Gardening represents many things for me. Of course, I enjoy the harvest very much, and I feel very lucky to be eating from my garden (especially in the summer months!) but my garden represents a lifestyle.
I have a romantic view of going back to the good ol' days. Waking up early on the farm to feed the animals, water the garden, spin your own wool and live off of the land. A life that connects you to the root of the matter. Eating vegetables that you know how to grow and exactly where it was picked, using medicinal herbs that grow wild in the woods, compassionately hunting or butchering (owning up to a slaughter if meat is on your plate) doing it all purely for subsistence.
I grew up dreaming about traveling the world, and I still dream about it today, but I spend most of my time trying to connect to my local place. I'm trying to encourage my lifestyle to be more local and in turn more sustainable and environmentally and socially conscious. I garden because it is sustainable. I am powered by bicycle and my food is grown within 2 miles of my kitchen.
I feel empowered by my garden because it allows me to make healthy decisions. I know that I have the power to grow my own food. Everyday I learn more about scientific approaches to gardening, understanding soil structures and the reason why plants need air, water and sun. This information seems very basic and it is, but the more I learn about plants and their needs, the more I understand my own body and it's needs.
I garden so that I eat a variety of fresh vegetables for every meal. I know I am benefiting from all the vitamins and minerals in my vegetables. I think we all know that we are what we eat. That is simple. It doesn't stop people from eating trash, and I am no purest by any means, but I certainly try to give my body what it needs to thrive. I believe that food is medicine and plants are powerful to the human body.
I garden so that I have a relationship with the environment. Being in the outdoors is important to my physical and mental health. Gardening is a very good work out! It is also a great time for my mind to relax. When I am at the garden time just floats on by because I feel at ease. The garden is a constant education, there are always new plants to get to know and experiments waiting to be had. All to better improve the progress of the garden.
