The Garden and a Gardener: A Love Story... Earthing/Gardening

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The Garden and a Gardener: A Love Story...

The garden and a gardener. Such an interwoven relationship of trust, loyalty, and, above all, love. Let the love story begin…

My first love affair began in my early 20’s with several basil plants I planted in a pot on a deck railing. At the time, I wasn’t even sure if I liked basil. In fact, the only reason I planted basil was because they were in the clearance section and would only set me back a dollar each. Nonetheless, I scooped up five dollars worth and took them home with the hopes they would know what they needed to survive.

Those sweet basil plants, which I planted very closely in a small pot , thrived. Looking back, I had very little to do with their success. After all, I was a busy mom with a marriage, small children, and a job. Ironically, the clearance aisle plants quadrupled in size in no time. For this reason, those five basil plants introduced our family to homemade pesto, which quickly became a summer staple. As a result, I became wooed by the idea of growing something lovely as well as nourishing. Subsequently, I have tended a garden to varying degrees ever since.

In this article, I hope to explore the many benefits associated with the connection between the garden and the gardener.

“Ahhh… The garden and a gardener… Once you make that undeniable connection with your garden plot, love will forever flow.” Candy

The Physical Benefits

Let me begin by just stating the obvious. Growing a garden can be hard work! However, being the gardener in your garden can be very gratifying and fulfilling. Furthermore, the physical benefits of tending a plot of land are far reaching. Listed below are some of the highlights.

Aerobic exercise improves cardiovascular health.
Greater lung capacity.
Reduces obesity.
Improves blood pressure.
Lessons the risk of Diabetes.
Beneficial bacteria in soil boosts immune system.

Improves overall strength.
Vitamin D levels improve.
Strengthens bones which reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
Greater strength and dexterity in hands.
Encourages body awareness.
Improvement of flexibility and mobility.

The Emotional Benefits

Reduces stress and anxiety.
Increases creativity.
Decreases depression.
Increases life satisfaction.

Boosts self esteem.
Encourages social bonds.
Improves attention span.
Reduces mental fatigue.

The Spritual Benefits

Supports being present.
Nurtures a sense of purpose.
Teaches patience and care.

Encourages time alone in nature.
Provokes feelings of a higher being, higher purpose.

The Environmental Benefits

Cleans the air and soil through photosynthetic processes.
Gardening improves the biodiversity of the soil.
Locally grown produce reduces the footprint with imported produce.
Supports pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds.

Making a Garden Your Refuge

A refuge is a place that provides safety and security. Similarly, the garden we work to sustain will in turn sustain us.

Ahhh… The garden and a gardener… Once you make that undeniable connection with your garden plot, love will forever flow. Specifically, there are several things I feel make a garden a refuge for the tending gardener. I like to call these things the heart and soul of the garden. For example, my garden, “Soul Place”, is a good example of these ideas. Learn more about my garden design Here.

Design an Edible Landscape

The old potager or kitchen gardens of the 16th century originated in France. Essentially, the idea is to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers in the same space. This garden design is not the rows of vegetables we now see in production gardens. In contrast, these gardens are loaded with diverse plants that physically, mentally, and emotionally feed the gardener. Each plant type serves a purpose and offers support to the other plants. For instance, planting basil near your tomatoes is wonderful for fending off pests. In addition, planting calendula or borage in your beds will call in the pollinators which support blooming. Learn more about my kitchen garden or growing calendula with the attached links.

A Focal Point

Examples of a focal point could be an archway of flowers, a fountain or birdbath, or a bench. This area is to be celebrated in beauty. It is a space which begs us to adore it. Additionally, beautifying this space allows us to experience gratitude.

Side note. Did you know, as part of universal human nature, that humans are the only species to put energy towards things only meant for beauty? Interesting topic to ponder over…

Sit a Spell

Every garden space needs a seat. For obvious reasons, a chair or bench is needed for rest. However, let’s go deeper into this topic. It is so important for the gardener to be with the garden. Resting, watching, pondering, planning, smelling, tasting, noticing, being. When we sit with ourselves in nature, more than just our tomatoes grow, gardeners grow. Patience is tried. Lessons are learned. And, above all else, the cycle of life is respected.

Take the time to sit a spell in your garden space. A garden is a perfect setting for practicing mindfulness. Visit during all times of the day. Notice how things appear differently during the mornings as opposed to evenings. Don’t be a fair weather friend. For example, spend time in the garden during a rain shower or heavy winds. Notice how the garden responds to the varying weather systems. Listen to her wise teachings and carry them with you away from the garden.

“When we sit with ourselves in nature, more than just our tomatoes grow, gardeners grow.” Candy

Final Thoughts

Thank goodness for marked-down basil plants! Had I not purchased those “Hospice” plants, as I like to call them, my love affair may never have started. Those few plants on the deck railing have grown into two garden spaces and a recycled window greenhouse. Learn more about “Soul Place,” my window greenhouse Here. Without a doubt, the garden feeds me, the gardener, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I encourage you to try out gardening. Plants inherently want to go. Looking for a good book to get you started? Leah Webb, who is local to Brevard, offers a great book on the subject. Find her book, The Seven-Step Homestead, by following this Link. Who knows, a few basil plants in pots may lead to a full kitchen garden that nourishes your family!

Thank you for reading my blog article on a topic that is near and dear to my heart. See you in the next post!

About the Writer:

Hi, I am Candy. I started Harvesting Health and Happiness out of a desire to offer blog posts related to health and happiness. My hope is to spread encouraging words through my writings to uplift the collective. Learn more about my story HERE. Follow me on Social Media with the attached links.