What Got You into Gardening..

and what does gardening mean to you.

 

Being a child in a family with a big garden in 1940. My parents had to grow veg to fill the table. I didn't like doing the weeding then but something must have stuck because after getting married, I got stuck into growing veg again and got a lot of pleasure from it as well as feeding the family.
stony

 

Renting a house and having a garden of my own to look after for the first time, and realising it was actually quite fun! Now I wouldn't be without one, it's definitely good for the soul.

 

I was given a small patch to garden in when a child in my parents garden. I've always had plants since then, even if just house plants when renting and moving all the time. Halfheartedly did a bit of gardening at a rental house in London but it wasn't until I moved to Sussex and had my own place that I was really able to get my teeth in.

I agree with Sezzle, it a superb therapy after a hard day at work, a retreat from the world and a great challenge (I love to keep improving what I have).

 

They bought a plot within reasonable distance from the capital right after the war. The main purpose was to produce food, mainly potatoes, carrots and apples.

Later on also extravaganses, like strawberries and flowerbeds were introduced. And in the 70s when I came along, the plot had transformed into a holiday cottage. Nevertheless, the tasks were there. Work work work if you intend to eat. We kids learned quickly that a spud needs to be grown, dug, washed and cooked before eating, it's not enough to splat your bum on a chair and shout "ddiinneerr!".

When my nan became older we carefully shifted from production to enjoyment. We spent many weekends and weeks just my nan and I, digging, planting and talking. And that's when I became a gardener, listening to the gardening advise and memories nan heard from her mother as a girl, working together.

City life, career and internet are the new life. But it does give a certain satisfaction just to dig out dandelions, or to dig or just to admire a germinated seed. Sounds simple. And is.