In the Garden, We Grow Too

From tiny seeds to tender moments- why the garden is more than just soil and sun.

This spring, we planted our first garden boxes with a few vegetable seed packets, some fresh herbs and a super curious toddler eager to help.

In our daily life, which seems at times rushed and going way too fast; gardening offers us time to be still, patient. We are encouraging our children to wait, observe and trust that their seeds will slowly transform into something beautiful. Gardening gives us time together in an outdoor space for us to connect, without distractions. I’ll ask her questions like “what vegetable do you think this seed will turn into?” “what does this flower smell like?” She stops for a moment and thinks, challenges herself.

These little seeds give her something meaningful to focus on and care for. Helping in the garden has become my daughters favorite thing and I am so grateful to watch her grow alongside the things we plant. I love seeing her face light up with a new growth or running to grab her watering pot to assist beside me. Watching her make this deep connection with the earth so effortlessly reminds me that my own silly worries are pea size compared to this huge world.

I certainly didn’t grow up with a green thumb, acres of land or a manual on how to keep plants alive. Honestly, I used to avoid even looking at plants when I was in stores. I thought I didn’t have space in my life to care for them the way they needed. Well I was wrong. We started small and let nature do what it is meant to do.

I knew I wanted to only plant vegetables or fruit that would not go to waste. Just so happens these were some of the easiest plants to start with: tomatoes, lettuce, basil and strawberries. We even added some cucumbers and jalapeños. Threw a marigold plant inside the box. Since our daughter is flower obsessed, we carved out a space in our yard and sprinkled a variety of wild flowers and zinnias along the fence with the hope they will bloom bright.

Gardening has never felt like one more thing added to my to-do list. This process has become easy, gentle, and fulfilling to my soul. The best part, my daughter fits right into this space. Similar to our motherhood journey, gardening requires us to show up daily with love and hope-even when the results are invisible at first.

Childhood should be slow, simple, and full of curiosity. Gardening offers simply that.