Benefit of the Doubt: Why Gardening is Strictly the Best Hobby

"Gardening is the essence of it all, and more."
​-Jetta

---

A lot of people really do think that gardening is only for commercial farmers. However, that is strictly not the case. Many people use their backyards as their gardening oasis, in which I am one of those individuals. Ever since I was a young one, I have always felt so different about my connection with the earth. Within the past few years I have really been able to dig deeper and understand that gardening is a true passion of mine. Plants have literally 'grown' on me so to speak. I love watching the process of planting all the way to the end product. 

As a gardener I have a garden both outside and inside. I love my houseplants because they encourage me to live each day truly connected to the earth. I really do think that is so important. Without that connection and well-being with nature I am not sure where I would be at this point. Every morning I get up and check on my little plant creatures. I love each one of them as if they were an actual pet. This is so important because I have come to the realization that even the smallest things make this world a better place. From the bamboo on my night stand, to the monsterra on my dresser, and even the succulents that sit on my window, I have really bonded with these living plantae. Not a day goes by that I do not appreciate my plants. 

Venturing outside is remarkable in a sense that there are plants everywhere. Earth is indeed just a giant garden with so much to offer. As time goes on, I have helped my family transform our yard into a gardening oasis. Several crops are grown in each section of the yard, which provides for a strong variety. My personal favorites are the carrots and peppers. There is absolutely nothing like tasting a freshly pulled carrot from the garden. They have so much flavor compared to those at the store. That is a huge blessing of gardening -the flavor profiles are beyond description due to the fact that they taste so good. Fresh peppers have a thick crisp to them, which causes the juices to burst out as your teeth chomp down on the vegetable. Picking from the garden is always the most rewarding experience ever. 

Being outside in nature causes the mind to clear, reset, and change. There is something so special about being out in the great outdoors that just makes the body feel better. Every breath of fresh air that fills the lungs causes the mind to feel at ease. Every noise that fills the environment around curates so much happiness and positivity. When the bees fly by and the birds chirp it causes the pain to fade away. Nature is truly our healing method. Through my whole life I have noticed that nature is truly the best medicine. 

No one needs a green thumb in order to succeed at gardening. All there needs to be is faith, determination, and effort. All three of those things leads to greatness in the garden. Plants are meant to bring pure happiness and joy, which really does help the soul. Each breath we take is thanks to the plants and the organisms with photosynthetic properties. We have the oxygen, water, and carbon cycles because of plants.  Not many people realize it, but plants also impact the food chain at a very heavy degree. It is ever so important to realize how these organisms influence our lives as a whole. 

"The greatest moments in life stem from the smallest things. Right? Yes, absolutely. Whenever we feel like our stems are wilting go towards nature. Nature is our medicine."
​-Jetta

Struggle with gardening? Here are some tips from my green thumb:

Gardening is never an easy feat for anyone. A lot of first timers will call it tedious, dirty, and painful labor. I personally can agree to these concepts to some extent. No one ever said that cultivating the land would ever be easy. It definitely takes lots of time, effort, and patience. Before one can reap the benefits, they must endure the hardships, just like any other job. However, no other job is as rewarding than that of farming, gardening, and harvesting. 

There is not really an 'easy' way to garden so to speak. On the other hand, there are definitely ways to make it easier on yourself. I have put together 5 ways to make gardening easier for first time gardeners. 
Keep in mind that there is something that can always be learned. Every good gardener will not know everything about every plant. Start at one at a time and keep a good eye.

1) Be Positive

Being positive is one thing that I have always struggled with. In gardening it is very crucial to be positive, even when a plant dies. Taking in the moment as something positive will help knowledge come. 
A positive outlook will only give positive experiences. I always have to think about the joy that plants give to me, so I should give them happiness in return. 
With the correct self care for you and your plants, it's a guaranteed win.

2) Share with others

The fast pace growth of the intranet helps solve a lot of problems. Do not be afraid to post questions on local pages on social media. Discuss issues with like minded people. Knowledge only comes by asking, there is no such thing as a stupid question. 

Some question examples include:
 Why is my ____(Plant)____ dying?
-When can I plant ______?
-How long does it take for _____ to grow from seed to harvest?
-Who can I reach out to that will help me
-What is the correct type of fertilizer to use for _____?
-Where can I go to get _____?
Like I said above, knowledge comes by asking other people. If you have a question, then chances are someone else will have the same question. You're just benefiting other people too.

3) Research

Before starting any sort of project usually research is required. Before starting gardening, do a little side research.

 A few topics that can be researched are:
-Germination rates
-Length between planting and germination
-Local climate, weather, temperature, rainfall, etc. 
-What zone your area is in
-How often to water
-Is the plant a shade plant, full sun, etc
-Cool weather vs warm ​

4) Keep it natural

Using pesticides is super popular, and those pesticides are actually not good. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean that it is safe. Pesticides are a known carcinogen for humans, plants, and animals. This is highly important to remember. I have done plenty of research about how these things are harmful to the human body. As someone who is captivated with the idea of good health, I have spent countless hours on this subject -trust me, these carcinogens are bad. On the other hand, there are better alternatives to these synthetic counterparts. One of these is actually neem oil. This oil is derived from the neem plant, which is all natural and organic. Whenever purchasing fertilizer or cides make sure that the labels read organic. When staying organic, health is being put at the top of the line, which is such a necessity.

5) Try again

Success is never given, success is achieved by hard work. Always keep trying even if failure takes place because it is inevitable. Success is merely just failure one thousand and one times.  

"Success is never given, success is achieved by hard work. Always keep trying even if failure takes place because it is inevitable. Success is merely just failure one thousand and one times. "
​-Jetta

In the end, gardening is good all around. It is good for the body, mind, and spirit. This is home, nature is our home. Get outside, dig a hole, and plant a seed. You would be so amazed at how therapeutic having a green thumb is.