New Year’s resolutions, how are you doing with yours as we come to the end of January? This time of year evokes the cry to change one’s behaviors and practices with the advent of the New Year. According to the data pulled from Google by iQuanti, this year’s most popular resolutions include: get healthy, get organized, live life to the fullest, learn new hobbies, spend less/save more, travel, and read more.
Can gardening be a means to achieve a few of these resolutions? Yes they can. Get physically and spiritually healthy: try dig in the dirt garden work and subscribe to the old adage: “stop and smell the roses”. Learn a new hobby: gardening is a hobbyist activity. Spend less/save more: grow your own produce. Read more: Read to learn about gardening. Start with my blog!
In general, resolutions are readily broken, overlooked or just plain dropped with alarming frequency within the first quarter of a year! If you are considering gardening activity to meet your New Year resolutions, why not take it a step further and create a “garden legacy” for 2017.
A legacy is something that is lasting and durable. What we create and use in our garden will define our legacy. So it is important to think about what you plan to leave behind. As we begin 2017, take an inventory of garden practices that will indeed define your legacy for years to come. Ask yourself the following questions.
- Water management: How do you use the precious resource? Are your automated systems set properly for site conditions, plants and weather? Are you considering designs that include plants that require less water? Are you using rainwater harvesting systems to collect and reuse water?
- Site practices: Are you preparing your areas with organically based soils and mulches. Are you using integrated pest management approaches to reduce chemical applications? Are your fertilizers organically based? Are you reusing and composing your lawn and leaf materials?
- Beneficial wildlife: Do your designs, plant selections and site preparation encourage pollinators and garden wildlife that balance and our ecosystems for garden success and continuation of life?
- Spiritual: Do your designs encourage reason for pause and reflection? Do your gardens provide a respite from life’s stress? Do they inspire?
- Share the Love: How is my gardening helping children to learn? Can I pass my love of gardening down to children? Am I sharing my skills and passion with millennials to consider gardening as a way to balance their lifestyle?
Answering these questions is your path to creating a Garden legacy…versus adopting garden resolutions in 2017. Take these North Country Winter months to inventory and raise the bar. Be sure to “ keep your garden practices rooted in common sense and sustainability” in 2017.
Looking to raise the bar in gardening this year? The Garden Goddess is in the process of developing her workshop offerings and schedules for 2017. Contact her for children, adult and family friendly workshops. For more information go to my website: www.gardengoddesssenseandsustainability.com
