Starting a garden
Charles Darwin famously said, “it is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change.” With this spirit and the arrival of spring in mind I have decided to start my own garden! There are so many options to this endeavor but as a plant lover I really want to maximize the natural, home-grown aspect as much as possible. Therefore, I have decided to start my garden of cherry tomatoes, sunflowers, and herbs from seeds.
Some people say that the added steps and time from gardening from seeds isn’t worth the reward but I believe it to be the best decision for my specific situation. You see, in Michigan, the last frost can be towards the end of April or even later. By starting my garden from seeds, a major perk for those in colder climates, I will be able to reap the fruits of my labor for longer. I am already looking forward to growing my own food and adding those vegetables and herbs to many recipes. A dear friend from Maine sent me the majority of the seeds I will need to get started and now I am eager to learn the ropes and show off my gardening skills to my friends and family.
Here’s what I did and bought to start my garden:
Researched the last frost so I know when to start
Bought a notebook to keep track of my progress and actions
After the year(s) we have all had I am hoping to benefit from the therapeutic act of caring for my own garden. Similarly, I have felt the benefits from nature and all of my plants: reduced stress, boost in mood, and a sense of accomplishment. The goal is to increase the positive feelings with more good, like gardening, to combat and better deal with the uncertainties in life. You can read more about the creative ways I explored and managed to feed the travel bug in me during Covid-19 in my previous post about hiking Lake Ann Trail.
Please reach out with any tips you have for a newbie gardener! I am all ears!