Why Gardening is the Best New Year's Resolution and a Great Hobby!
When I looked up the top New Year's Resolutions, here's what I found:
Exercise, weight loss, better eating habits, personal finance, mental health and stress reduction. You know what hobby hits all of that - and "getting a hobby" is typically a new year's goal as well - gardening!
Getting outside, whether it's your entire yard, a patch, a corner or a patio - if you're outside and moving...that's exercise!
If you're moving - consistently - then you're going to lose weight
If you choose to grow some fruits and/or veggies, you're going to be eating healthier
It depends how far down the gardening rabbit hole you go as to how much money you'll save... I may be in the hole, haha, but I keep buying more plants! But, growing your own herbs, growing flowers and cutting them for bouquets - you'll definitely save money!
I can't express how much gardening for a fact, lowers your stress and improves mental health. There are loads of stats on this subject, but I can tell you from personal experience that being outside, even gardening inside, does a mind some good.
Before you get overwhelmed and think "I don't have time to garden, I have kids, I have a job", etc, gardening doesn't have to be and shouldn't be an overwhelming task. I like to remind people that you can garden based on your time, physical ability, financial ability and available space.
Short on time? I'd recommend sticking to one 16 sq ft raised bed and/or just a few pots. If you're into food, you can raise tomatoes (be sure the package says "determinate"; they'll stay bushier), or grow beans, peas, strawberries, herbs or even cucumbers and zucchini in pots. You can pick three pots and grow one pot of milkweed (host plant for the Monarch butterfly) and two other nectar and pollen producing flowers. One raised bed or a few pots doesn't take much time at all. Just be sure to pick a sunny location!
Short on money? I'd recommend finding pots for free and buying a few packets of seeds to grow some veggies (start after last frost in late spring) or flowers: annual seeds after the danger of last frost has passed or perennial seeds in the fall (just scatter the seeds where you want them). Most perennials need a cold snap (cold stratification) in order to grow the following year, so typically nothing will happen if you plant those seeds in the spring (without the cold stratification). So here's the deal: you can always buy plants, veggies, fruits and flowers alike, but if you're trying to save money, then either get starts from friends or start with seeds. You'll need more patience, but your wallet will thank you.
Ability or space limitations...same as short on time! You can do a lot with a little and pots or a raised bed (and they make some that are really raised up high) can fit just about anywhere you have a sunny spot. If you use a standing height raised bed (we bought ours at Costco last year), that would help you avoid bending over and those can fit on most patio, porches or balconies! You can have a little veggie bed or a nifty little pollinator garden, all in the tidiness of 10 sq ft!
So, if you'd like a hobby or were thinking about tackling any of the above self-improvement issues, then think about easing into gardening. You'll be glad you did!
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