“Gardening just doesn’t allow you to grow old spiritually because there are too many hopes and dreams yet to be realized.” – Allan Armitage
It’s the time of year I start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. In search of new gardening solutions to consider, I read various articles looking for inspiration. Here are a few that caught my eye.
Keep a photo garden diary. I take a lot of photos of my garden already, but I’m not that good at documenting what’s going on. One idea I read was to take a picture of your garden from the same angle on the first day of every month. The end of the year is a great way to see how your garden looks throughout the seasons.
Plant something new. That’s a resolution I make every year. Last year I planted Japanese eggplants. My master gardener friend recommended it last year. Its skin is thin so it doesn’t need to be peeled to enjoy it, and it also adds color to the garden. This year I will try to grow artichokes. My kids love them and I need a good challenge. They’re not native to Wisconsin so I’ll have to start them indoors and probably let them finish the season in our greenhouse. Even if I don’t get a good harvest, I know I will learn something new.
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volunteer. I am a volunteer gardener. I love sharing my gardening knowledge with others. If your children’s school or that of your neighborhood has a school garden, consider volunteering for it. Not only will you help others learn how to tend a garden, you will reap the rewards of doing something good and selfless for others.
drink more water As gardeners, we know that our plants need regular watering. Well, you too. Invest in a beautiful water bottle that will be easy to spot when you leave it in the garden. Anyone who drinks a lot will be amazed at how much more stamina they have when gardening.
Start cooking or keep cooking. Plant vegetables or consider new ones and incorporate them into your dinner plans. You’ll feel good learning a new skill and putting something healthy on your plate. Better yet, get your kids involved; They are more likely to eat new or unfamiliar vegetables if they are involved in preparing them.
Stop multitasking. Studies have shown that multitasking can make you less productive, increase stress, and potentially lead to memory problems. I can’t remember where I leave my gardening tools half the time, so I don’t need to make the problem worse. In spring I see so many things that need to be done that I tend to jump from one thing to another. At the end of the day I have started many things and nothing is finished. This year I will try to focus on one gardening task at a time. I bet I’ll be amazed at what I can achieve by just focusing on one thing.
Practice gratitude. When I’m in the garden I often focus too much on all the things that need to be done instead of taking in the beauty of nature around me and being thankful for it. Take a look at your gardens and see the beauty, not just the weeds. Share the bounty of your gardens with others who are less fortunate. Compliment someone else’s garden – they will appreciate your attention.
I hope this gives you inspiration for a New Year’s garden resolution or two. Happy New Year.
For more information or garden questions, contact the University of Wisconsin Madison of Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250 or email trripp@wisc.edu.
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