A renewed interest in gardening speaks to the times we are living in right now. With social activities curtailed, many people are spending more time at home. Maybe we’re looking around our yard more or spending time on the porch or balcony. Certainly we are cooking at home more. We are looking at activities that can not only keep us busy at home, but engage the family and even perform an educational experience.

WHY

Gardening is the perfect answer. It can be done on any scale. From a few pots of herbs in the kitchen to digging up the backyard and planting a vegetable garden, there is a garden activity for everyone. Learning to grow plants, whether vegetables, herbs or ornamentals like flowers, houseplants or succulents is a skill that anyone can learn. If you have time on your hands and you are looking for ways to engage children, learning about gardening is the perfect study.

The information is readily available and easy to understand. The cost is low to get started, compared to many other hobbies. And the results are rewarding.




HOUSEPLANTS


Growing plants takes many forms. Houseplants add life, greenery and oxygen to our indoor environment. Tropical type plants do well indoors because many of them grow natively in forests, so the indoor low light circumstance suits them just fine. Other indoor plants need more light and can be grown on tables near a window or windowsills. The attention plants need can help us see beyond ourselves and give care to another being. Plants respond to being cared for and it’s fulfilling to watch a plant thrive and grow.

Succulents make perfect houseplants because many need water only occasionally, are not prone to problems and come in many shapes, colors and textures.


HERBS


With more people preparing food at home, there is a renewed interest in herbs. Growing herbs is a natural extension of the cooking process. Fresh herbs add flavor and depth to many dishes. Learning to use them is like learning a new language, experimenting with new flavors. If you’re into having a Virtual Cocktail Hour, using herbs in beverages is a fun way to try something new. Keeping just a few pots of herbs in the kitchen or nearby outdoors is a great way to garden with a purpose without a lot of space.

Interest in the health properties of herbs has also surged during this time. Studying the health and wellness aspects of herbs can be the study of a lifetime. But, there are simple ways herbs can help improve our daily lives. Knowing the herbs is key. Learning about their properties is fulfilling and fascinating.


VEGETABLES


Vegetable growing can be done on a small or large scale. Many vegetables do well in containers on a porch or balcony. It is possible to grow vegetables indoors, but they need a lot of light which generally involves grow lights. Outdoors, salad vegetables don’t take up a lot of space and having your own fresh lettuce, cucumbers and even cherry tomatoes for a salad cannot be overestimated.

If you grow a large garden with a good yield, either your neighbors and family will benefit or you will eventually learn about preserving vegetables by freezing or canning. And, a whole new world open up.


BENEFITS


Caring for even a small garden or a few containers outdoors can provide a much needed break from working, worrying or feeling shut in. Being out in the air is beneficial in many ways. We get Vitamin D from sunshine. We breath non-filtered air. We can hear the sounds around us- birds, if we are fortunate to have them nearby. City sounds may not seem as pleasant as birds, but they are the sounds of life, too.

Getting out of ourselves and losing ourselves in plants is rejuvenating. It’s a feeling of accomplishment. It’s something we can “do” during a time when so much seems out of our control.


FINAL THOUGHTS


That’s not to say there aren’t sometimes problems with the plants. Occasionally unwanted pests attack our plants. They may be insects of some variety, a disease or even critters like rabbits, deer or an exuberant puppy. There are solutions to all these issues.

Here is where the joy of learning comes in. A problem in gardening is an opportunity to learn more about our plants and their environment. Learning more about how they grow, what keeps them healthy and how we can do the most possible to help them grow their best is an ongoing process. It’s a life long study.

The best thing about gardening is there’s always another season to look forward to. If the heat or torrential rains or hail or rabbits damage our garden plants, we think about how we can solve the problem next time. Our world is always in flux, always changing, and that’s certainly true in the garden world. There is risk in life. There is risk in growing plants. We can lower the risk that our plants won’t survive through educating ourselves and paying attention to the plants themselves. They will tell us what they need. We just need to be able to listen to them and respond.



Article Courtesy of FestivalNet Member and Guest Blog Author Cindy Meredith, Owner of The Herb Cottage in rural Texas. She spends her time taking care of the plants, answering gardening questions and enjoying life in the country. Contact Cindy at cindy@theherbcottage.com