I was going stir crazy in Spring 2020 during strict Covid quarantine. I was heavily relying on jigsaw puzzles and my cable subscription to entertain me, but those were getting old. So I started to brainstorm some ideas for safe, preferably outdoor, activities I could engage in to help pass the time. I decided to get into vegetable and herb gardening. I thought I was just starting a new hobby, but little did I know how much gardening could help improve my health as well.
Shifting focus to Research and new skills
Gardening started to help me before I even put a plant in the dirt. Before I bought any supplies I spent days researching my options and which plants would do best in my area. I read about planting in containers since I would be doing this on my bedroom balcony. I looked up companion planting so I would know what types of plants would thrive in the same containers.
My research also continued well after I planted everything. I started exploring how to properly prune plants to increase the yield for the season. If the leaves of my plants didn’t look quite right I learned how to adjust water or nutrients to bring them back to life. I had a nasty aphid infestation that I learned how to treat naturally without chemicals. I found that focusing on research and education and learning new skills (and then applying those skills) can be so great for mental health!
taking care of something else
I have also found that for me it is beneficial when I have something besides myself to take care of. Plants are also pretty resilient, so if you have to neglect them for a day because you’re really not feeling well – they’re going to be ok! It brings me so much joy and excitement to actually see the progress and results of nurturing these plants. In the height of the season I was able to harvest vegetables or herbs on a daily basis!
Fresh Produce Readily Available
Another gardening perk is how it could actually encourage you to eat a cleaner, healthier diet. Seedlings are relatively cheap, but can provide fresh produce for weeks or even months at a time. It makes it easier and more desirable to eat healthy when it’s something you grew yourself. I didn’t think I liked tomatoes, but when I was growing cherry tomatoes and was picking about 20 a day I decided to give them another try. They ended up being so crisp and fresh that I loved them and continued to eat them all summer! In my opinion nothing tastes quite as good as a homegrown crop.
If you have a large garden and can’t keep up with your produce (or maybe you don’t like some of the vegetables you grew) you could always donate it. Most neighborhoods have a pantry or community fridge where they are always taking donations for people in need. Turning your hobby into a charitable donation is a win-win situation in my book!
Adaptability
Lastly, I love how adaptable gardening can be. You don’t need to have a whole backyard full of dirt and grass to have a successful garden. There are options for gardening in planters and pots, or “vertical gardens” which take up very little space if you’re limited. You technically don’t even need any outdoor space of your own to get planting! A lot of neighborhoods have ‘community gardens’ where you can rent a plot of land to transform into your dream garden. There’s also the option of having a ‘windowsill garden.’ Many people are able to successfully grow several types of herbs right inside on their windowsill!
I’ve loved spending the last year cultivating my farming skills and reaping the benefits of a new hobby. I hope this will encourage some of you to try gardening! If you already are an avid gardener – what are some of the plants you’ve had the most success with? Are there any other ways gardening has had a positive impact on you and your health?