically. If you allow your garden to grow in your environment then you too will grow and see positive changes.

10 – To Teach Others Is To Gain Infinite Knowledge – My mom was a teacher for many years. She taught students of various ages and backgrounds. She once told me, that when I teach others my skills and knowledge, I too will grow with my knowledge. At first I didn’t understand her meaning, but when I started teaching gardening, horticulture, and environmentalism to elementary students, I wanted to learn more about what I was teaching them. One should never truly stop learning and growing. Same should be said for your gardening. When you grow a zucchini from seeds and finally have a bountiful harvest, give some to your friends and relatives. Let them know the techniques to growing your vegetables. Enlighten others on your experiences with growing and sometimes, failing your plants. Don’t be afraid to answer “I don’t know” because it can lead you to finding that answer. In the end, our knowledge is what will enlighten us.

Here are some suggestions to help you grow your garden and find much joy and happiness in it:

Books on gardening: ” Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt: (Spring Books for Kids, Gardening for Kids, Preschool Science Books, Children’s Nature Books) (Over and Under) Hardcover – Picture Book:  https://amzn.to/44uyKOM”

” How to Grow Vegetables in Pots & Containers: 9 Steps to Plant & Harvest Organic Food in as Little as 21 Days for Beginners (The Urban Farmer Series) Hardcover”

” Raised-Bed Gardening for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Sustain a Thriving Garden – Hardcover” 

 

 

Patio furniture: Greesum 4 Pieces Patio Furniture Set, Outdoor Conversation Sets for Patio, Lawn, Garden, Poolside with a Glass Coffee Table, Black

Homall Outdoor Indoor Use Backyard Porch Garden Poolside Balcoy Sets Clearance Brown and Beige 4 Pieces Furniture

Folding Adirondack Chair Patio Chairs Lawn Chair Outdoor Adirondack Chair Weather Resistant for Patio Deck Garden, Backyard Deck, Fire Pit & Lawn Furniture Lawn Seating – Blue

Tools for garden and yard: Olmsted Forge Garden Tool Set, 5 Pieces, Heavy Duty Powder Coated Steel, Cork Handle

Oizen Goatskin Leather Gardening Gloves for Women, Thorn Proof Working Gloves for Weeding, Digging, Planting, Gardening Gifts

Foyuee Raised Planter Box with Legs Outdoor Elevated Garden Bed On Wheels for Vegetables Flower Herb Patio

 

*** Disclaimer: Please note, that as an Amazon Associate I might earn from qualifying purchases made from links on this site. I am just starting out as an Amazon Affiliate, so please bear with me as I learn :). I’m just supplementing some extra income for my addiction to gardening 🙂

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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