The gardening urge tends to strike me this time of year as we start to see trees, flowers and grass come back. I love to grow flowers, herbs and a few vegetables at home. I stick with container gardening because I do not have the space for a raised bed or an in-ground plot. Even on this very small scale, gardening is a source of joy for me. Vegetable gardening not only gives you healthy, tasty food to eat, but the activity of gardening can support good physical and mental health through exercise and stress relief. Gardening can also be a valuable point of connection between people. Whether it is talking with friends about what you plan to grow or sharing your harvest with your family or neighbors, gardening can be a wonderful source of community.
Have you been thinking about starting a vegetable garden at home but aren’t sure where to start? Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has some tools to make gardening easier for beginners and more detailed content for experienced gardeners. I encourage you to spend one of these rainy April afternoons reviewing the Beginners Guide to Vegetable Gardening to learn how to plan, plant, care for and harvest a garden. Even if you start with a pot or two, you will reap some of the benefits of gardening.
Next week we will share some more resources including how you might get vegetable seeds at low or no cost.
Happy Spring!
