Gardening and the Great Outdoors
Getting your hands dirty might just clear your mind.
If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be writing a blog post about gardening, I would’ve laughed. Gardening, in my mind, was for retired folks with plenty of time on their hands—definitely not for someone like me. I’ve got pollen allergies, for a start. Being outside in the middle of summer, surrounded by blooming flowers, sneezing every 20 seconds? No thanks.
But something shifted.
Like many parents, I was struggling to find affordable ways to keep the kids busy—really busy, not just screen-distracted. I wanted to get them outside, breathing fresh air, soaking up some vitamin D, and doing something real. That’s when I decided to give gardening a proper go. And to my surprise, it turned into something much more than just a weekend project.
It turns out, gardening doesn’t have to look like neat rows of roses or manicured lawns. Gardening can be whatever you want it to be. For me, it became a vegetable patch—simple, a bit scruffy, but completely ours. There’s something genuinely satisfying about planting something with your own hands, watching it grow, and eventually tasting the results. Lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries… whatever it is, plant what you like. That’s the joy of it—it’s your garden.
I’m lucky I had my mum, step-dad, grandma, and grandad to lean on when I started. They gave me tips on how to start seeds, when to water, and what to plant first. Not everyone has that, so I hope this part of the blog can be that resource for you. A little advice, a few stories, some step-by-step guidance—and the encouragement to just give it a go.
Whether you’ve got a big back garden, a few pots on a windowsill, or a borrowed corner of a community plot, this section is here to help you explore the outside world in a way that feels good, not overwhelming. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to be willing to try.
Welcome to the great outdoors. Let’s grow something together.