There is something about getting down on my knees and digging in the dirt that rejuvenates me. The rich smell of moist soil and sight of green stems stretching heavenward fills my soul with delight. Doing something you love significantly reduces stress which should increase your lifespan. So I guess getting dirty will help you live longer.
I went to a gardening workshop this morning for a couple hours. Clarence Whetton, a master gardener spoke about starting a vegetable garden in an empty spot in your yard. He works for Thanksgiving Point Gardens and the Utah State University Extension Service. He gave a really informative presentation, and I was excited to find out that he teaches other classes at Thanksgiving Point as well.
You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.
~Author Unknown
I’ve been planning on increasing the size of my flower and vegetable gardens this year, and the things I learned today got me even more excited about it. Where I live it’s still pretty cold, so I can’t do much gardening yet. My crocus bulbs and early miniature daffodils are blooming and I’ve got tulip, full sized daffodil, iris, day lilly and other bulbs sending shoots up. I get so excited when they start peeking out of the ground! It helps cheer me through the last little bit of winter.
I plan ahead for these Spring beauties. In the fall when it’s starting to cool off I get busy planting bed after bed of bulbs. It all pays off in late February when I start seeing fresh green stems working their way through the cold soil and into the frosty air. Those stems and blooms are a message I look forward to, “Spring is nearly here!”
One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.
~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show
Finding something that brings joy to you is an important part of self-care. Taking the time and energy to prepare the flower beds is stress relieving for me so it helps me in the Fall while I work my gardens and it uplifts my spirit in the Spring as I see the fruits of my labors bloom. Once I start gardening I have a hard time leaving the dirt until it’s so dark I can’t see to work anymore. However, you don’t need to spend hours gardening to feel your tension gradually melt away and have some beautiful plants to bring you happiness for months to come. Even scheduling 15 minutes a day doing something you enjoy makes a big impact on your ability to face the rest of the day’s challenges.
My suggestion is to find something you love and schedule time to do it regularly. It will bless your life!
Happy Gardening!