Gardening became a pastime for many during the early stages of the pandemic, even those who never managed to keep anything alive prior to that, including me. Why did this phenomenon have such a strong buy-in during times of isolation? Instagram and Pinterest are plastered with pictures of indoor and outdoor gardens. You can find countless articles with tips. What grows in what zone? How much sun does each plant need? What will bring the pollinators? And so much more. By engaging with a little nature in your home, regardless of how much space you have, you are creating a space that can give you a tranquil activity. It is also meditative and reduces stress.
Getting Dirty
With limited options on what to do at home, many discovered gardening for the first time in 2020. When the weather started to get a little warmer in the northern hemisphere, people were eager to garden. Scarcity has extended into this sector, there were limited options at local nurseries and plant shops, but nonetheless, many got their feet wet for the first time. It was joyful to walk through neighbourhoods alive in greenery.
For inexperienced gardeners, starting with seeds and watching them break through the soil is incredibly rewarding. To witness something coming to life so to speak, thanks to your labour and love. In my own experience, I wanted to set myself up for some success, so I also added a few seedlings into the mix. Those are the little guys you get at the store. This way you aren’t waiting for the seeds to break through the topsoil and lose hope.
By having a combination, it gave me hope that there was something alive in my home that needed my attention daily to survive. As the weather improved, I also added a few full grown pieces outside on my balcony. Apartment living limits how much space you have to garden, but I didn’t let that stop me. And for the first time in my adult life, I enjoyed my outdoor space.
Gardening Brings Us Together
Getting my hands into dirt on a regular basis reminded me of the joys I felt as a kid. I used to help my mom in the back garden of our house. I’d forgotten those memories until I was in the dirt, smelling it, wearing it. I was feeling happy and had hope for the first time in weeks. I had never been able to grow anything for long, and somehow felt ashamed I couldn’t do it. My mother’s house was like living in the middle of a jungle, there were plants everywhere! Hanging off the ceiling, on the ground, on counters and shelves, you name it. Everyone who ever walked into the house during those years was astounded, and they all loved it. I was always amazed at how she could take care of so many, yet I never learnt a thing.
The fresh produce in the summer months was always a treat to have. She initially started growing food as a means to feed us on a limited budget. It soon became a joy to run out and pick fresh greens, berries, tomatoes and herbs to have a meal. To this day, when I smell some herbs, I still remember those happy moments. The smell of fresh strawberries also takes me back to standing in the sun, picking them off the vine and taking a bite.
What’s The Big Deal?
Working in dirt and seeing things grow can have incredible effects on your mental well-being. Even though it can be hard work at times, having a space filled with the fruits of your labour can be extremely rewarding. By having something to focus on daily, gardening gave me purpose. Purpose which up until then, I had only devoted to my job and the people I served. Gardening gave me real results, it taught me to be attentive to each of their individual needs, I learned a lot about nature. I became more comfortable with the bugs that I would find. I didn’t have a meltdown each time a bee came near me out of fear I would get stung. And I slowed down, now there was the gem!
Creating both an indoor and outdoor space with plants, and some herbs, I gave myself a space where I could be mindful. A safe space that made all the noise on social media fade away during one of the most stressful times in my life. The tranquility I felt when surrounded by my plants was incredible. I even noticed that the air quality inside my home improved, making me feel better. Cooking with my herbs was a joy and I cherished each of those meals even more.
The Cycle Continues
I continue to nurture my garden. When winter hits, it is disheartening to have to stop enjoying my outdoor space. I cover my plants up in the hopes they will get through the cold, snowy nights of winter, but often when I unwrap the burlap from the pots in early spring, they are often in a horrible state due to the harsh winters where I live. So the cycle must begin again. I compost what I can to nourish the soil for the next batch. And hope that next winter I can do better. My indoor plants were just a few at the start of the first season. Some can’t handle the extreme temperature changes and died on me. But I have a few resilient ones that have gone through the seasons and keep me company in one little corner of my indoor space.
The resiliency of my tiny garden encourages me to keep trying. Before winter is completely over, I start my seeds for the new gardening season, and within a couple of weeks I am witnessing results. As the days get warmer, and I do my spring fertilization for the indoor plants, they are thriving! They bring me incredible joy. I love them so much. I talk to them, I water them, I move them around as the sun shifts through the season, and I make sure they get individualized attention. It is an exercise that gives me hope that tomorrow will be a greater day. It gives me purpose and even on my darkest days, I still have something that can bring me a snippet of joy.
Bee-friendly plants support our own agricultural food sustainability.
I am proud to have found my green thumb. It took a long time to get here. I still have a long ways to go, and I am eager to learn more. I tend to my plants as best as I can, in return, they feed my soul. Not only can I appreciate the beauty of nature in all of its varieties, I can also be bewildered by how little I know about it. I feel like a kid again discovering the world around me and playing in the dirt.
IMAGE CREDIT: Unsplash | Sandie Clarke.