The Rewards of Gardening

I finished planting my garden a few weeks ago and thought I would reflect a little on my gardening experience!

Gardening is a passion of mine that has grown over the past few years. I have always loved plants, and I remember wandering through our garden as a child, but only since having my own home and kids has it really taken off. My mom has been instrumental in this, from igniting an interest in gardening, to offering advice, to being my own personal seed store!

It started with a few plants on our deck, as we had a small yard with very little sun, but has recently become a massive undertaking. When we moved to our new home, I had no idea how much work the yard and garden would be. Luckily I enjoy it and love reaping the benefits of having my own garden.

For those of you who are a bit nervous to start because you think you need a green thumb or are worried about failing, I want to offer some encouragement! I am a perfectionist and like to excel at the things I tackle, but gardening has become a wonderful outlet for me to let go (mostly) and to realize that there are some things beyond my control.

Believe it or not, I have a fairly relaxed view when it comes to my garden. I find the manual labour of planting and weeding not only good for my body but also for my mind and soul. Weeding for me is the one element in my garden I can control and it has become a therapeutic and cathartic practice. As for the plants themselves….. Sometimes I have success and sometimes my plants die, and even though I find it upsetting, it reminds me of the ebb and flow of nature. When we leave it to its own devices, it has cycles of death and life that balance out in the end.

Now this is my own gardening philosophy, so you can take it or leave it, but I really try to let my plants to do their own thing. Meaning I limit the amount of maintenance I do while gardening. I will replant seeds if nothing comes up or if my plants die, but I also try to focus on what is working and what crops thrive each year. Sometimes this differs, depending on the conditions, or the variety of seeds, or any number of other factors. Essentially, I water my plants and weed, but not much else.

Gardening has become a way of allowing myself a little chaos and disorganization in a world where I cling to those things. One way I have learned to embrace this is to have my kids help. Before having kids I would have wanted super straight lines and a perfectly organized layout, but when my kids help, those plans go out the window! My garden these days is still organized, but more by loosely managed sections, rather than in perfectly spaced lines. Watching my kids garden and eat fresh vegetables right off the plants, just like when I was a child, gives me perspective and allows me to relinquish some control.

Managing a garden can be time consuming and frustrating, but in my opinion it is SO worth it. Last year was the first time that I had so much produce in my freezer that it lasted until this summer! It has me excited to see what thrives this year and what I might choose to do differently next year.

For those of you wondering what I grew in my garden this year, I might have bit off a little more than I can chew, but I like variety and am looking forward to learning new recipes and preserving techniques.

My 2023 Garden:

• Cucumbers (4 varieties)
• Tomatoes (5 varieties)
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli (2 varieties)
• Cauliflower (2 varieties)
• Mammoth Basil (I also have Sicilian Basil on my kitchen windowsill)
• Dill
• Zucchini
• Butternut Squash
• Pumpkins
• Delicata Squash
• Cantaloupe
• Kale (Red and Green)
• Beets (2 varieties)
• Radishes (3 varieties)
• Carrots (3 varieties)
• Peas (3 varieties)
• Beans
• Corn
• Turnips
• Parsnips
• Leeks
• Red Onions
• Potatoes
• Cabbage
• A wide variety of greens (Buttercrunch, Red Leaf, Dandelion, Swiss Chard, Spinach, Arugula, Pak Choy, Microgreens)
• Sunflowers, nasturtiums, marigolds

I will write again about some of the recipes I love, and how I preserve a lot of my produce, but for now, this is just a snapshot of what I have on the go this year. I feel incredibly grateful to have such a large space right now, so I am utilizing it as best I can. But I also enjoyed planting a few select things when I had limited space, so there are no rules or expectations or stipulations. I hope this inspires you to grow a few things of your own 🙂 Get your fingernails dirty, work hard until your body aches in a good way, and know where your food is coming from. Trust me, it tastes better!! I find it so satisfying to work hard at something that I enjoy, and to see what comes of it.

Look out for new posts with tips and more gardening information soon!