The Wonder of Gardening

Today I am thrilled to share my thoughts and feelings about something very near and dear to my heart: the wonder of gardening. If you are curious about growing things for yourself, let me share with you a few reasons why you should go for it!

from work to wonder

I grew up watching my mother plant and tend to a garden. My job was to help pull weeds and gather and harvest. I remember collecting long crisp green beans and splitting what felt like hundreds of them so that my mom could bottle and store them on the shelves for winter. A strong memory in my mind is biting into sweet peas and sprinkling salt and pepper on a fresh ruby red tomato.

Wouldn’t you agree that a sweet garden carrot is also one of the best flavors in the world? Even though as a child, the garden felt like more of a chore to me than a hobby, I experienced the process that planted a seed (pun intended!) and desire for someday wanting to grow herbs and vegetables of my own.

getting started

After my first two children turned 3 and 5, I really felt a strong desire to plant a small garden of my own. I asked my husband to help me build a small raised garden box in our back yard. We had some scraps of barn wood and he was able to build me the perfect little area to plant with the kids. It was really during that time through my children’s eyes I fully experienced the wonder of gardening.

Curious about your growing zone? This is important to know while you plan for a garden! CLICK HERE to find your plant hardiness zone.

I cannot share with you the amount of joy this first little garden brought me. We probably planted way too many things in that little box of soil but it was a thriving first garden and the kids were overjoyed to see its daily progress.

the wonder of gardening for the mind

I feel strongly to tell you that the art of having your hands in soil and planting a seed has become such a truly sacred and spiritual experience for me. The scent of the damp earth, thoughtfully sewing seeds with the hope of what they can become, and then watching it give back to you is truly joyous and therapeutic beyond belief. Gardening is nurturing on a whole new level and brings many life lessons through its journey from preparation to harvest.

hope + faith

My children excitedly ran out each and every morning to check the status of their little vegetables and herbs. They named the plants and spoke to them as they watered and offered encouragement for growth. I remember their excitement and squealing the day their little sprouts first came up, and of course even more so as produce first appeared. What a joy for them to experience this process of nature’s magic.

Over the years I have continued to work the soil, plant seeds and involve my children in the process of our spring garden. One of my very favorite things to watch is the kids running out and snacking on snap peas, cucumbers and veggies right off the vine. What a joy! We love harvesting our carrots and bringing fresh herbs inside to use in our meals.

Life brings trials to us all. Whenever I am anxious or overwhelmed, the garden is the most wonderful place to find calm and feel balanced again. It is a place of peaceful retreat and I love to go there and work. I have found that pulling weeds and tending to my garden absolutely clears and heals my mind. I always walk away completely refreshed and uplifted.

When we built home, my husband surprised me on my birthday with two newly built garden beds. If you’re thinking about raised beds, I would highly recommend building them out of cedar wood. Cedar is a bit more expensive, but so worth the investment as they will be long lasting. I did not stain or paint my beds, I kept them natural and allowed the sun to bleach them.

If you are new to gardening and feel overwhelmed, start small! Start with a kitchen herb or plant that you can care for and use in your cooking. When you feel more confident, try a small raised bed! I can promise you the joy it will bring to your life will be overwhelmingly wonderful.

in ground-vs raised bed gardening

Everyone will have different opinions on what style of gardening works best for them. I have planted both an in-ground garden and raised bed gardens. Here are a few reasons why I feel raised bed gardening works best for my needs and desires.

Raised be gardening is so much easier to weed and keep “clean”. We put a quality week barrier in each of our beds. We control what soil goes into the boxes and have nearly no weeding! If you do get an occasional weed, they pull up so effortlessly. This is also a benefit as it makes it easy to involve children in the care of your beds.
Raised beds are a little easier on your back and body. The box is higher off of the ground and simpler to tend to and harvest from.
I really enjoy the simple and organized look of a garden with raised beds. I like the orderly view of everything and it helps me to feel that the garden is easier to maintain. Many times my in-ground garden became overwhelming because of the time I was having to spend on weeding.

I so look forward to sharing more about my experiences with planting a first-time garden and all that I have learned so far. Stay tuned! And in the mean time, here are a few tools for getting started with a special garden of your own!

Garden tools and favorites for getting started:

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