There are all kinds of reasons to garden. Gardening is for people who…
- munch on fresh, green, crunchy lettuce
- care about clean water
- like healthy exercise
- dream of plucking ripe, red, sweet tomatoes from the vine
- enjoy birds and butterflies
- want their kids to appreciate the Earth
- hope to feast their eyes on beautiful things
- long to connect with neighbors
- love to give gifts
- don’t get outside enough otherwise
Why do you garden, or why do you want to? What is your reason to garden?
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Hi Alison,
I wrote a post on why I garden a little while back for a contest, it’s called “I Garden because I am” and can be found here!
http://gardeningfornature.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-garden-because-i-am.html
Are you going to be telling us why you garden???
Kathy
Kathy Green ´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Waiting
Kathy, you wrote a great post – thanks for sharing the link. And thanks for asking why I garden (more on that later).
I love to garden cause: homegrown veggies taste best; organic food is healthy; I get to spend a lot of time outside, I believe in gardening as one way to save the planet and have dreams of complete self-sustainability; it’s fun to do with children. My hands get dirty and my brow sweaty and I feel like I’ve done “real” work when I am done! I enjoy giving extras away to friends. My next door neighbor is a “mentor” to me, and I enjoy the exchange. There are always challenges and great rewards; but I really like needing to learn new things every year! There are probably more reasons why I garden… but that’s what I can think of now!
I wrote a post about reasons people garden a few weeks back too. http://houndsinthekitchen.com/2010/01/26/why-grow-your-garden/
Personally I garden as a connection to nature. I love being out with the soil and bees and wind. The delicious produce is a nice reward too!
Rachel (Hounds in the Kitchen)´s last blog ..Honey Blondies
Alison, your question inspired me to answer on my blog (with a link to your original post of course). Thank you for reminding me of the joy I find in gardening! After a long winter I needed it! Happy planting everyone!
My garden is for the birds! And the butterflies, pollinators, amphibians, bats, and other critters. They are all in trouble because we’ve taken so much habitat away (Do we really need yet another Walmart?). I garden to give something back to wildlife.
Carole´s last blog ..The Sense of Wonder in the Wildlife Garden
Thanks for asking, Alison. Reckon all the 10 reasons you give apply to me, except maybe the last: I’d be outside even without a garden–find being outside rejuvenates me. So nice to unplug! Main reason I garden? Gives me and my family (and friends) a fine opportunity to connect with nature. Though we grow veggies, our focus is primarily on plants that support wildlife. Makes for fine viewing when the birds, insects and other animals come. Indeed, our backyard is my favorite place to explore. Touched on some of this in my guest post on Carole’s blog today: http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/the-sense-of-wonder-in-the-wildlife-garden.html. Cheers to nurturing one’s sense of wonder! –Kelly
I think I garden for all of the reasons you mentioned, but like Kelly, I’d be outside whether I gardened or not. In fact my garden gets a little neglected from time to time because I’d rather spend the day in the woods!
Mel´s last blog ..Coyote and bison in Yellowstone
It’s wonderful that we all garden for many similar reasons. My neighborhood is rather devoid of both veggie gardening and wildlife gardening folks, which makes me feel a little lonesome. This is one thing I love about writing – it connects me to so many interesting and like-minded people!
As many of you already know, I’m totally new to gardening and so thankful to have found all of you to lend support in my endeavor. I’m looking forward to having yet another connection to nature right in my own backyard. I want the kids to see how we can grow and eat our own food & I also want to create a place the wildlife will enjoy.
Debi´s last blog ..Fun Friday: Build Snow Animals
Okay, I’ll admit it right here: I garden because I’m lazy.
It’s true – I’ll be cooking something and I need an herb or some fresh greens for a salad and there’s no way I’m going to run to the store just for that.
Roy Scribner´s last blog ..Weekend Outdoor Reads for February 12th
Why do I love to garden… well there is nothing more rewarding then watching a little tiny seed that I was gifted be put in the dirt and then grow to something so beautiful! I love gardening because it inspires others to get out and enjoy the simple things in life.
Wonderful to find you on Twitter! BG_garden
Roy, maybe you have the best reason of all! Thanks for commenting. I love it
Bren, like you, I never tire of the miracle of what a seed can grow into. Life truly is full of everyday miracles!
Love the comments! I garden to grow healthy, organic produce for my family and to teach my little girls about our connection to the earth and how to live sustainably.
Wendy´s last blog ..Green Tip – You Are What You Eat