With the unending lockdowns and the fear of a second wave of Coronavirus, we all are forced to stay indoors and reevaluate our life. Everything from online schools to work from home, everything keeping us indoor we often neglect the mental pressure building within us. Scientists have already stated that we are at the edge of a mental pandemic.
Last year when the lockdown was imposed I discovered the meditative hobby of gardening. Like most of us I live in a city with limited space. With nothing more to do and bored with mostly playing games and working I started to go on my terrace frequently. My mother is passionate about gardening, she has several blooming plants and she takes pride in the way she has maintained her garden.
She was thinking of growing some vegetables for a long time as we had a big water tank that wasn't of any use and I wanted to involve myself somewhere to get peace of mind.
So we started with preparing the water tank by cutting it in 2 parts and filling it with soil and compost. Regularly from that day all our vegetable waste and used tea leaves went into that tank.
Now let me tell you gardening is not easy. It's a hobby that demands time and dedication and a ton of physical and mental work, you need to be in love with your work, otherwise one mistake and many days of hard-work go down the drain.
Things that I learned from my first gardening experience:
- Failure is the foundation step
Yes everytime you plant something doesn't mean it will sprout. You need to learn a few basic skills before you start getting results. Nowadays people are conducting online free classes and posting videos on YouTube about gardening skills. You can start with learning some skills online.
- Right amount is the key.
Whether it's sunlight or water, the right amount is the key to grow your plants, anything in excess can ruin your chances to see the fruit.
-Patience.
You need to stay patient while working with plants, seeds will sprout in due time, your being over excited won't make it germinate any faster
-Responsible
One needs to be responsible, you need to look out for any infection that your plants might catch or as in my case monkey attack. You have to take responsibility from checking time to time, watering regularly, weeding your garden, etc.
More than growing anything, the process of being involved with the plants made me calmer and gentler in my approach. Obviously to see your hard work showing results is a delight but the connection that I formed with my plants was more satisfying. I regularly checked whether a particular tomato has ripped or not or the soil is adequately damped with water or not. Your plants are equally happy with your presence as you are with them.
Research has proved gardening to help lower stress, anxiety and heart problems in people. As health experts have always suggested to eat immunity-booster food, these days in order to stay fit, planting tulsi (Basil), brahmi (water hyssop), ashwagandha (winter cherry), giloy (heart-leaved moonseed) and lemongrass, can be a great start.
In my experience, the best way to start with a healthy and productive hobby is by planting immunity-booster plants, it will surely help you stay fit and cleanse your body and then you can move towards planting fruits and vegetables that can be easily grown in your backyard or pots.
Happy Planting!
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