Philosophical question: what does gardening include?
I love writing surprising articles on different aspects of ecology. Sometimes I even go a little beyond the subject of gardening, telling you about beekeeping, maple syrup production, beavers, strange and distant plants…
In fact, as far as I’m concerned, gardening is really very, very vast, and it’s all connected in one way or another!
For Me, Gardening Is…
Of course, when we think of gardening, we think of ornamental plants. We can think of our houseplants, our flowerbeds or even our window boxes on the balcony.
Then there’s edible plant gardening: herbs for cooking, a potted tomato plant, or a huge vegetable garden.
These are what you might call the “basics” of gardening. I think you’ll agree with me so far. So what do I consider gardening that you might not?
Anything that lets you enjoy the outdoors, develop your space and make the most of it is part of my description of gardening. You could also call it general maintenance, but that’s a lot less fun!
Lawn care, birdhouses, honey production and even the installation of a new pergola can all be included in the broad term “gardening”. Aren’t observing insects, gathering wild plants, listening to birdsong all part of the result of your efforts? After all, what’s the point of planting pretty flowers if you can’t smell their fragrance from time to time?
I also include in the gardening activity the whole aspect of finding information, shopping and merchandizing, no more, no less! You go to the garden center, choose pretty plants, find out which seeds to buy, buy a book, a pretty planter… All this fits into my vision of gardening!
Why Do You Ask?
Does cooking start with finding a recipe? With buying your ingredients? Does it end with washing up or eating your meal? It’s the same with gardening! If a baker is a kind of cook, how can a maple syrup producer not be a gardener? After all, harvesting maple water isn’t all that different from harvesting a cucumber! And when he’s looking for information, is that gardening too? Hard to put a start and finish line, isn’t it?
Humans have this strange habit of wanting to name absolutely everything they see or do. We name species, look for similarities and classify them into large groups with complicated names. But couldn’t a flower just be a flower?
I often have this discussion with my partner about the need we have to name everything, and I’ve come to wonder what gardening is? Where does it start and where does it end? When you call yourself a gardener, does it mean having dirt in your face 24 hours a day? Or that you have a large collection of pots and seeds somewhere in your closet?
According to Merriam-Webster.com “gardening is the act, activity, or pastime of planning and cultivating gardens.”
If they’re to be believed, caring for houseplants isn’t gardening…!
So Let’s Try to Make Our Own Definition…
Why Gardening?
First of all, we need to determine the purpose of gardening. It’s a means of production. Fresh fruit and vegetables, medicinal products, beautiful flowers and why not materials, maple syrup, honey and so on!
If gardening is so important, it’s because it’s the basis of our evolution as sedentary humans. If we had never learned how to garden, we wouldn’t have been able to create such a great civilization. Nutrition, art, medicine: so many things have been created as a result of domesticating plants!
As well as practical use, we mustn’t forget ornamental gardening. Giving a bouquet of flowers or adorning our storefront with a few ornamental plants is part of our culture. Even if we don’t all live in a forest, nature can be enjoyed in many ways thanks to your green thumbs.
If we garden, it’s to reap the benefits. The satisfaction of picking a beautiful cucumber, watching the bumblebees foraging or drinking a good herbal tea from your favorite cup (full of herbs, of course!) is unparalleled for the gardener who has put all his heart into it.
Physical… and Mental Well-Being!
Gardening is good for the heart! Mowing, weeding, digging. The active side of gardening is undoubtedly very physical. Do you play sports in winter? No? Well, it’s lucky for your body that you garden in summer!
Your body works, but so does your brain! The needs of each plant, the location of your different varieties in the garden, all the knowledge you develop with the practice of gardening: it’s enormous! What to look out for, when to worry, how to differentiate your seedlings from wild weeds that need to be removed, recognizing undesirables, knowing where to go for information…
Just remembering the names of the plants is quite an exercise! Before you became interested in gardening, the words ZZ, dracaena and Fabaceae were foreign! But after a few years, the jargon: rhizomes, cotyledons, lacewings, mycorrhizae, etc., is well integrated into your vocabulary. You’ve developed a whole lexicon by taking up gardening!
Communion With Nature
Nature in the broadest sense has been proven to have a positive effect on mental health. It’s not possible for everyone to go for a walk in the forest every day, but taking care of your herbs, hibiscus and hostas counts as nature.
The peace lily from your grandfather’s funeral, the orchid given to you by your daughter, the mother-in-law’s tongue bought when you moved into your first home: these plants certainly make you feel good.
Although I’m skeptical of many popular beliefs, if it makes you happy to think that your apartment air is purer thanks to your schefflera, or that your chakras are well aligned because of the south-western position of your lucky bamboo, the important thing is that these plants help you in your daily life.
In short, gardening is good for your mental health.
We can also add that the islands of nature you create at home are generally havens for animals. The soil will be healthy, insects will live their lives, birds will feast on seeds and insects. In short, no matter where you are, city or country, what you plant usually has a positive impact on the environment. I insist, generally. I don’t see anyone planting Phragmites or Japanese knotweed on purpose!
Conclusion: I Don’t Have a Simple Answer!
In light of all this, I find it even more difficult to answer the question, “what is gardening?” Our lovely community of laidback gardeners will surely agree with me: there are probably as many visions and definitions of gardening as there are gardeners.
For me, gardening is a way of getting closer to nature, while taking care of ourselves. It’s a hobby, a return to our roots, a way of personalizing our space and providing for ourselves. It’s a celebration of life on every level.
What does gardening mean to you?