Growing your own flowers and vegetables is, apparently, very satisfying, cheaper and fresher than supermarket options and offers gentle exercise. I look in our garden and it really looks sad. We did get somewhat motivated last year and bought a tub, soil and a few herb plants. We set the tub up, lugged in the soil and fertiliser then threw in mint, rosemary, coriander, maybe some basil and chives. Within days, the coriander, basil and chives were dead, now providing compost for the remaining and hardy herbs. The others refused to die even when we refused to water them. The mint went balistic, taking over the whole tub and threatening to come inside. Not really, but you get the idea. The garden is looking tragic now so it is definitely time to redo the exercise. I’m hoping my partner will do it. He won’t so we are at a bit of a stand-off and I continue to pay $3/bunch of basil, which sits at the back of the fridge then is thrown out when it becomes wilted and crunchy.
Aunty is a terrible gardener, possibly through lack of trying. Friends buy me plants and they die. It is inevitable. It is just a matter of time. There was always something about getting down and dirty with Mother Nature that seemed like a lot of effort for not much reward. But even I can grow things. Someone once gave me a chili plant as a gift. I planted it in a sunny location then forgot about it, fully expecting it to die a rapid death. But this one did not die. It turned into a chili tree and kept giving me lovely fresh, hot fruit for years. The simple act of picking the fruit when needed it was delightful. If I can grow something, anyone can.
This pastime is supposed to be very good for you. The research in “Ikigai” by Hector Garcia, outlines how keeping active, socialising and gardening can provide a reason to get out of bed in the morning and so keep us young. Playing with nature may become a wonderful new hobby for you. Plants improve our air quality as they eat up carbon dioxide. They enhance your home and add value to your property. Learning to look after something could even improve your ability to nurture and care for yourself and for others. If you aren’t successful at first, stick with it and try again. The benefits of having a garden far outweigh the drawbacks. There don’t appear to be any drawbacks really. You just need to give it a go. Try to grow something.