I keep hearing that more people are gardening this year due to the economy and I believe it. I usually go to two places to get my plants and seeds, usually a garden center and Lowe’s or Wal-Mart. This year I had to go to four stores to find all the things I wanted to plant. I had trouble finding what I needed.
When I would ask the workers about something I wanted, they stated that they were having trouble keeping things in stock. They also said that they were having trouble even getting some things in. When I heard this I was glad that I was able to find everything I wanted, even if I did have to go to four stores.
Since gardening is becoming so popular I thought I would give some of my thoughts about why I garden.
I have had some sort of a garden since I got married. Some years it was only a few tomato plants and other years it was quite a bit larger. If you read my posts about gardening you might think I like to garden. Well, do you know what? I really do not like to garden. In fact I actually dislike it.
I have severe allergies and asthma and have since I was a child. If I spend more than thirty minutes outside this time of year I am miserable with congestion and a sinus headache. I am very allergic to grass and anywhere it touches me I break out in a rash. But I continue to garden. I know the benefits of a garden far out-weigh the inconveniences I suffer.
Gardening is also a lot of work, hard work. The work is good for me, but not necessarily fun. When people first start gardening I don’t think they realize how much work it really is. But in my opinion it is worth it.
Here are a few reasons why gardening works for me.
I know what I can grow is better then what I can buy. It is so much better. It tastes so much better and is so much fresher.
I can also grow things so much cheaper. A package of lettuce seeds costs less than $2, usually around $1. I can get a whole row of lettuce for this. I can’t buy very much lettuce in the store for that. I can also buy one tomato plant for around $1.50. That one plant gives me way more than a $1.50 worth of tomatoes.
Produce from my garden is healthier. I control what I use on it. I know what does or doesn’t get sprayed on it. I know what goes into the soil. I know where it comes from.
I also love the lessons gardening teaches my family. My kids have a pretty easy life. A little work is good for them. I learned so much watching and working in my parent’s garden. It teaches you patience, diligence, and the rewards of hard work. You spend months planting, weeding, watering, more weeding and more watering. But then after a few months you can go pick a fresh juicy tomato and eat it with some fresh tender lettuce. You reap the rewards of all your hard work. I want my kids to learn these lessons.
Gardening is also great exercise.
So those are just some of the reasons why I garden. In my opinion the benefits of a garden are well worth it.
So do you garden? Do you love to garden or do you garden just because you like the results?
I’m not a gardener, but it interests me. We might just do a few tomato plants this year. Any idea how far apart to plant them?? I know they start out small and get really big…
Aw that stinks that you have such bad allergies. Kudos to you for persevering through them and still gardening!
I totally agree that when you first start you really don’t understand how much work there is in it–but all that work definitely pays off. I bought all my seeds the beginning of February from an heirloom seed company–and they were out of a lot of the seeds I wanted then! Gardening has grown in popularity for sure! We’ve about doubled ours this year.
And–I LOVE to garden! But, ask me again in the middle of the summer… 🙂
We grow big gardens every year. We raise enough potatoes to feed our family through the entire winter and still have enough left over to use as seed potatoes.
I also can green beans, pickles, relishes, tomatoes, salsa, jams, jellies, etc… and freeze corn as well. Besides knowing how good these fresh veggies are for you, it gives me great satisfaction knowing I’m providing for my household. 🙂 Besides that…I love canning…I admire my jars for days after I’ve canned something. LOL! It’s a pretty sight to say the least! Great post!
Sarah, we plant our tomatoes about 2 feet apart.
Lori, wow you do can alot. My mom canned tons when I was growing up. I have done some, but not a lot. I can’t say I love canning, but home grown and canned food does taste much better.
Well, I am not a natural gardener. I don’t really love it. I love the results, though, and have long envied women who get them. So this year, I’m going to be one of them. When I prayed and asked God to teach me more ways to be frugal and appreciative of what we have and to steward more wisely over it, one thing I felt like He led me towards was gardening. I hope to have enough left over after we eat to learn to preserve via canning, dehydrating, and freezing. I hope to jar up some salsa, as well as spaghetti and pizza sauces.
What a gorgeous garden spot. Staring at mine right now… broccoli. That’s it. I’ve got to get busy!
Your garden is wonderful. Sorry to hear about your allergies, but so glad that you still do it. For me we love to garden for the fresh produce, fun, learning and time together. I really like it all, but I must say my hubby does all the hard work, its a passion of his.
I enjoy gardening and have kept a garden since we got our house. Of course we have a small back yard with a tree taking up most of it so I wind up doing my gardening in pots on the deck. It still works well for me and we get much better produce.
Lori,
I’m glad I’m not the only one who sits back and admires her jars. I don’t know what it is but there is something very beautiful and satisfying about having a shelf full of something you’ve canned. It’s even better when it came from your garden.
I have always had a small garden, grown from plants I purchased at Home Depot or Lowe’s. We are going all out this year — started tomatoes and eggplant from seed, planted cool weather crops already… I am loving it! I only hope that I can say the same in August!
I am trying to garden for the first time this summer (although my parents did garden a bit on and off when I was a child). My tomato and pepper plants are looking great, but . . . we went out of town for a few days. Now that we’re back the garden is covered with grass! Our plants still look good, but how do I get rid of the grass or is it ok? We live in the South, so the heat and moisture make everything plants, weeds, and grass grow like crazy! Do you have any helpful tips?
Thanks a bunch!
Renee
Renee, I only wish I had tips for weeds and grass. It is a constant battle. I think that is one of the headaches of gardening.
I love gardening as well! It’s also a lot easier if you don’t live close to a grocery store… what’s for dinner tonight? I don’t know, walk in the garden…. pick something and cook it!
I love to garden in the Spring when it gets us all out to enjoy the weather. I like it less in June and July when it is hot and the only work is the weeding and not fun! 🙂 This year I’ve put in some new things already (brussell sprouts, peas, and cabbage) to freeze for winter use (I just love brussel sprouts and I will freeze the cabbage for use in soups). We just planted 2 apple trees and will be putting in a strawberry bed one of these days along with more fruit trees. I also really really really want a grape arbor….but that will have to wait. Like others, I love to can and freeze. I do the work with my mom often and we spend the whole day together…..green beans, tomatoes, salsa, ketchup, pickles, relish, corn, etc. and I LOVE to look at my little (and sometimes BIG) jars all lined up on my counter…and then in my cupboards. Between my garden and my husband (and now son) hunting and our laying hens, we buy mostly grains and dairy at the store. Everything else we provide for ourselves and it is such a wonderful feeling.
That is how I grew up. We raised, canned, and hunted the majority of what we ate. And it was all so good. I miss all those fresh canned fruits and vegetables. We try to plant 1 or 2 fruit trees every year and are finally starting to get a little fruit off some of them. Gardening may be hard work, but it is so worth it!