My husband and father have many differences, but the biggest? Gardening. My husband LOVES gardening. And he’s amazing at it! He’s got a green thumb that can get almost anything to grow, and he really knows his stuff! My dad on the other hand, thinks gardens are the biggest waste of time and money, and has totally given up on it. To be fair, my dad did try planting a garden for about 3-4 years, and was diligent about watering it and weeding, etc- but he found no joy in it and just couldn’t produce the harvest he felt he deserved after devoting so much of his time.

Living in the households of both these men, I’ve come to this conclusion: everyone needs to plant a garden, but your garden might look completely different from another person’s garden, and that’s ok! Start with something simple, even if it’s just one cucumber plant, and grow from there. Why do I think it’s important for everyone to have a garden? Well let me tell you ;).

1. It teaches hard work! There’s no doubt about it- planting and harvesting a garden is WORK. But is there anything more satisfying than eating a salad or meal made from food taken completely from your backyard?? My kids are still very young, but they already have learned to work hard in our yard- because they have learned firsthand that hard work reaps great rewards. And that’s a lesson that will be very valuable to them in the future!

2. It gets you outside. With all the screens and distractions, sometimes we don’t find the time to go outdoors. But sunshine and fresh air is good for your health- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! While there’s definitely other ways to get outside, a garden is a great excuse to do so ;).

3. It creates family togetherness. There’s a lot of bonding that goes on when a family is working together. Sometimes it’s hard to think of projects that literally everyone in the family can participate in, but a garden is one of those rare beauties! Whether you have a 16 year old or a 1 year old, there is something that everyone can do when working in the garden. And because you’re not all distracted by screens, homework, phone calls, etc, you have time to talk, laugh, and bond. Why would you not want to experience that?? ;)

4. It gives you confidence. It’s true. When you are learning new things and gaining experience it just gives you more confidence in yourself as a person, and a garden is no exception! There is something very rewarding about growing something from seed and taking it into your kitchen to use for dinner, and it’s a definitely confidence booster! Something we could definitely all use!

6. Emergency preparedness. Ok, so maybe there won’t be a huge recession tomorrow, or maybe you or your spouse never have to worry about someone losing a job- but in the back of your mind, you’ll receive so much comfort knowing you’d have an option if one of those things did happen! And you’ll have a lot more comfort if you actually KNOW what you’re doing, which is why starting a garden NOW is a great idea. Because you might not get it the first time, wouldn’t it be helpful to have really learned how to work a garden before you actually need it? Peace of mind is worth any work a garden might take!

I mean really, with all the benefits, why would you not plant a garden?! Even if you don’t have a big backyard, you can plant a couple things on your porch or windowsill and still reap some of these benefits! Like I said, everyone should plant a garden :).

So what are your thoughts on gardening? Does your family have a garden? I’d love to hear about your experiences!