A healthy resolution for 2025? Start a garden. Tips for beginners
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January is traditionally a month for fresh starts and resolutions, many of which center around self-care. And if you’ve spent any time watching television or scrolling social media this month, you’ve likely been bombarded with diet and exercise pitches.
But there’s another route to self-care that influencers rarely mention: gardening. A few hours spent outdoors nurturing fruits, flowers and vegetables each week can provide physical exercise, stress reduction, vitamin D and even a better diet – all without a membership fee. And getting started is easy.
Start small. As with any new hobby, an overzealous, gung-ho approach will likely backfire, so it’s best to start small. Although you may happily keep up with a large garden at first, chances are you’ll become overwhelmed by midsummer, resulting in a dead, weedy disappointment to harvest.
Instead, begin by planting a small patch of flowers by the front door, one or two rows (or raised beds) of vegetables or a couple of containers. Decisions, decisions. Are you dreaming of garden-fresh salads, a succession of colorful perennials — or both? Research your favorite plants’ sunlight, soil and water requirements, and decide where each would thrive best.
If you’re looking to save money on produce, consider which fruits, vegetables, and herbs you and your family would enjoy the most and which would cost the most at the supermarket. Growing your own berries and herbs, for instance, can reap significant financial — as well as nutritional — benefits.
