Garden your way towards happiness…

We’re 6 weeks into lockdown and are certainly going through some challenging times at the moment. I am so appreciating my garden and my dog walks in nature, having the opportunity to slow down and taking in all that is around. The birds singing, bees buzzing, the sound of the wind moving through plants and trees and of course the fragrance….. It calms my busy head and puts a smile on my face. Studies have shown gardening and spending time in nature has a hugely beneficial effect on mental and physical health and now is the ideal time to embrace all the benefits of nature. Noticing the beautiful, magical little things we often rush past…. the Spring blossom, the unfurling of ferns, the Larch flowers…. In a world that can seem at the moment so full of negative news, sadness, uncertainty and worry, these small signs of promise, optimism, potential……. the beauty and wonder of nature is so nurturing for the soul. It’s good to just get out there, whether you’re lucky enough to have some beautiful countryside on your doorstep, a local park or simply exploring your neighbourhood!

I’ve been particularly enjoying sowing seeds…..and there’s still time to get sowing! The positive effect of new shoots emerging from the soil is just fabulous and you don’t need lots of fancy equipment to get started. Supermarkets might have some seeds and compost you can pop in your trolley when you’re in getting your essentials and there are several companies selling online. Egg cartons, yoghurt pots and toilet rolls can be used as pots for your seedlings and there are many seeds you can sow straight outside when the conditions are right - just check the seed packets for sowing instructions. You can always get creative with your planters - just remember to put drainage holes in them. It’s great to get kids involved too. It’s so good for you to get outside and get your hands mucky - kids and adults!

Lettuce, Spinach, Radish, are really easy for starting with and you can sow some every few weeks for a continuous supply. And I just love growing peas! I know you’ve probably heard this before but oh my! home grown veg tastes so much better! It’s unlikely you’ll be able to grow all the veg you’ll need so please don’t set this as your goal. Sometimes things work and sometimes not…. it’s all part of the adventure. A really important thing to remember though is to grow things you enjoy eating! There’s no point having a whole successful crop of food none of you like! (Speaking from experience… apparently I’m the only one here who likes courgettes!) I’m just telling myself I’m going to have some lovely home grown veg to eat to supplement the shop bought stuff and I’ll have some fun along the way. And if colourful flowers is more your thing that’s great! It’s really good to also grow plants that attract wildlife and are beneficial to bees, butterflies and insects.