Why do you garden?

[jal_ut]

I guess its a way of life. Grandpa had a garden, Father had a garden, I grow a garden, my children grow gardens.

When my kids were at home we actualy ate out of the garden. Without it we would have been hungry many times.

There is a big economic benefit from a good sized home garden.

You can't get a good tomato or cantaloupe or fresh green beans and peas unless you grow it yourself.

Anything else you grow in your garden is so much fresher and tastier than you can buy.

You know what went on your garden as far as chemicals etc.

I really enjoy the time spent in the garden.

Is that enough reasons?

[Earl K]

i grow because it is a great feeling coming home from work and seeing what a difference a day makes,new blossoms,new leaves,new tomatos,peppers,zuchini coming along,and waiting on the strawberries,just came in from moving all my plants for better sun. yes,my garden is all in buckets but i still enjoy every day and cant wait to pick my first homegrown anything

[lynn565]

I can really feel how much you all ove to garden.

I'm totally convinced. I've been wanting to do it for a long time so I'm jumping in this weekend.

1 square foot garden (4 x 4) is what I'm starting with. I can't wait to come back here with my progress!!

[2cents]

a 4x4 is an excellent way to start.
you can pack those small raised beds with lots of produce.

[jal_ut]

Another reason:

[petalfuzz]

I started gardening because I got a rabbit. She demanded fresh produce. And variety. I said, "how hard would it be to grow my own lettuce?" Now I'm growing 10 different salad crops, 10 different tomatoes, and 5 or more types of pepper. Plus corn and summer squash, watermelon, and herbs. Oh, and fruit plants too. Ha, ha. Who knew a rabbit could open this can of worms?

Also, it's rewarding, it saves money over grocery store prices, it tastes better, is fresher, isn't laden with chemicals, good for the environment, good for my health, etc. It has also allowed me to learn something new and also learn how to store my harvest: mainly canning and freezing. Some drying. It's made me more conscious of where my food comes from.

I love my rabbit and I love gardening!!

[rainbowgardener]

All of the above, ditto, ditto. But gardening keeps me out in the sunshine and fresh air. I'm not a person who can just sit on the deck and soak up sun for too long, I need to be doing something. It gives me a personal connection to what I eat (I not only know where my veggies came from, I know where the soil they grew in came from and I helped create it and often I know where the seeds for my flowers came from because I grew and harvested them) which I find deeply satisfying. It keeps me connected to nature and the cycles of the seasons. Often it drives me crazy... the weather people on TV are saying "it's another beautiful, sunny day" and never mention that we are deep in drought and everything is dying for lack of water. I feel like in small ways, I'm giving back to Gaia, mother earth by caring for the soil, restoring my little patch of ground, planting native plants... And everything is so beautiful. The flowers, and the butterflies, and birds and the whole little ecosystem I'm creating. I grow lots of stuff that is fragrant or aromatic and sometimes I just walk through my garden and smell things -- it's aromatherapy! It lifts my heart, the smells and the colors and the birdsong. Keeps you grounded in the sensory world instead of the high tech abstract sterile computer world we live in so much. See also my post on gardening as a spiritual path! "You are closer to God in a garden than anywhere else on the earth."

[ManokAnak]

I was probably gardening before I could walk. My parents garden, my grandparents garden and used to farm, my great grandparents gardened and used to farm, their parents in Italy had farms and so on. I guess you can say it is in my blood to garden. I get urges to garden. Gardening is relaxing to me. Every weed pulled is a childhood memory. Yes, i like pulling weeds. Most important thing about gardening, especially young people my age who grew up on video games, it gets us all outside and we bond. Favorite part of gardening, there is nothing more better than a fresh tomato or cucumber off the vine! Also, my friends learned a lot about how food really is made and about our native plants and pollinators. ( i have native plants and a vegetable garden, hopefully native fruit trees in the future)Gardening is also educational. Also, we plant some food for our turtles.

I really cannot think of anything more rewarding than the hard work put into he garden come harvest.

[pepper4]

This is my first year. I decided to do veggies because I enjoy planting and growing flowers, herbs ect. I have always had pretty good luck with both inside andd outside plants. I decided to start most my stuff from seed because I enjoy watching them grow. I have seedlings throughout my house. Can't wait to get them in the ground and watch them mature and produce. To me it's amazing to watch the whole process. I did plant radish seed outside about 5 days ago. Everyday, sometimes twice a day I go out and check for any kind of growth. Money was a bit of a factor. I use alot of onions and peppers so hopefully I can save alittle there. Depending on this year I would like to expand and try some canning. That would be a first also. Have fun and enjoy!

[soil]

gardening is good for the mind, body and soul. nothing like getting out in the sun and working some soil.

[wolfwalkerpa]

I almost started gardening real early my mom was riding a horse in the garden and the horse fell and she fell off i was born a few hours later.Now i garden because its something i always done for over 60 years and i feel so alive seeing the new tomatoes etc growing from little plants or sprouts into nice healthy plants.

[lynn565]

I use alot of onions and peppers so hopefully I can save alittle there. Depending on this year I would like to expand and try some canning. That would be a first also. Have fun and enjoy!

I use a lot of those, too. But my gosh...the price of red peppers is outrageous!

I've got my garden planted (tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, cucumbers, radishes and a bit of cilantro for my home made salsa).

I love reading about why you guys love to garden.

Here's why I started:

I love the idea of being self sufficient, I like knowing where my veggies come from and how they're grown and I can't wait to taste fresh veggies.

My mom didn't have a store bought fruit or veggie until she was 20 and she never had to go to the doctor. I'm thinking the vitamins are also more than in store bought produce.

[pepper4]

You may be right about the vitamins in veggies. My dad was raised on home grown fruits and veggies. He continued to grow much of his veggies and is now 82 very active and healthy. Believe it or not he still has his orginal teeth. His dad was a big time farmer and lived a healthy active life until the age of 94.

[Sweet Petunia]

I don't really know why I love to garden so much. I have always lived in the country. Me and my Daddy always planted a garden together....and I was definaltely a Daddy's girl. It was the one thing we loved to do together. He is gone now and every year when Spring begins I get this acheing in my heart to be in the middle of it. I love the way the dirt feels between my fingers and my toes. I love the smell of it. I love to plant seeds and watch them come to life and grow and become all that God intended them to be. I feel an amazing energy when I walk in my yard! I think it is just a gift that I was born with. Its my happy place in this ol world. The garden is where I feel at peace and one with nature and God. I have always said that if we have jobs to do when we go to heaven, I want to work in Heavens garden!! Can you imagine how beautiful that would be?
And I also love to reap what I have sown ( in the garden,that is) and love shareing my harvest with other people. It doesnt take a smart person to plant a garden. Anyone can do it. But it is one of the most rewarding things to do. I guess thats why I do it.

[PeterMcC]

I work on a computer all day (and sometimes all night too) so really enjoy getting out in the fresh air.

I love the smell and feel of the earth and my little girls help too, which usually means I get nothing done. But once I can keep the blasted dog off the cabbage plants its usually great fun.