The Zammer Review: 98%
In a time where the world seems to move so fast, there’s something about gardening that slows time and makes one appreciate life.
An avid gardener as a child, I re-discovered my passion for playing in the dirt a few months ago. Gardening has been so many things to me recently. It is a form of therapy, of creativity, of expression, of fun, of discipline and resilience, and most obviously, a form of life-creating.
Of therapy
There’s not really such a thing as “fast gardening”. Gardening forces one to slow down. Watering, pruning, potting, fertilising, harvesting — these are all practices that require mindfulness, focus, and time. It is an escape from the materialistic and fast-paced day to day life many of us live. Watching one’s plants grow a little bit each day encourages one to appreciate the small things and find joy in what might seem mundane to others. The phrase “watching grass grow” suddenly seems exciting after gardening.
It’s both a selfless and self-serving act. Gardening is literally selfless, in the sense that it is taking care of other living beings, but it is also self-serving; it is a centering and humbling practice that has so many benefits.
Of creativity
There are an infinite amount of ways to garden. There’s indoor gardening, outdoor gardening, greenhouse gardening. One can choose among thousands of seeds, plants, pots, planters. Analytical minds will appreciate the potential exploration of germination techniques, planting techniques, potting techniques, watering techniques, propagating techniques, decorating techniques — the lists could go on and on. Gardening is so beautifully open-ended that even if one puts in minimal effort and thought, the result is still a personally crafted and curated experience.
Of expression
Similar to art, musical instruments, and writing, gardening is a passion. Ask any gardener to tell you about their garden, and they will proudly do so. It’s a personal activity that allows for complete ownership. Anything that requires passion is a form of expression.
Of Fun
Gardening is basically an acceptable version of playing in the mud for adults. I have gardening gloves, but I’ve used them maybe twice because I much prefer to get the wet dirt in between my fingers. Gardening gets me outside and in the fresh air. I’m able to soak in the sun and smell the beautiful herbs I’ve planted.
of discipline and resilience
Gardening is a commitment. It requires almost daily watering, weekly pruning, biweekly fertilising, and above all else, attention. It’s a great practice in discipline and establishing routine.
It also builds resilience. Kevin from Epic Gardening once said the best gardeners he knew were also the ones who had killed the most plants. What made them better is that they kept trying and didn’t let the failure stop them.
The life and death of a plant creates an appreciation for the circle of life. I would much rather put copious amounts of work in taking care of a plant just to watch it die prematurely than not having watching it grown at all.
Gardeners are nothing if not adaptable. Weather is variable, seeds are variable, soil is variable, rainfall is variable, pests and critters are variable. There are so many things that affect the life of a plant, and gardeners just adjust, learn, and readjust accordingly.
of life-creating
I can’t explain the joy of watching something that you planted yourself start to sprout, bud, bloom, flower, and fruit. I learned the basic principles of photosynthesis in fourth grade, but it’s still so exciting and fascinating watching a few simple ingredients create such complex and varied creatures.
Light + carbon dioxide + water → Sugar + oxygen
Such a simple equation, but each plant takes in different amounts of inputs and outputs and uses them in a way that create a unique end product. It’s a humbling thing to witness.
I started an Instagram account (@goodchivesonly__) to document my gardening experience. This has definitely helped me as I’m someone who doesn’t easily notice little changes, so seeing photographic evidence of a plant’s growth is extremely gratifying.
I’m giving gardening a 98% today. I would give it 100%, but I had to dock two points because of all the bugs that plants attract. I’m not yet at the stage of humility where I can appreciate spiders and other critters.
THE ZAMMER REVIEW 2.0 