Why is Gardening eco-friendly?

By now you might have realized how hooked I am on anything that has to do with improving oneself, which I believe will then naturally spill out into our families and our communities. I believe gardening creates eco awareness - a mindfulness in our lives which allows us to connect directly with the earth and the food which sustains us. For many years I've been growing food for my family. As a result, I've created a huge awareness of why commercially grown food is a leading cause of our ill health or disease in our population.

Why start your garden?
I'd like to share my vision of what might happen. Suppose you start a garden and your children watch you diligently poking away and fussing about it. They start to see that the garden is something mom/dad care about, and therefore grow a connection with it. Then suppose you start to grow your own tomatoes and string beans. Naturally, you choose to feed this to your children. At the very least, they will try them because it's something you've invested your time and energy into.

Now, what you've done is planted a small seed within them - to think about food in a healthy way. Hopefully, the positive influence will stretch beyond your home and into the neighborhood. Perhaps your neighbors will see how you've improved the neighborhood by simply beautifying your parcel and that what you've done, maybe just maybe, might incline them to do the same. Before you know it, you have started movement!

How to get started?
Anyone can start a garden, so don't be afraid. All it takes is desire. Desire is the motivating factor in anything one wishes from life. So, if you've heard yourself say, "Oh I wish I had a garden that looked like that or if I could only grow my own vegetables or I wish I had a green thumb", you are already taking the first steps. That's your inner self saying - "try it, give me a chance". Just "try it" and don't shut your inner desires up!

Now let's get technical.
Use your eyes and go outside view your plot of land (if you need to do container gardening… we'll get to that later). Take a good look and really see what is already growing on your property. Grab a journal to use for your garden and start drawing and taking notes. Take note where the trees, bushes and architectural elements are and map out what trees you have surrounding your home where the boarders or perimeter of your property end. Sheds, driveway and walkways must be included.

Remember you're making a map of what your garden looks like now so you can plan for the future. You wouldn't plan a trip without a map and or knowing where you're going, would you?  For bushes or trees draw circles to depict them. I quickly measure (survey) any project by simply walking out each step, a step being a foot a simple but effective gage. No need to get exact. An accurate guesstimate is ok.

Pay attention for a day and notice where the sun casts shadows. Remember you'll need to do this every season. Where are your shady areas? What areas get sun all day long? This is very important if you plan on growing vegetables, as most vegetables require at least six hours of sunlight.

Remember that you are not alone. I am here for you along with countless other gardeners in your area and online.

Yes, it will be hard work and a bit disappointing at times when things don't go your way. The beautiful thing is that you get another chance every season!  Just keep learning and taking inspiration from others. I remember visiting gardens from Ladies in my days in Stony Brook. They all had these charming, perfectly manicured little parcels of land, like little cocoons or little nesting areas, which enchanted me every time.

You will find that the hours you spend in the garden will depend totally on how consumed you become. I've clocked in as early as four-thirty in the morning during the summer months, to weed before the heat of the day peaks. And truthfully… there is an indisputable feeling of peace that comes from being in the garden that early; almost as if you had a first row seat to the day.

What you desire your garden to be and look like will become your creation. And like you, can change over time. Only you will really know what it's supposed to be because it'll become a part of YOU.

Now a bit of advice… Be realistic.  Keep journals with information about what you plan to do and what worked for you and how you might change things next year. The reality is that there is so much to keep in your memory bank regarding gardening you can't expect to hold on to it all. So again like anything, write it down.

I believe that if each of us with the desire to garden puts just a bit more time and effort into it, then we can improve our families, our communities and ultimately the world.  One little baby step at a time.  So take on as much as you think you can and get started.  

So how do you think you might start? Herbs? Leafy greens? Flowers? Whatever you do, do it with a passion and desire to create something that is yours. And don't forget to get the family involved if you want. Kids are great for putting the seeds in and watering, as well as weeding (with guideance for the little ones). What a great way to get them invested in the garden and eating healthier!

As always, share your thoughts and ideas with me.  And send pictures of your gardens.  We all look forward to seeing both the new gardens and long established gardens that are shared.

Happy planning and planting!

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Gloria

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