Despite my best efforts, my mind is always on the move. Running, meditating, and practising yoga are some of my favourite pastimes, but they didn’t quieten it during lockdown. I also tried listening to the apps that are supposed to ground you, but each time I did, I felt guilty for not giving it my full attention. Gardening, however, was effective in a way that nothing else had been. A five-minute stroll in the garden can easily pass by without me realising it!
And I am not the only one who found love for gardening when the pandemic began. There has been a significant increase in gardening interest.
As a result of the lockdown, many people have been able to devote more time to simple tasks like planting seeds, tending plants, and building veg plots. These five steps may explain how lockdown gardening is good for our mental and physical health:
Staying Active
Keep fit and healthy by working in the garden. A garden workout can be a total body workout because of the wide range of available activities. For example, laying patio slabs in my garden really helped me build muscle.
Stretching and bending while pruning or weeding, as well as pushing and pulling a lawnmower, can all result in a significant amount of perspiration. As long as you remember to wear sunscreen, this is an excellent way to get your recommended daily dose of vitamin D.
Being Mindful of Nature
Since the lockdown, many people have noticed that the birds are much more raucous. Because there is no traffic, people are more aware of the birdsong they hear on their daily walk or in their garden. The birds haven't raised the volume. With the country under lockdown, we had more time to listen to nature's sounds and see how the leaves on the trees are beginning to unfurl.
Learning More
Taking your kids to the garden is a great way to spend time together. Math, science, and nature are all brought together in this educational tool for homeschoolers. There are many ways for children to learn about the care of plants, from watering and pricking out the seedlings to eventually harvesting the plants and eating the fruits of their labour.
Connecting With Others
As a result of the lockdown, we haven't been able to connect with people outside of our immediate circle. But connecting with others was still possible thanks to online meetings. Many community gardens moved to social media, where members exchange ideas, photos, and other helpful tidbits.
Generosity
You almost always end up with more than you need when you plant seeds! If you give your neighbours some of your plants or seeds, they can enjoy some homegrown produce.
Easy Growing Anyone Can Try
You can experiment with home-grown plants that are simple to maintain. If unable to leave your house, there are numerous growing activities that you can try with items in your refrigerator or cupboard. Find out what fruits and vegetables you have on hand and see if you can grow some of them.
To get the most out of your tomatoes, slice a tomato and place it on top of some compost. There should be sprouting within a week or so for the seeds. When the plants have three or four leaves, you can pot them up.
Potatoes can be planted in a large bucket if sprouted under the sink. When the leaves begin to poke through the soil, add another 10cm of soil and keep doing so until you reach the top of the bucket. Once the plants have bloomed, it is time to harvest them.
Get some chilli seeds out of fresh or dried chillies and plant them in a pot for a little heat. Keep the soil moist and the pot in a sunny location by covering it with a thin layer of soil. In about ten days, the seeds should sprout.
Propping vegetables over a glass of water with the water touching the bottom of the vegetable encourages them to grow again. The plant's base will sprout leafy shoots as its roots sink into the water. These can be harvested as soon as they're 5 to 10 centimetres tall.
A community garden or a gardening club may be an excellent place to meet new people if this article has given you some inspiration.
Gardening During Lockdown: My New Peace Time
Despite my best efforts, my mind is always on the move. Running, meditating, and practising yoga are some of my favourite pastimes, but they didn’t quieten it during lockdown. I also tried listening to the apps that are supposed to ground you, but each time I did, I felt guilty for not giving it my full attention. Gardening, however, was effective in a way that nothing else had been. A five-minute stroll in the garden can easily pass by without me realising it!
And I am not the only one who found love for gardening when the pandemic began. There has been a significant increase in gardening interest.
As a result of the lockdown, many people have been able to devote more time to simple tasks like planting seeds, tending plants, and building veg plots. These five steps may explain how lockdown gardening is good for our mental and physical health:
Staying Active
Keep fit and healthy by working in the garden. A garden workout can be a total body workout because of the wide range of available activities. For example, laying patio slabs in my garden really helped me build muscle.
Stretching and bending while pruning or weeding, as well as pushing and pulling a lawnmower, can all result in a significant amount of perspiration. As long as you remember to wear sunscreen, this is an excellent way to get your recommended daily dose of vitamin D.
Being Mindful of Nature
Since the lockdown, many people have noticed that the birds are much more raucous. Because there is no traffic, people are more aware of the birdsong they hear on their daily walk or in their garden. The birds haven't raised the volume. With the country under lockdown, we had more time to listen to nature's sounds and see how the leaves on the trees are beginning to unfurl.
Learning More
Taking your kids to the garden is a great way to spend time together. Math, science, and nature are all brought together in this educational tool for homeschoolers. There are many ways for children to learn about the care of plants, from watering and pricking out the seedlings to eventually harvesting the plants and eating the fruits of their labour.
Connecting With Others
As a result of the lockdown, we haven't been able to connect with people outside of our immediate circle. But connecting with others was still possible thanks to online meetings. Many community gardens moved to social media, where members exchange ideas, photos, and other helpful tidbits.
Generosity
You almost always end up with more than you need when you plant seeds! If you give your neighbours some of your plants or seeds, they can enjoy some homegrown produce.
Easy Growing Anyone Can Try
You can experiment with home-grown plants that are simple to maintain. If unable to leave your house, there are numerous growing activities that you can try with items in your refrigerator or cupboard. Find out what fruits and vegetables you have on hand and see if you can grow some of them.
To get the most out of your tomatoes, slice a tomato and place it on top of some compost. There should be sprouting within a week or so for the seeds. When the plants have three or four leaves, you can pot them up.
Potatoes can be planted in a large bucket if sprouted under the sink. When the leaves begin to poke through the soil, add another 10cm of soil and keep doing so until you reach the top of the bucket. Once the plants have bloomed, it is time to harvest them.
Get some chilli seeds out of fresh or dried chillies and plant them in a pot for a little heat. Keep the soil moist and the pot in a sunny location by covering it with a thin layer of soil. In about ten days, the seeds should sprout.
A community garden or a gardening club may be an excellent place to meet new people if this article has given you some inspiration.Propping vegetables over a glass of water with the water touching the bottom of the vegetable encourages them to grow again. The plant's base will sprout leafy shoots as its roots sink into the water. These can be harvested as soon as they're 5 to 10 centimetres tall.