Growing A Garden

I remember my first gardening experience was growing strawberry plants in my grandparents’ garden in Germany. I remember this because that’s how I made my first friend, a girl who lived next to us in the row of townhomes. Since then, I’ve moved around a lot and always found something to grow. From herbs in a boxed planter, to a full 1800 square foot rooftop garden, I always considered that by growing some type of edible plant, I would be forming some type of connection - with the outdoors, with others, or with the food I ate.

During the past year, my family and I have spent a lot of time in the garden, and it has truly shown me that the garden has a power to bring hope, healing, and connection. It teaches us patience and compassion, as well as a deep respect for our history of the land and the value of the food we eat. This ties in closely to the history of the land and indigenous ways of life, which I personally connect with and wish to enhance within myself and through ongoing learning.

Then, coincidentally, on a walk earlier today, I stumbled upon the writings of Vandana Shiva, and realized how much more there is to learn about both the symbolisms and the direct effects of connecting with the earth through the growing of food. To some of you, this may seem quite abstract, and as a scientist, as well as a creative person, I always try to read further on different perspectives. One thing seems to be consistent across the board and if you’re into the research side of things, here is some guiding proof for you: studies show time and time again that gardening befits both individual health and the health of the community at large.

So maybe my story or the writings of others will inspire you to buy a small bag of dirt, reuse some old pots, and grow some seeds today. Start indoors and check out @4elementsnutrition on Instagram where my 6-year-olds guide you through the simple steps of growing seedlings. I am always curious to hear what your journey might hold.