By ARVIN DEMERJIAN
NOR OR, LOS ANGELES.-We all go through phases of different hobbies in our lives, and some phases are short, some are longer than others, but some just cycle in and out throughout our lives. For me, that’s gardening. Being able to plant a seed, care for it, and see it sprout and grow is such a satisfactory and joyous experience, that I think I might be addicted to gardening.
Growing up, I didn’t really care for gardening much, but I gardened every now and then with my mom. I remembered when my family moved into our current house over ten years ago, the yard was all dirt. I had a pet bird at the time, and his food was just a bunch of seeds, and one day I decided to plant a few of them. Soon enough, I had a sunflower coming out of the ground, and it was so exciting. Not too long after, I got busy with homework and school, and put gardening on the backburner.
Fast forward a few years to when I’m in college and living in my apartment. My roommates and I would go to target all the time, and when I say all the time, I mean at least once a day. Target has the $1-$5 section in the front as you enter, and it always lures me in. Every now and then, they’ll have small pots with seeds in them, ready to plant for $3 or so, and surprisingly, these plants grow pretty well. I started off with one parsley plant from target, then a basil, then a mint plant. Before I knew it, my roommates and I had all the herbs we needed growing on our patio. At first my roommates thought it was funny that I was trying to grow a little garden in an even smaller apartment, but soon after, they couldn’t live without my garden.
After moving back home last year and starting on my teaching credentials and masters, I put gardening on the backburner again, until about two weeks ago. I know so many people that say they have a black thumb, but I honestly think everyone should try gardening, or at least taking care of a plant or two. Gardening is so beneficial to us, even for our health. It helps reduce stress in our daily lives, as well as improve our relationships, boost our moods, and improve our health overall. The physical activity of gardening is also a great physical activity, generally using all of the major muscle groups in some way. According to the American Heart Association, gardening also helps to reduce the risk of stroke. If you plant fruits and vegetables, your stomach will benefit too!
If you haven’t tried gardening or just haven’t in awhile, I would suggest to try it again. See what it does for you. If you’re not sure where to start, Target usually has the inexpensive starter seeds ready to go, or you can be adventurous and start with something big, although I will say that herbs are easiest in my opinion. Whatever you start with, be patient, and give it the proper care. Most plants die because they don’t get watered enough, or they get watered too much. Even if you’re convinced gardening isn’t for you, try a new hobby! I promise you’ll feel amazing when you do!
