Week 5.
Too many yummy things to plant. Such little space.
Short of turning our whole house block into a vegie garden, which, isn’t such a bad idea… kidding!
We’ve built another bed.
I couldn’t help but ‘request’ another garden bed be prepared around the other side of the house.
Being slightly shadier, I imagine that everything will grow just as well, and that some of the plants that require more shade would be better suited to bed #2 vs my current bed, although they are both similar in hours of sunlight vs shade.
Watch this space as we experiment and create another garden bed.
Why go to all of this effort creating a vegie garden. Read about why I started the garden HERE.
Another change this week is that the strawberry flowers are blooming with full force.
They seem to have taken off after the last big rain.
Gosh, I am still amazed at the process of growing plants. There is something happening each and every that I get excited about in the garden. New flowers, new leaves, fruit. I’m still waiting for the day that I am not completely amazed and mesmerised by it all.
I had the humble beginnings of a vegie garden, that turned into an unknown love of gardening and fascination with edible plants.
All day I teach clients to switch off cranky, stiff and screaming muscles.
All day I identify ‘grippy’ muscles that simply will not relax.
All day I preach mindfulness, body awareness and relaxation.
All day I’m on YOUR backs about taking time out for yourselves.
Gardening for me, (and perhaps this is purely due to this being my first time gardening this year) is another part of my day where I can take 5 or 10 minutes out for myself. I don’t see this as a chore.
What I’ve also learnt about gardening, is that for me (and for all of the gardeners on Gardening Australia for that matter!), is like Pilates, it is an active form of mindfulness. I can spend a few minutes a day easily, just scanning the garden for new shoots, fruit, flowers, growth or change. Whilst I take in my surroundings my head isn’t filled with what I need to do that day, work, problems or anything else. For those moments I am completely absorbed by my plants.
There’s too much to notice and explore to be consumed by stress I find. Part of it I suppose is ‘keeping your mind busy’ with something you enjoy. A hobby, an interest that you can consume yourself in and shut out the hustle and bustle of daily life and its associated worries.
Being able to accept and appreciate the plants in different stages of their growth is rewarding in itself without the other benefits. But here is a summary of benefits I’ve found so far.
- Decreases stress levels
- Helpful mindfulness practise
- Form of relaxation
- Active movements: lifting, squatting, whole body involvement
- Feels rewarding to continuously put effort into something, see the growth, and get the end product
- Fresh, chemical free vegies that are on hand
For me, I often lose track of time whilst in the garden. I get into my zone and then I’m off. Not to be heard from for some period whilst hawking down on my new strawberry flowers….
I’ve found the whole process quite relaxing, and hope you too are doing something daily that relaxes you.
For me gardening has this effect, but I understand that some may look at the garden as work. Pilates has taught me to find what works for each individual body and go with that. Gardening, among other things, helps me relax.
What do you find that slows your heart rate, keeps you present vs racing to the next appointment and relaxes you?
You got it?
Good.
Do you do it?
Knowing is NOT doing.
I’ll say that again.
Knowing is NOT doing.
‘If you know, but don’t do, then you don’t know’
Whatever it is that relaxes you, do it.
Make time for it.
Just do it.
And do it often.
If it’s Pilates, then hoo rah!
I’ll see you in the studio soon.
Happy Tuesday =)
Mel
Lessons:
- I really enjoy gardening!
- It’s good for switching my brain off.
- It’s rewarding me with much more than just fresh food.
- It’s important to make time for things you enjoy – as we’re not born to simply pay bills and die. Word.
Do you want to garden without pain or repercussions? CLICK HERE to read about how to do just that!