Life begins the day you start a garden. – Chinese proverb
Now is the time to make a real difference in your life, and in the world. How?
By growing your own food.
Not to put a too finer point on it growing food in a garden, allotment – even on a balcony – can bring massive rewards. I’m not joking either. There have been formal studies conducted on the benefits of growing your own food. And spending more time outside is now a recognised health referral option.
It’s great for you because it brings all sorts of wellbeing when you sow, when you dig or when you harvest a potato or a runner bean. It’s great for your health as well – not only bringing natural exercise into your life but having more control over what your grow means you know it’s as organic as it possibly can be. And it’s good for the planet – less packaging, less plastics, less mileage to get your food to your plate. Less chemicals, pesticides and more good nutrients being put back into the earth.
I’m probably blogging all this to the converted. If you’re reading my blog you probably already are sowing or growing, or gardening or aware of what food comes from what place. But, it’s always worth telling this news again. Anyone who has spent any amount of time tilling away at the soil knows – feels, the benefits of what a garden or allotment can do to your very soul. That first excitement of seeing seeds germinating on a windowsill, or popping the first-ever pea from a pod that you’ve lovingly looked forward to after so many weeks – watering and tying them up carefully.
And I wish I could bottle those good feelings up – that calm and serenity, being proud, being in awe. Wouldn’t that be great? But, it’s not possible so instead, I want to support as many people to grow food and feel the way I do when I’m outside gardening.
Even if you have no room, there is a way. Even if you’ve never grown anything in your life – now is the time. And even if everything you think you’ve ever grown just ups and dies on you, it doesn’t mean it will again.
Instead, let’s come together, share our growing trials, our knowledge and our experience to help others do the same.
Spread the message – let’s get growing. Now is a perfect time. Spring is nearly here. There are seeds to choose, pots to find and a little space for growing plants to make ours.
I’ll share what I grow through this year in the hopes it inspires others. If you are growing something, share what you learn with others near to you – physically or online. Let kids and adults alike see how great gardening is. And lets more people feel the wonderful feelings that come from growing our own food. You don’t have to be a gardener. You just have to be curious to learn.
Thank you for reading.
Growing the Green Life - doing something good every day 