Afi Ruel Life Lessons I Learned From My First Garden
1: It matters where you get your advice.
You may be thinking “Well, duh!” But how many times do we take someone’s word as gospel because they have 1 million social media followers, or a platform? How many times do we fail to stop and consider whether or not our goals align with the results of those we’re listening to? Gardening taught me that I have to pay close attention to the results of those I’m seeking advice from. If I’m looking to grow an
organic garden in containers, why would I apply advice from someone who uses synthetic and chemical substances to grow crops on a farm? Yes, I can glean some gems about growing food in general, but how does that help me achieve my specific goals of organic container gardening?
2: Start where you are.
We have a backyard but its small and I don’t know the condition of the soil. So, I decided to grow everything in containers on our driveway next to the backyard! While this does limit what I can grow and how much, the point is that I can still grow a good amount. The space I’m working with is plenty for a beginner gardener. And by the time we do get that big backyard, I’ll be well versed in how to maintain a healthy garden.
3: There’s a lot of waiting.
Plants grow at the rate they grow. While you’re waiting for them to grow, you simply continue to pursue the rest of your life. It’s amazing how one day you walk out into your garden and see flowers on the stalks. And then one day shortly after you see the literal fruits of your labor. But before then, there’s a lot
of waiting…
4. And trial and error.
Even when you find the right sources of information, you still won’t always reach your desired outcome. You forget to water. You apply too much fertilizer or apply it too soon. You get measurements or orders for supplies wrong. It happens to all gardeners. But just make sure you learn the lessons from your
mistakes.
5. Consistency is key.
I’ve heard this to be true in all areas of life. But it clicked once I saw how our consistency was paying off in our garden. So much so that I’ve committed to being consistent in the other areas of my life that I want to see different results in.
6. Pruning is a pain…but its necessary.
Did you know that if you don’t prune or stop pruning certain plants they stop growing and
bolt (flower with seeds)? If you leave dead leaves or fruit on the stalks they will take up nutrients from the living ones. And if you leave diseased or infected parts on the plant, it could infect and kill the whole plant. So consistent pruning keeps your plant healthy, alive and producing. Life is like that. If we hold on to dead weight and refuse to prune it from our lives, we won’t reach our full potential. We’ll stay expending energy to keep something that is dead, alive.
Do you have a garden? If so, what has been your favorite part of gardening?
