The 2025 gardening season presented many challenges, not least of which were drought and an early frost. Was the glass half-full? Being an incurable optimist, I’m remembering the successes and planning for greater success next year.
I have been reflecting on the role of gardening in my life. In many ways it has always been a constant, helping me through periods of major illness, relationship upheavals, and the everyday stresses of family and career. Putting my hands in the soil, planting and nurturing a seed or a young plant, engaging the senses of touch, smell and vision have always put me “in the moment.”
While recent scientific research has demonstrated that plants respond to the human voice and can communicate in many ways, I suspect that the interaction has much stronger benefits for the human participant. Getting our hands in the soil and nurturing plants has tremendous benefits.
At our peril we ignore our “animal” side and our deep connection to the earth. A half-hour in the garden takes me away from the craziness in my mind and brings me clarity, objectivity, and a sense of peace and contentment.
Not surprisingly, these benefits of gardening have been observed by others. The Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association defines horticultural therapy as a formal practice that uses plants, horticultural activities, and the garden landscape to promote wellbeing for participants. It has proven beneficial in a wide variety of healthcare, residential, school and rehabilitative settings. Care of hospitalized war veterans after World War II greatly expanded the use of gardening and horticultural activities in structured, rehabilitative programs. It is now a discipline taught and practiced throughout the world.
Now we have even more justification for an obsessive pursuit of our favourite hobby!
While a solitary pursuit of gardening has salutary benefits, gardening collaboratively can multiply those benefits. Humans (even gardeners) are social beings and often join with like-minded individuals to share their passion and do good works together.
Community gardens are, of course, a great spot to grow a few tomatoes, but I feel that there is a whole lot more going on, such as an awesome sense of satisfaction in seeing the excitement as a new gardener you have been mentoring reaps their first harvest. A collection of garden plots in close proximity is a great catalyst for the development of community as neighbours help one another. There are many gardeners who need a challenge. Some like to research, seek out expert advice, and experiment with new techniques. Satisfaction may be found in the journey rather than being bound up with a successful result! For many, their labour is part of a larger sense of purpose as they work towards a social goal such as educating youngsters, encouraging pollinators, or growing food for the food bank.
But how to get a start? The knowledge required can seem daunting. It seems to me that transferring knowledge about growing food from one generation to another is just not happening in our modern society. This has been brought home to me when dealing with student volunteers. It is not possible to assume even a minimum of knowledge. When I ask a volunteer to weed a row of peppers, I can’t assume that the difference between a pepper plant and lamb’s quarters is obvious to them. My eye can easily pick out just-germinated carrot seedlings in a bed covered with weeds; to a new gardener those seedlings are completely lost in a sea of weeds. This was expressed beautifully in a column a few years ago by Ottawa Citizen columnist Steve Maxwell: “I’ve never seen anyone learn to be a great gardener quickly. In my experience, getting good with soil, plants and sunshine is something that takes decades. That said, you can shave years off your learning curve if you keep your eyes open, keep your heart teachable and your mind alert to worthwhile ideas.”
While you can learn a lot from books and the internet, in my experience you can’t beat real-time, real-life, hands-on learning. My advice is to get out and meet gardeners, folks with decades of experience who are delighted to share their knowledge. If possible, work side by side with them.
What better place to meet helpful gardeners than our Lanark County Horticultural (Hort) Societies? These are groups of enthusiastic gardeners that in their own quiet ways make our communities come alive. “Hort” members can be seen planting tulip bulbs at the Cenotaph in Almonte, adding some plants at the Victoria School Museum Garden in Carleton Place, taking care of gardens at several historic properties in downtown Perth, planting flowers at the Legion and Library gardens in Smiths Falls, and planting flowers at the Five-Span Bridge in Pakenham.
Where would you find a local Society? What is amazing to me is the number of them that are within easy driving distance. Within a fifteen-minute drive from the Almonte Old Town Hall there are four societies to be found; an additional ten lie within 45 minutes. Society membership often brings other perks, such as discounts at local garden centre. Many work closely with municipal authorities to beautify our towns. Go to gardenontario.org to find the society nearest you!