5 questions to consider before starting a garden. Identify your why
If you’re thinking of starting your very first garden, I am pumped! Before you grab a shovel and dig a hole in your yard or spend 14 hours shopping online for a promising garden kit from China, just take a breath and pause.
Let’s start with a few questions: Why, When, What, How, and How much.
The answering these five questions will help you narrow down the garden that will best fit your needs and current reality.
Let’s focus on one question right now: Why?
Why do you want to start a garden?
Do you have memories of gardening with a family member when you were a child? Maybe you have never grown anything, yet you want to give it a try? Maybe you loved your grandmother’s homemade cooking and you want replicate the flavors in your dishes? Maybe you’re telling yourself “I don’t have a green thump" and you want to be done dismissing yourself.
Do you want to grow fresh greens? Do you buy that big plastic tub of salad mix every week, only to trash it when half of it is brown and slimy?
Why do you want to garden? Take a moment and think about it!
Here are a few goals that might fit with your desire to garden:
To experience a wholesome hobby with your family.
To eat healthier and cleaner.
To gain experience growing plants and vegetables.
To have fresh, flavorful herbs and produce at your fingertips.
To make a positive impact on the bees and community.
To increase the beauty of your property.
To help supplement your weekly groceries or be more self-sufficient.
To share food with family and neighbors.
To enjoy being outdoors and take in the wonder of nature. (I feel thrilled EVERY TIME the seeds pop out of the ground!! Just writing this made me smile.)
The list could go on!
One of my “whys” for gardening is having fresh food picked right out of the garden.
It is simply the best to know how your food was grown and that it will benefit your family’s health.
So, what is your why?? I would love to hear it!