I love to play in the dirt. Yes, you read that right. Spending days outside, in the sunshine, covered head to toe in dirt, is a magical experience. I discovered over the years that gardening is more than a chore; it has a spiritual purpose that grounds me in a way nothing else does. Whether it is beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables or simply clearing out a patch of weeds, gardening provides mental, physical, and spiritual improvements to my overall health.

Connection with the Earth

Gardening provides a deep connection to the earth. As you stand outside feeling the sun on your face, the wind on your back, and your hands in the dirt, there is a connection with the environment. Our hyper-technical world keeps us locked indoors, away from the elements. Our system is overcome by artificial noise. Some noise we choose in the form of media, but we are also surrounded by the low hum of electronic devices as they chill our food and clean our dishes. Out in the garden, the surroundings are outside our control. The wind blows, the crickets’ chirp, and the birds sing on their own schedule. We cannot control it and can only experience it by immersing ourselves in nature and waiting. No two days in the garden will be the same. It is an opportunity to experience the natural world as it evolves.

Coffee House Writers / Dawn Marie Beauchamp

The Experience of Creation

I love to create. Whether it is with words, paint, or food, I am most at peace when I create something new. In the garden, the experience of creation is slower. I am more of a passive participant instead of actively pushing the process. It forces me to slow down and wait. I can put the seeds in the ground, but I do not know when or if they will sprout. My energy can be spent nurturing the vegetable garden, but I wait for the fruit to appear. The experience is in the preparation, and nature provides the final product. It is a daily treasure hunt to walk around the garden looking for the bud that opened or the tomato that doubled in size.

The Thrill of Transformation

While some things require patient waiting, other garden activities are an adventure in progress. The sense of accomplishment as I weed a garden bed and watch the transformation fills me with happiness. Transformation brings life. In the garden, transformation brings beauty. My front yard has been a work in progress for 10 years. The first five years were spent doing basic maintenance. The last five involved planning, planting, and planting some more. I took a mess and created something beautiful with my hands and God’s help. No one knows if a bulb will grow or a bush will thrive. I place them in the ground and wait. The next year I do the same. Now five years later, the yard is full of color and beauty. It makes me smile every time I enter or exit my home. Transformation is amazing.

A More Practical Reason

The garden feeds my soul, and it also feeds my family. All my hours spent planting, watering, and weeding not only provide a beautiful landscape, but the backyard “farm” provides delicious food for our table. Food tastes better the fresher it is. You cannot get fresher than picking a cucumber, slicing it, and eating it all in the same five minutes. Having a hobby that feeds my spiritual self with the added benefit of feeding our physical family is a win-win.

Try Gardening for Yourself

Are you ready to play in the dirt? I think you want to try it. You can start small. Do you have any outdoor space? A porch, yard, balcony, or patio will do. Want to start small? Grab a few pots and make something beautiful. Or grab some bigger pots and plant a few vegetable plants. Start a small garden bed next to your front porch. Clear out a three-by-four-foot plot in your backyard and plant some tomato plants. Take a chance and see what develops. Enjoy the process and gain some spiritual wellness with the sun on your face and the wind blowing through your hair.