Why Gardening? Why Not?

In recent years, more people have turned to gardening as a hobby, honoring a tradition that was practiced by our grandparents and great-grandparents. Whether spurred by the economy or a need to get back to basics, gardening is enjoying a tremendous revival. According to the National Gardening Association, the number of people planning to grown their own food increased by 19% from 2008 to 2009; more recently, according to a 2013 National Gardening survey, about two million more people expressed an interest in "lawn and garden activities," an increase of 2% over the previous year.

Gardening has a legion of benefits:

1. Gardening is good, all-purpose exercise. The digging, hoeing, raking, lifting, squatting, and similar activities will involve muscles you never knew you had. You probably want to supplement gardening activities with others, such as walking, jogging, swimming, or lifting weights, but this activity will get the body moving.

2. Vegetable and herb gardening, as well as small fruit and tree fruit gardening, bless your table with the most enticing, freshest possible foods. Store-bought produce, while convenient, just cannot compare to the fresh taste and texture of produce picked just minutes before from the garden.

3. Gardening can save you money in the long term. Growing your own vegetables and herbs, or other produce,  encourages you to consume them more often, leading to less waste overall.

4. With gardening, you know exactly which fertilizers and pesticides have been used because you have made those decisions yourself. You get to decide whether to grow organically--using compost, for example,  or to use commercial items to build up the soil, feed the plants, and discourage pests.

5. Gardening is a great mood-lifter or mood stabilizer. Whenever I am out of sorts, my loved ones tell me to "go play in the dirt already." Feeling the richness of the soil, the soft silkiness of flower petals, and the like brings a peaceful calm. Even the act of weeding can be Zen-like (yes, it can). Gardening is cheaper than medication and has none of the side effects.

6. Gardening lets you be more in tune with the seasons. Just the act of planning which seeds to plant during the cool season (what Texans call "winter")--peas, lettuces, carrots, for example--and during the warm to hot season (for Texans, this is eight to ten months out of the year)--beans, tomatoes, peppers, and the like--will heighten your appreciation of what each season has to offer.

7. If you have children, gardening can be an excellent way to teach about nature's cycles. Besides, this activity gets children out of the house and away from the television or computer for awhile.

8. Gardening allows you to be creative. You can experiment with different color combinations and garden layouts (formal, semi-formal, and informal; themed gardens, such as clock gardens--these are floral gardens that feature flowers that open up during different times of the day). You can add accessories, such as a bird bath or wind chimes. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

9. Gardening need not demand a lot of space. If you live in an apartment, for instance, container gardening may be for you. If you have a window sill, you have enough space to start your own garden.

10. Gardening can be a spiritual activity. When you are working or just admiring your garden, you are witnessing the miracle of life unfold, each and every day. You can appreciate this miracle as is, or you can add prayer and/or meditation to the experience.

What are your thoughts on gardening? Are you a veteran gardener, or are you a beginner who is eager to get  his or her feet dirty? Please feel free to share your comments.