Why You Should Keep Gardening in 2021
Did you take up gardening for the first time in 2020? As the walls seemed to close in, did you look to your backyard, porch, or patio and think… what if? You found some seeds, bought a trowel, spent some time on YouTube, and you made it work.
Maybe you grew a bumper crop of beans and you beat the rabbits to the radishes. You spent time outside and found new freedom in the soil. Food from your garden tasted better. It was a good first year.
Or, maybe it was a bumpy road and things didn’t go as planned. The bugs ate your broccoli, the heat scorched your spinach, and the weeds were just… well, weeds. It seemed like a lot of work for not a lot of payback, an endless list of chores that yielded a mild distraction from reality at best. Why, why would you ever want to do this again? Maybe that patch of soil is better off as lawn…
I’ve been gardening my entire life and for those keeping track (I see you, mom), I’m now into my third decade. I made my passion my career and have spent more than a decade working in public gardens connecting people to plants — and one another — through green space. I’ve long believed everyone should garden in their own way because I’ve seen how the lessons we learn while gardening can transcend the soil and shape the person and perspective we bring to bear in the rest of our lives.
In this spirit, here are five reasons I believe you should keep gardening in 2021.
Reason 1: You’ll embrace and grow where you’re planted. Gardening is an intentional, mindful practice of continuous improvement and forward momentum. Set yourself up for success by focusing on what worked and what fits your growing conditions.
Reason 2: You won’t let the illusion of a “perfect” garden be the enemy of growing a better one in 2021. You’ll kill fewer plants and harvest more garlic — surely a cause for celebration.
Reason 3: You’ll come to see how the journey of gardening is the real joy and ultimate destination and realize it isn’t about instant gratification.
Reason 4: You’ll find joy in unexpected places. Did you fall in love with composting? Good news: the world needs more compost. Also, who knew carrots could be so rewarding to pull out of the ground?
Reason 5: You’ll discover new patience and stamina to withstand stress. Nature powers forward and before we know it a new season is upon us. Winter inevitably gives way to spring. Repeat after me: this too shall pass.
Above all, gardening is a perpetual investment in optimism and hope. It sharpens our creativity, courage, and mindfulness.
Gardening is generous: it nurtures our body, our soul, and our relationships. Gardening reminds us we’re connected, and it encourages us to connect. We need gardens and gardeners more than ever as our world begins to heal.
So, sharpen your trowel and brace yourself for seed catalogs. The season of planning and dreaming is upon us and before long little tomato plants will be reaching for the light from windowsills everywhere. No matter what happened in your garden last year, don’t give up. This can and will be a better year.
Consider this your virtual botanical pep rally. You’ve got this!
The lessons you learn can and will transcend the soil and your identity as a gardener can change your life for the better.
This year will be a better year, until the next one.
Let’s grow.
P.S. Are you looking for resources to help you in the new year? Consider visiting your local public botanical garden, joining a community garden, or connecting with your county extension office. Most of these spaces offer free resources and can connect you with experienced gardeners in your area as friends and mentors.
Also, make it a goal to order your seeds before February 1. Last year many seed companies sold out in record time. Don’t miss out!
