This week I’m thinking about…The importance of gardening in difficult times. We all know gardening is a lovely way to occupy oneself on a peaceful, happy day. But this year I’m realizing just how good a way it is to occupy oneself on an anxious, stressful, or sad day too. It hasn’t been an easy spring. Someone in my family is very ill and it would be hard to put into words just how helpful it has been for me to have a garden throughout this time. Gardening is an intrinsically hopeful activity and it also connects us with our natural environment; both important in tough times. No, it doesn’t solve big problems or even take away those difficult feelings. But somehow it does help fill the metaphorical cup, making it feel at least possible to handle just a little more. I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately. After all, we didn’t evolve grabbing ready-made meals on the way home from work. Humans have always had crops to tend through good times and bad. I think there’s an important emotional relationship to be found there <3 - Bridgette
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