Why Gardening?
People, especially those living in the cities, are now retracing ancient practices. Ancient? Yes, humans have mastered farming since ancient times. In fact, it is in cultivating the land that has drawn early human civilizations together to thrive. Through time, farming is an essential key that has supported communities, villages, cities, nations and even empires.
“AS CIVILIZATION PROGRESS, CULTURE IS DEVELOPED.”
Thousands of years later, we have harnessed the earth’s elements and build systems in place for us to live in. Today, we call it a city. Most of the population around the world are now gravitated in or around the city limits. And when, most of our needs are being met on a day to day basis, we then seek to find more activities to do.
“MASLOW’S HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS SUGGEST THAT HUMANS GO THROUGH STAGES OF MOTIVATION IN OUR PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE DEFICIENCY NEEDS ARE SAID TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE UNMET.”
Assuming that the basic psychological and physical needs are met, people tend to find more activities that will engage them. Gardening is just one hobby that one could, say, easily do. Gardening is pretty much “farming” in a lot of sense. It is a natural and innate thing in us, humans, as history tells us. Primarily, farming started as food producing activity until recently did we tend to collect more exotic species for aesthetics purposes. Gardens have evolved in so many different ways depending on one’s needs.
There are a substantial amount of reasons one why gardening can be a beneficial hobby. A lot of people who have done gardening can really attest that it can be their solace and that it provides them happiness. In the concrete and steel confides of a city, humans naturally seek things in nature. Thus, some even say that gardening is their “stress-reliever”. Plants give off refreshing oxygen and can also provide micro-climate modification in an area. Some plants also exhume natural aromatic scents which gives it more satisfaction for the gardener in not just one sense.
So how do I start a garden? I will break it down in bullet points so you can follow. I am merely basing it in my own experience along with some technology and information I have gathered over some few years. I’ll just break it down in to three categories so as not to complicate it as it already is.
- GARDENING IS A COMMITMENT
- GARDENING IS AN INVESTMENT
- GARDENING IS PASSION
“GARDENING IS A COMMITMENT”
Before you start a small patch of greens, make sure that you have the means to follow through. Gardening is time consuming and, yes, it demands time. When you are sure that you already have that in check then you are ready to “commit” to it.
Just like relationships, gardening is an intimate relationship which you commit to. Plants need tender loving care, among others. That said, be prepared to tend to its needs. Depending on the kind of garden you will be making, this commitment comes in to play.
As a full time gardener, I can say that the work to be done is a day to day basis. For some of you who can consider it a part time, it might be different. You control the fate of your own garden so choose carefully the path you will be getting yourself in. Again, just like relationships, you are prepared to take on the challenge.
Since I consider gardening to be a choice, so should you. Choosing the type of garden you will be making is crucial as a starting point. Understanding the needs of each garden type can help you.
To name a few, here are some garden types you can choose from:
- Bonsai
- I consider bonsai garden as a life-long journey which can be handed down to generations to come. Some consider it a “Lifestyle”.
- Regular interval sessions of care; pruning, wiring, repotting and fertilization
- Everyday watering at least three times
- Cacti and Succulents
- CnS garden is a Xeriscape (drought-tolerant) type garden.
- Watering is still important and should be done on a regular sequence of at least once a week, depending on the climate. Watering is needed more in hot summer months.
- Ornamentals
- Minimal maintenance may be done if planted on the ground; ornamental plants can be established as fast as 6 months in a tropical country.
- Potted ornamentals may need continuous care, fertilize when needed and prune when necessary
- Fruit and Vegetable
- Fruit garden may take some few years to produce if investing starts from seed grown or saplings. Marcot saplings may produce faster.
- Vegetable garden requires constant care and fertilization
- Exotic
- May require special structures such as greenhouses to control environment settings of introduced exotic plant in your area
- High risk but may also be high rewarding
“GARDENING IS AN INVESTMENT”
At this point since you are already prepared to commit, then investing should come in easy. Just as gardening is a commitment, it is also an investment. For commitments to work, investment is a necessity. As all investments, you are expecting a return. As previously stated, gardening can have multiple benefits depending on the risks you are going to take. To be safe, treat gardening as an investment but make sure to know what you are to expect.
Yes, gardening is investment in time, knowledge and technology. You also spend money on books, plants, garden tools, fertilizers, and other things necessary for the garden. Just to remind ourselves, we have assumed that psychological and physical needs have been met thus we are doing gardening. So if by priority this will not work for you now then stop or you will just be wasting your time and money.
In this age of information, knowledge and technology can easily be grasped. If you are able and internet savvy, join specialized social media groups. There are numerous groups in social media that has members who have come together for one specific purpose. Most of these groups share knowledge, experience and technology within its members. It is also an avenue to know people within your area who may also share the same passion as you do or want to do. As social beings, knowing someone who shares the same passion as we do can boost our interest and passion for the things we do.
Time as an investment is as real as the word. Unless you have enough financial capacity, some of us can invest in time. Plants take time to flourish. Bonsai can take years to form and continuous maintenance is to be done moving forward. Some cacti species take time to flower. Ornamental plants need years to grow and flourish. Fruiting trees from seedlings take years to produce fruits.
Other than the knowing the physical limitations of your garden, it also takes time to understand the kind of plants you are keeping in your garden. Gathering information, learning from other’s experience and through your own observation, you will be more than confident to face the challenges of gardening. It is crucial to understand the type of garden you are investing in so as not to have false expectations. Frustration can come easily if you are not prepared to undergo the process from the onset. Thus, gardening is indeed an investment because you are expecting rewards from the garden you are setting up.
“GARDENING IS PASSION”
Once you are committed and invested, passion naturally develops. If you find passion in the first place then good for you, as commitment and investment naturally follows. Gardening can now become a priority responsibility because you have the three elements combined.
“NOT EVERY SEED I PLANT AND SOW, WILL GROW BUT I PLANT ANYWAY…
PLANTS MAY GROW AND DIE, BUT I PLANT ANYWAY.”
Gardener’s mostly have secrets; secrets on how to propagate, maintain or develop some plant species that they have cared for over the years. In my experience, I don’t keep them as most of the knowledge I have invested in my garden are all accumulated from other’s experience and knowledge as well. If you are really willing enough to learn something, no “gardener” can keep a “secret”. We humans have the capacity to be easily persuaded to share our “knowledge” to people who have the same passion as we do, thus, the proliferation of specialized groups in social media.
Gardener’s pride themselves in their experience. It is the experience and passion that has pushed them through the years and continue to be good at what they do. Learn to harness passion as this is essential in the continuing work of the garden. Positive attitude also manifest in your garden, plants responds to it as you are more invested in them. Best of luck!
The Stubborn Iron Wood 