8 Reasons to Garden
Growing up, my dad had a garden. I can’t remember anything he grew in that garden except for rhubarb, I guess because we used to munch on the rhubarb while catching fireflies in our Underoos. As I got older, I was away at summer camp for 8+ weeks each year, and wasn’t really around for gardening season…and then we got a house on Lake Winnipesauke and weekends and vacations were spent there so the garden kind of went by the wayside. We even have some rhubarb plants here, that we’d gotten from a neighbor, so we could bring it to my mom and dad up in New Hampshire.
My husband’s family has always gardened. For him, having a yard that could fit a garden was a part of house hunting. I didn’t really have a preference to garden or not, at least where food was concerned. I just wanted to have roses where I lived. Oh, and peonies.
When we bought our current home in 2005, I was really pregnant with our oldest daughter. We chose this house for many reasons, but a big reason is the yard. Our backyard is large, with lots of room for a garden, flower beds, flowering trees, shade trees, and it had 2 huge apple trees and 2 8 foot tall blueberry bushes that were well established when we moved in.
Here are 8 reasons to garden:
1. Food- There’s not much that tastes better than something you planted, tended and grew yourself.
2. Earth- The cycle of plant life is good for the earth. It’s good for the air and its good for the soil. We use pine needles that fall from our trees to mulch beds, or we use pine cones.
3. Family- Gardening is something we can do as a family. Every step can include all of us.
4. Learning- The process of prepping, planting, tending and harvesting a garden teaches a lot to our children. It also helps them develop an understanding and appreciation for growing our own food. My kids have all said at different times how much better even our salsa tastes when it’s stuff we brought up from the garden.
5. Money- I’m pretty sure we’ve all bought fresh produce at the grocery store. It’s expensive…. and that’s not even talking about selecting organic fruits and vegetables. By planting our own fruits, vegetables and herbs and using an organic Miracle-Gro product for seed starting and/or amending the soil with our compost, we know just what’s going into the soil with our seeds…and we are able to save a lot of money that we would have otherwise spent on organic produce.
6. Fun- It’s really kind of fun to just dig in and garden. It’s not only a fun way to be together as a family, but it’s also a source of stress relief.
7. Fragrance and beauty- while we are not big flower gardeners, we do have a dozen peonies around our property (and I’m sure we will keep adding, as they are my favorites), as well as other perennial flowers… which we can cut as we wish and put around the house to brighten rooms and enjoy the fragrance of. We can also cut flowers to brighten someone else’s day.
8. Learning- I’ve learned so much over the years of gardening. The kids have too. From carpentry skills in building raised beds or our compost bin, to figuring out when to plant seeds in winter so they’ll be ready for the ground after the last frost….row spacing…timing… there’s a lot that gardening can teach all of us.
Everyone grows for a reason. Some people grow to spend time with their family, or to beautify their community. Some people grow because they love cooking with home-grown ingredients, or because it’s a skill and tradition passed down from generations. Other people grow for personal relaxation, or because they love decorating their homes with freshly cut flowers.
Priscilla S. says
I would love to start a garden. Aside from fresh fruit and veggies, it would be so nice to have fresh flowers around on a semi-regular basis.
Jodee Weiland says
I love gardening, too. I especially enjoy my vegetable and herb gardens in the summer. I love having fresh homegrown food to use in my recipes! It’s the best! I love my flowers as well and enjoy seeing them bloom…so pretty and fragrant! Great post!
Sunnymay says
Miracle Gro works for me, too. When my plants are getting droopy, this revives them along with water and turning the houseplants a quarter turn so the sunshine can reach a new spot.
Stefani says
A couple years ago I planted the our first garden in our backyard. I was so excited to see the tomatoes grow and be able to use them with my meals. I am thinking of doing another garden this year.
Jennifer says
I wish we had the space for a garden 🙁 Eating food I grew on my own would be awesome
Lauren (Lolo) says
I really wish I had a green thumb and could garden. That flower is gorgeous!
Ashley M says
I agree, fruit and veggies picked right from the garden taste the BEST. You can’t get healthier food than that.
Christina says
I love gardening… a love that I got from my grandpa and dad, now that they are both gone… I say gardening is my therapy, its a place I always feel close to them and remember so many great times. We, thankfully, have a huge back yard and we built a few more raised beds for this year – so now we have 6 raised beds and we’ve added blueberry bushes and a Lemon Tree over the past few years (and even with the kids toys we still have a ton of open room in the yard lol).
Stacey @ Cheap is the New Classy says
We always had a garden when I was growing up, I have such fond memories of working on it with my mom. I really need to start one at our house!
Toni says
I tried to grow flowers on a few occasions. My failure at keeping them alive has me a bit hesitant to attempt a garden, though I would love to have my own fresh veggies LOL
Greta says
I love having a garden. I am still amazed every time something really grows from those itty bitty seeds.
Robin {Mom Foodie} says
I’m just waiting for this dreadful weather to break. I did a little during a warm spell, but none since.
Toni says
I wish I could garden. I don’t have a green thumb anywhere in my body 🙁
Jenn @ The Rebel Chick says
You are so right. Fresh fruits and vegetables do taste better. Plus it’s very satisfying growing something yourself.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I’d love to hear more about the pine needles. We have a ton of them and it would be great to put them to good use instead of getting rid of them.
Debbie Denny says
I love having my own garden and then canning as much as I can. Such fun.
Tammi @ My Organized Chaos says
Our old house had a massive apple tree and I miss it so much. I wish we had a bigger yard so I could grow more vegetables, but for now i’m happy with my strawberries and tomatoes!
Trisha says
These are all excellent reasons to garden! I would love to have our own garden but unfortunately we rent and our “backyard” is a concrete parking lot. Hopefully someday we’ll have a yard to garden in!
Jessica Lieb (@bkeepsushonest) says
I would love to garden. I just wish we had space in our yard.
Sarah @ Must Have Mom says
I love gardening and grow a huge garden every Summer. It’s great growing our own food and then I can it so we have it to enjoy all year long!
Jenn says
Your gardens are just beautiful! I only have a few flowers growing, but I plan on gardening more this year!
Amanda says
What beautiful pictures! We are going to start a little garden this year. We just moved in to our new home and I would love a garden that looks like yours!
Brandie says
Your reasons for gardening are spot on….I don’t have a garden, but it’s always been something I’ve want to do. One of these days I’m sure I will, but I’ve just never had the space for it. I’ve considered dong some small raised gardens or maybe some things that are more “portable” and take up less space. I saw some huge strawberry pots at our local grocery store and I would LOVE to buy one and grow a bunch of strawberries.
Grace Hodgin says
There is nothing better for quality family time than doing the garden together and delegating jobs. My kids loved it and my grand kids have found they like eating things from a garden that they would have never tried other wise. Also my grand daughter learned that carrots come from the ground, not the grocery store. 🙂
Angela S says
I plan to have a much expanded garden this year. I look forward to having fresh salad ingredients all summer long.
Lois Alter Mark says
Your pictures are beautiful. I don’t have a green thumb at all but my husband loves gardening and has done a great job growing vegetables and flowers. Will have to share this post with him.
Liz Mays says
There’s definitely something special about food fresh from your own garden. I totally envy you those blueberries, oh yes I do. And now you’ve also got me thinking about rhubarb!
Autumn says
We started our first garden this month! We’ve already got sprouts for tomatoes, snap peas, broccoli, basil, and spinach! I need to grow some flowers too, though. Peonies and roses are so beautiful!
Giveaways 4 Mom says
I have always wanted to start a garden but I want to wait until I move into a home.
Karen says
Beautiful pictures! I love looking at gardens but I never really got into actual gardening. I want to try planting some flowers this spring.
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says
All so very true! We tried to garden last year and nothing grew…except the basil I planted on the front porch!
Rebekah says
My husband started a veggie garden when we lived in Maine. It was awesome having fresh vegetables. I REALLY want to start a small flower garden now at our new apartment. Perhaps some herbs too?