Why I love gardening

I never thought I would need gardening.

I never thought I would long to get my hands in the dirt, planting seeds and harvesting produce.

I don’t even remember the exact moment I fell for gardening; I only remember an overwhelming feeling that I can’t imagine not doing this.

Looking back over my childhood, I now understand it didn’t come out of nowhere; there were little hints here and there. I always found my way outside, even if I didn’t know why I craved it.

Growing up, I didn’t have a grandparent or family member who loved gardening. The green thumb wasn’t passed down to me by family but was by my next-door neighbor. She had the most beautiful, well-cared-for, thriving, sprawling perennial gardens. Filled with stunning perennials, bright blooms, and colors. I learned a ton from those summers, although I may not have always loved the chores, watering, and weeding. I now appreciate that it helped build my curiosity and love for gardening. Maybe it’s why now I love the exhausting, sweaty, dirty side of gardening work. My favorite part of a long day’s work in the garden was time in her pool. For me, at that young age, her pool was the most exciting thing in the world.

That curiosity seed was planted then. Only now, after starting my vegetable garden, am I beginning to understand why an older generation spent so much time gardening. Many of them were taught by their parents and grandparents how to grow because it was the norm back then. Unfortunately, it skipped a few generations. Now, at least, I feel our culture is going backward in a good way and starting to realize that the older generations were actually onto something with their gardening obsessions. Everything is cyclical. One thing I love about this new emergence is its connection between two generations that otherwise would have nothing in common.

Thinking back on my life, another part of my love for gardening started from berry picking. Growing up, every summer, we’d go blueberry picking in Wisconsin. Eating more than actually picking of course. Picnic in the back of the car in a farm field. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sliced apples, and chips in those fold-over plastic sandwich bags. The most dreamy, picturesque berry farm with a charming white farmhouse, surrounded by vegetable gardens, flowers, and endless rows of fresh, ripe berries everywhere. My happiest time as a kid was outside, away from the city’s noise, just me, my berry basket, and a stomach full of blueberries. For as long as I could remember, berry picking was just what we did—hours and hours of eating and picking gorgeous, sweet blueberries.

One of the most delicious parts of the summer was making a blueberry crisp with our freshly picked berries. Hardly any sugar was needed because of the natural sweetness of the berries, topped with a nice dollop of whipped cream. There’s nothing like it. I didn’t realize then, but that escape from suburban life was precious to me. I was in my happiest state picking those blueberries. I never thought it would become part of my life in the way it has. If you told Sierra at ten that she could live on a farm, she would have jumped for joy. As long as I’ve gone to that blueberry farm, I have never seen unhappy farmers. The couple that owns it are strong, healthy, and noticeably cheerful. I mean, who wouldn’t be looking at that view every day? How satisfying the hard work must be to see year after year for decades all those berry rows filled with families picking to their heart’s content.

The warm sunshine on my face and bright, blinding days make up for the cold, miserable Minnesota winters. Gardening gets me outside in the sun, even in the rain. Living in a colder place makes me appreciate the few months of happy weather. All the vitamin D from spending the entire summer outside is a good mood booster. Here, sunshine is a hot commodity. I have the best memories of spending hours just sitting in the garden, closing my eyes, and soaking in all that sunshine. It’s heavenly.

I receive so much from the garden. When gardening, my mind shuts off, and I can be completely calm and present. Being present and enjoying the moment is something I’ve struggled with in the past. Gardening is a gift that melts away all my anxieties and worries. When my hands and mind are busy, my brain doesn’t have time to be worrisome. I’m more focused on caring for and nurturing a seed into something beautiful.

Having tons of fresh vegetables at my fingertips brings me so much joy. Knowing that I grew the plant as healthy, organic, and fresh as possible is a satisfying and rewarding experience. Plus, it feeds and nourishes my body.

Time to reconnect to the natural beauty around me. Life can get busy, but gardening forces me to slow down, take a breath, and encounter the natural world around me. The bees, butterflies, rabbits, hummingbirds, snakes, and other beneficial creatures I’ve had the pleasure of seeing thrive constantly amaze me. I partner with nature and positively contribute to their environment and ecosystem.

Another reason I love gardening is all the memories I can build. It’s full of sights, smells, and sounds. As I mentioned before, I’ve been building memories on farms in gardens since childhood. Wisconsin is synonymous with the smell of manure for me. It’s an instant connection to a multitude of memories.  

I love gardening because it cultivates the local community. When I decided to grow a vegetable garden, it created interest, and my neighbors, whom I never really talked to, became intrigued and wanted to speak to me. This was surprising because I didn’t think anyone would notice or care that much. It opened the opportunity to share the excess produce, bless someone else, and learn new things about people I thought I knew. 

It doesn’t matter where or what it looks like; it brings people together—creating more interactions among different age groups and helping us find commonality with our neighbors in a divided culture. 

I love that gardening produces patience and perseverance. I believe humans have an innate desire to nurture. When this desire is applied to gardening, it builds good character in us. Since gardening is not an instant gratification activity, we become stronger and more adaptable. I’ve gained so much patience from the garden’s lessons in other areas of my life.

Like many things, you don’t know until you try it yourself. My goal is to share the joy that gardening and food bring me and show that you, too, can create beauty with what you have. The opportunity is all around you. I’ve learned I can create amazing things by following that spark of joy.

If you want more joy and love the outdoors and food, this may be the year you grow your first garden. Even if you’re a little bit curious, give it a try! There are so many ways to grow plants: a community garden, patio pots, backyard, raised beds, kitchen windowsill, or herb garden. There’s something for you, no matter where you live and what you have. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to learn. Go for it, sow your first seed, and see where it takes you!

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