5 Ways Gardening Inspires Gratitude and Happiness

Throughout history, the greatest minds have turned to nature for information and inspiration. Biologists, philosophers, artists, chefs and even physicists as of late have found exactly what they’re looking for in the earth.

One of these people is Louie Schwartzberg—a pioneer in time-lapse photography. More likely than not, you’ve seen his stunning time-lapses of flowers blooming or starry nights rotating. According to Louie, “Nature’s beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude.” And we could not agree more. 

When you grow good things with Gardenuity, you’re growing more than just delicious eats. You’re also growing gratitude. If you have kids, you’re teaching gratitude too. Developing a regular practice of gratitude invites joy into our lives by strengthening relationships, helping us to appreciate beauty in the everyday, and filling our hearts emotionally—not to mention that it literally helps us develop healthier physical hearts.

Here are five ways playing in the dirt will inspire gratitude—and ultimately make your life more joyful.

1. Take a moment.

Trust us, we’re busy. We get it. The world’s always spinning, things always need to get done, and there’s always a new Netflix show we have to watch. That being said, taking a moment to ignore the hustle-and-bustle of life is imperative to growing happy hearts.

While you’re gardening, your mind is free to slow down and wander. Whether you’re spending half an hour planting or taking thirty seconds to smell your fresh herb, you’ll have a precious moment to reflect on all of the things you have to be grateful for.

2. Acknowledge the beauty in the world.

Beauty is everywhere. It’s in the faces around us, in the art we see, and in the life we live. But, beauty is especially found in and on the earth. As Thoreau (the ultimate nature expert) said, “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our head.” 

Getting in touch with the earth reminds us of the beauty that surrounds us all the time. Think about the spectrum of colors you see in fruit, the vibrancy of the sun’s rays, the array of aromas the earth produces, and the wonders of the weather you’re experiencing. All of these things are particular to this day and particularly beautiful! The earth inspires us to recognize all of this beauty, and gratitude inevitably follows.

3. Appreciate the huge and miniature in nature.

As you follow your plant from seed (or youngling) to an adult producing fruit, you’re taking part in a creative act. As you observe your plant’s growth, you’ll be reminded of the all of the small parts that go into making this plant a whole. We don’t just mean the soil and the fertilizer. We’re talking about a cellular level—all of the minuscule tasks a plant completes to grow and thrive.

Growing in the garden helps you appreciate how ginormous nature is (the sky, the vast earth, massive trees) and how small and intricate a size it all begins in. All of nature works in this wondrous way—yourself included. This process, wherein intricate parts work together seamlessly to create stunning living things, is certainly something to admire and be grateful for.

4. Participate in an age-old ritual.

One of the best ways to feel gratitude is to look back at who and what came before you. After all, it’s how we got where we are. For centuries, our ancestors have been digging holes in the earth and planting seeds. How they’ve done it has changed from small garden plots, to agricultural kingdoms, to container gardens.

But whatever the method, every time you garden, you’re participating in a ritual nearly as old as humanity itself. Take a minute to reflect on the meaning of this. Maybe you have specific ancestral roots in growing, maybe not. Either way, you have a reason to express gratitude for those who have grown before us!

5. Taste the fresh harvest.

The earth feeds us—literally. Whether you’re growing your food personally or shopping for mini-wheats at a supermarket, our strength comes directly from the earth. When you garden, you see the earth-to-table link up-close. Growing is feeding us, our children, and our loved ones. Be thankful for it!

At Gardenuity, we make it part of our daily practice to grow and be grateful. It feeds our souls, brightens our lives, and makes us feel closer to us. Let us know how growing encourages your practice of gratitude! @gardenuity