Why Start A Garden —In Pots, Patios, Raised Beds & Backyards!
There are many reasons why to start growing, especially in these time of transition and restoration. The need for safer quality food options, to creating new community food sharing networks, to wanting to be in touch with nature, and to nourish ourselves and our family with the healthiest nutrient dense foods as possible.
Here are some of the reasons why many Sow & Grow and #plantforchange.
1. Food Freedom & Sovereignty.
We have the right to define our own agriculture system, by choosing organic methods and knowing how our food has been grown and being self-sufficient in growing our own food.
We can move away from the reliance on outside sources to provide our nourishment as well as having food security in our backyards. This gives us the ability to produce nourishing food for our families and communities.
2. Control Over Personal Health & Wellbeing.
Growing your own food allows you to know exactly how your food has been treated and grown, how you nourish your food is ultimately how you nourish yourself.
The benefits of having a sacred garden space to tend to, be in and provide for can give a sense of relaxation and purpose that greatly increases mood, sense of self, and belonging.
3. To Learn & Re-Connect With Earth, Nature & Cycles.
Being in tune with the sun, the seasons, weather, and bugs/pests cycles puts you in deep relation with nature. This understanding helps us to recognize what is happening in nature, and how to move with her cycles.
You understand nature better and learn to move with her and learn how to create an environment (especially in your soil) that supports and nourishes life.
4. Earth Care— Help Support & Regenerate Earth Sacred Soil.
Taking responsibility for our soil no matter our location by learning how to build and support it. What we do today ultimately affects our tomorrow, we can make the choice to be regenerative in our gardening practices. Ask how can we leave our lands better than we found them.
5. People Care—Healing Our Microbiomes & Bodies.
By working in soil you get in touch with your ecosystem, becoming a populace of microbiomes of your geolocation. Most times you can tell how healthy an environment is by how healthy the people are.
6. Future Care— Live Locally, Build Connection & Community.
In nature everything is connected, when we deepen our relationship with nature we can use that model to deepen our relationship with community: understanding, and support through connection.
A great part of having a garden is that you can teach, inspire and gush over your plants with others. Connecting your experience to others helps to inspire a community of growers. How great would it be to trade goodies from our gardens with our neighbours!
7. Create Biodiverse Habitats.
Creating a place for many, the more plant species you have the more biodiverse your garden will be. By having many different flowers, trees, shrubs, fruits and vegetables, of different heights, sizes, bloom times and fragrances the more your garden will support a biodiverse habitat for your ecosystem.
8. Eat Nutrient Dense Food & Save Money.
Gardening is a pastime you can do alone or with others that helps you save money and to grow food that is denser in nutrients. Have you ever eaten a store-bought strawberry vs the one you pick off the vine, the difference is in the freshness, flavour and nutrients
9. Support Bees & Pollinators. They Are In Need Too.
Having a diverse home for our pollinator friends to thrive is so important to the growth and support of our gardens. There has been much damage caused by agriculture, pesticide usage and gmo produced foods that have taken away natural resources from our animals, birds and insects.
When you grow organically, with a diverse number of plants and flowers this creates an ideal place for our pollinator friends. Go a step further and start planting their favourites and notice how many different pollinators visit your yard and how they affect the yield of your harvest.
10. Be Immersed In Healing Power & Energy Of Nature.
Be in communion with nature, slow down, ground, and contemplate your surroundings. Do you notice how your body relaxes, your breath becomes deeper and that sense of peace is washing over you. A major reason many of us start to grow is for our mental & physical wellbeing, engaging with peace and tranquility while tending to plants, and getting our needed dose of healthy microbes with hands covered in soil as so many benefits.
11. Play, Play, Play, For Children, Adults & Family.
A garden is a great place to introduce the importance of nature to children, from the excitement they experience growing their first plant to letting them pick berries to snack on can instil a love of growing food. This can help them see the world from a nature-focused perspective.
For everyone having a space to grow can help connect you to your creativity, wonder and play. There are always things to problem solve and contemplate in the garden.
12. Create Growth, Beauty & New Experiences.
Awe-inspiriting beauty, nature is the greatest artist, the most profound subject, a muse to anyone who can slow down and take a moment to breathe in such magnificence.
We all need beauty, having a space you created to rest, play and invite your loved ones to feels immensely gratifying, which can take us back to purpose and feeling of well-being.
Questions To Contemplate: What would you add to this list? Why are you planting & growing?
