Mindful gardening
- RK
- Aug 30, 2020
- 3 min read
Gardening is the latest in my list of hobbies. I have a newfound love for it, and I plan to continue with this very satisfying pursuit each spring! To me gardening is more about the process than the product.
When I started gardening at our community plot last year it was with the intention of teaching my young children respect for mother earth. I hoped that they would experience the thrill of witnessing life itself. There are other great benefits like engaging in physical exercise, getting fresh air and sun after a long winter, improving focus and STEM abilities, spending quality family-time together, and harvesting (and relishing) the fruit of our combined effort and patience. And of course, then there is the favorite - playing in mud and splashing water on each other!
Our community garden is really a group activity. A couple of my friends and I together tend and care for our garden. Mother earth provides a way to connect not only with her but with each other. We started by pulling out the weeds which felt so therapeutic; new beginnings, ridding oneself of any remnants of negativity and making room for growth and optimism. We planted tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, jalapenos, mint, basil, lettuce, and we continue to watch them flourish in awe. This has been a project involving our own research and analysis, learning from fellow gardeners and from YouTube videos about seed starting, plant pruning, organic manure, and plant bugs. Unfortunately, there were some casualties - like the one tomato plant that just wilted in front of our eyes and the batch of fenugreek seeds that did not take well to the soil. We also thoughtlessly placed a small zucchini starter plant in a center spot without realizing how utterly sprawling that creeper could be!
At the end of the day, with all the learning on the job involved I know I truly am thankful for this experience. When I stick my fingers in the soil or feel the various textures of the leaves or the smoothness of the plump fruit almost ready to be harvested, a wave of serenity and joy washes over me! Occasionally an earthworm pops its head out and wiggles away from the soil being gently trowelled – honestly that is a little alarming because my daughter and I are not exactly fans of the crawlies – but it teaches us how that ecosystem is delicate and every aspect of it is important.
Some days I walk to our garden plot by myself, especially if I have had a difficult day - in the hope of finding peace. I am never disappointed. Gardening has the astonishing ability to put me in a flow-state; one of calm concentration along with fluid action. It is easy to relax for once and not think about recipes and innovative ways of keeping ever hungry and quarrelling children busy, pushing away quarantine angst or career stress, neither worry about home-schooling or limited grocery delivery slots!
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes mindfulness as “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.” I have found gardening to be an engaging way to easily find yourself in a meditative or mindful state. Meditation surely does not have to be boring and static, as is a common view.
In times like these when life can feel quite stagnant, gardening is rejuvenating. It boosts mood, energy levels, creativity, focus, cognitive ability and reduces stress levels. It is great for improving mental health. Try gardening and connecting with nature as meditation, just breathe and feel the ease with which your troubles float away in that moment of mindfulness.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the town of Secaucus for a wonderfully managed community garden that allows residents to find their own slice of nature amid a bustling city!
Follow this link for more information
Comentarios