There are many components wired into a man or a woman that can make that individual a good gardener at heart, even if they have never had a garden of their own.
Some people feel gardening is in their genes; they just love feel the coolness of a handful of rich loam or to watch the progress of a seed springing forth from the earth.
Maybe as a little tyke you had special memories of working alongside a grandparent in the yard or planting you own seeds and eating the fruit of your labor. The enjoyment of placing a handful of green beans or a red, ripe tomato in the harvest basket has stayed with you through the years.
Or maybe you are someone who has never thought about gardening.
Take 2 minutes and see if you have the elements needed to be a good gardener already built within you. What you find out might surprise you.
And know that you will be healthier for it!
There IS sanity in the soil!
Australian researchers following men and women in their 60s found that those who regularly gardened had a 36% lower risk of dementia than their non-gardening counterparts. (source)
Are You Already Wired To Be A Gardener?
The Laptop Gardener says, “What sets our pastime apart from many others is a good old-fashioned dose of patience. Patience is a fleeting virtue among the “need it now”, instant gratification world. Growing relatively fast crops like tomatoes are an undertaking of four to six weeks before they can be put outside in the garden. The anticipation of biting into that first ripe tomato teaches patience.”
“A gardener is someone with a vision. Having a vision and being able to picture the end result is a valuable quality that will eliminate lots of unnecessary frustration. This anticipated picture may change somewhat between the start and finish but it is key to success.
“Being creative is the fun part of creating the vision. Letting the creative ideas flow freely brings out some amazing results. Ingenuity is frequently linked with creativity. This ability to make do with whatever is nearby is also a trait that is particularly strong in gardeners. There are always makeshift trellises for the climbing beans, temporary compost piles or a new way to stake tomatoes (with hockey sticks?) showing this ingenuity in gardeners.
“Gardeners always have intimate knowledge of everyone’s favorite subject – the weather. Gardeners are keenly aware of the weather because it affects their gardening life. This interest in weather allows gardeners to strike up a conversation anywhere with other gardeners. ”
Most gardeners often have a special heart for birds, animals, and children in addition to their love of plants. A good gardener by nature seems to be a nurturing and caring person.
A Gardener Loves Nature
You enjoy being outdoors. You notice the pulse of the seasons around you; maybe you delight in timely rains that refresh the earth, enjoy watching the activities of the insect world, and watch for the return of the robins in spring.
(source)
Maybe it is as simple as being awed by the handiwork of the Creator, and you want to bring some of the beauty to your yard!
Would you like to attract birds and butterflies to you own backyard with sheltering habitat? The bluebird pairs are around us all winter. This year so far we’ve seen up to 12 at a time.
And they stay to use the bluebird boxes to nest their young in the spring.
Cedar waxwings and many, many others will come for crab apples and other berries during the cold winter months.
Have you ever thought you’d like to grow a few indoor plants for a spot of color and to help the air quality inside your home?
Do you find yourself dreaming of wonderful color combinations and find yourself studying the gardens of others to get ideas? And wildly, have you ever gone up to someone’s door and knocked to ask what that is that’s growing in their flower bed?
Might you enjoy pouring over the flower and vegetable seed company catalogs that seem to just happen into our mailboxes in January?
For many, the delight of growing your own fresh-picked produce with out even leaving home is one of the simplest pleasures known to mankind.
There is satisfaction in knowing you can save at least a little bit on your food budget, sometimes quite a bit, and are on your way to being prepared in the event of an emergency.
Are you Community-Minded?
Perhaps you have always thought it would be pretty neat to share the food you grow with your neighbors and friends.
Good gardeners are often willing to share their plants with others. Sending a part of one’s garden home with an admirer is a tradition that goes back to pioneer days.
Gardeners are a generous lot.
Plant exchanges are a great way to learn and spread the joy!
If you see any of these tendencies in yourself or one of your children, why don’t you plant a little garden this spring. You may surprise yourself and find this hobby will be a blessing.
Many studies have shown that being around plants lowers the blood pressure and calms the nerves. Whatever the skill level, gardening often has a positive effect on people. When you slice your first homegrown tomato, you just may wish you got started earlier!
Why not plan a garden today? It will help your brain and calm you in ways you can’t imagine!
“There is sanity in the soil.” ~Anonymous
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” ~Genesis 2:15
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The Redeemed Gardener
That was very good. Gardening is something it think is something that is in all of us, we just have to find it. That was a good read!
Jacqueline
Thank you for your kind words, Clint, and that from you, a very good gardener!! It was such fun to think about 🙂
Brenda
I just found your blog this morning; You certainly have a green thumb. Your gardens are beautiful. I look forward to reading your previous post; there are so many interesting ones I don’t know where to start!
jedidja
My son is eight. He told me yesterday at the table that he wants to make a garden in his room. Tropical plants 🙂 I feel a bit insecure about his plan but encourage him. Cacti maybe?
Jacqueline
Cactus are a great choice for a windowsill or table below a sunny window 🙂 I’m sure there are many helpful and informative books available and at 8 he may be ready to do the research with your help 🙂 Let me know how he does!! maybe you can post about it on your blog!
jedidja
Great idea 🙂 Thanks
Marla Medina
I loved this post!
Julia Forshee
Your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!! While I have not been successful as a gardener yet, we don’t have space for a garden, I do can and enjoy that. I actually just canned 8 jars of grape applesauce today 🙂 Thank you for this post!! I recently started a Thursday link-up party (yes, today:), and I would really love to see this post and/or any others you would like to include. I am at allthingswithpurpose.com. Hope to see you there and for many more Thursday’s to come!!
Jacqueline
Julia, I would love it if you would link -up here…you still can for mine is Wednesday!! I will come and join in!
Judith at WholeHearted Home
That reminds me!! I need to get some manure for my garden since our dirt here is terrible!! Thanks for linking up this great post at WholeHearted Home. I always am captivated by your pictures.
Emma L Shows
unfortunately I kill everything I try to grow. I just don’t have it in me. Now my kids, on the other hand…they kill things by overloving them!
But we are trying to get on a schedule or routine that will take into account gardening needs. We’ll see.
Chris the hortzone
A wonderful article. I’m a gardening blogger and have just saved this article in my favourite resources. Besides, I’m sure to recommend it to my audience.
Jacqueline
Thanks, Chris!
Brenda
Gardening and working in the soil is my stress relief! Add to that Vitamin D, and all the good beauty of chicken’s scratch dancing around me and hearing the birds chirp and chatter. More outside time and less screen time helps me to really be a more patient and resilient person – more joy and smiles. And most importantly, time to think and be steadfast in the present. 🙂
Jacqueline
Brenda,
What an great accurate assessment! I also find time in my garden very soothing. So helpful for prayer, praise, and processing trials, and planning.
Life is much, much better when we are in touch with God’s wonderful nature!
Blessings,
Jacque
Brenda
Jackie – here is a family seed company near me. A really beautiful story and blessing. 🙂
https://www.stclareseeds.com/garden-help/
Jacqueline
Yes!!! Brenda, we have ordered twice from St. Clare Seeds! Very good to work with!
I have them listed in this post: https://deeprootsathome.com/4-ways-to-keep-monsanto-out-of-your-home-garden/
Thank you,
Jacque