Written by Natalie of Great Contraditctions

As Winter is starting to transition into Spring, we are taking the time to enjoy being outside. I have been trying to be a gardener for a while now. Gardening is definitely an art form I have come to appreciate as my meditation from life’s stresses. I have a few tricks that I have learned along the way that can hopefully help you find your joy in gardening. Once I got a little more confident in my abilities, I brought the whole family on board. My boys love seeing what is happening in the garden. We talk about what we find, what do we want to make with the foods, and what we want to grow next. We talk about why bees are good (like that our strawberry plants would not produce berries without their pollination help). We talk about why we love the rain despite having to stay inside because it helps our garden grow. Something that started out as a personal escape has turned into a bonding experience for our family to engage even more in healthier living.

Getting started: Think about your limitations! Do you travel a lot? Have inconsistent schedules? Let’s be honest…are you forgetful? If you want it to work you have to find plants that work with your limitations. I am the forgetful gardener.

*Starting with some forgiving plants like succulent plants can give you instant gratification. My personal low maintenance favorites are sticks of fire {featured in picture below on left) and crown of thorns cactus (on right). While typically you may think of just plain green and boring, these varieties are more than that! Sticks of fire are smooth green sticks that turn red with sunlight. Crown of thorns have small pink flowers that add some softness to this thorny cactus.

*I have learned to accept help like from a soaker hose to save me from having to personally water the whole garden by hand and automatic timers when we travel.

*As well as setting daily alarms to remind me

*There is no shame in being on a budget when gardening. Gardening can save you money on regular meal staples. Also keep your maintanence costs down by making your own compost bin or rainwater barrel while doing sustainable gardening practices.

Finding happiness in your yard no matter how big or small

Due to us moving every few years, I have been a huge fan of container gardening. I find happiness in seeing how far I have come that I can’t leave my babies behind. Now that we have 2 glorious acres for gardening, I have expanded.

Some of my favorite container plants: Tomatoes, Peppers, herbs, and blueberry bushes

If you have even a little bit of space, raised garden beds are amazing for edible gardening. We currently have greens, herbs, and strawberries visible as well as carrots and radishes waiting to sprout. I find it amazing that in such a small corner of our yard we can grow all of that delicious food!

Getting over the fear of failure

Gardening is not about perfection. As in everything else, gardening is about the journey and the joy it brings. The feeling I get when I walk out my backdoor is pure relaxation. I may get a dirty out in the garden, but that is proof of my hardwork. Just digging your hands in the dirt soaking up the sunshine is amazing!

Here is the most important tip in all of this…
The world is not over if you kill a plant. Actually I would say that it makes you human. The police will not come to arrest you for plant murder. Just regroup and try again! If you notice, we had a dead cabbage plant in our raised bed. It happens!

Natalie Zanatta is the mom of 3 wonderful boys who recently moved to Central Arkansas. Natalie writes about healthy living covering gluten free cooking (due to Celiac Disease), DIY, gardening, fashion/beauty, and more to help us all be healthier inside and out. Check out her blog Great Contradictions to be inspired!