Click below to listen to today’s Garden Bite: Freedom in the Garden
Today, as I think about America’s 250th anniversary, I think of Freedom. Now this might feel like a stretch to many of you but I believe there is freedom in gardening. The freedom to spend time outdoors nurturing plants and ourselves.
When I talk about nurturing ourselves, I mean heading out to our gardens to move our bodies and our minds. I know I sound kinda philosophical but bear with me. As I’ve noted here before, it’s a proven fact that “playing in the dirt” triggers your brain to release serotonin, the happy drug. I think we can all agree we can always use more happiness in our lives. One of my favorite memories of childhood is when my mom and I would go to a garden center and buy annuals for her containers, the planting in the dirt!!!
We build resilience, which is also freeing, as we understand that, despite or IN spite of our efforts, some plants will fail.
Gardening is the freedom to slow down, take in that monarch on the coneflower, watch the bees enjoy your flowers as much, or more, than you do.
Watch your annual containers grow and thrive.
Enjoy the growth of newly planted perennials/trees/shrubs.
We get to soak in FREE Vitamin D from the sun and from the work we do in the garden, which builds bone density. No supplement necessary.
Gardening frees our bodies to move in ways we typically don’t. Bending and stretching, which also builds strength and resilience.
Vegetable gardening frees us to choose varieties that we don’t generally find at the farmers market and certainly not the grocery store.
Oh, and the herbs we love! Most are very easy to grow and we have the freedom to snip what we need and not waste any!
Gardening gives us the freedom to choose what plants we love and what plants we don’t. If that plant isn’t delivering the way you thought it would, it’s feelings aren’t hurt if you try something else. You can always give away plants you don’t want or those that need dividing.
Gardening also teaches us the freedom to let go. As we all know, some plants just won’t make it. Whether that has to do with poor soil, wrong plant, pest or disease, we learn how to let go; to loosen our grip on perfection.
I also find weeding frees my mind. It’s a way to do something positive that takes very little effort while affording a respite to too much thinking!!
Happy Gardening and Happy 250th Anniversary.
