This is a subject I like to touch on from time to time as a little reminder to focus on the foundation of growing as a gardener. Finding your why, knowing your reason why you make time to grow food for your family when things get tough, busy, too cold or dark to grow anything outside is key to enjoying the process. Having a solid reason why you garden is the backbone of everything you do related to the garden. 

Being a Holistic Nutritionist, I know just how important quality food is for overall wellbeing, but I was gardening long before I ever thought of becoming a Holistic Nutritionist or Culinary Nutrition Expert or trained cook. Something instinctual kicked in once I had my first son, even more so than it had before. A need for clean, organic and quality whole food was a top priority as a young mother. Having a garden was something natural to me, growing tomatoes and basil and other easy to grow crops when my children were young was a fantastic way to nourish my family. That was my why, to nourish my family and it remains the same to this day. Even though my sons are now grown adults, I still love being able to offer them nourishing food from the garden. I also love to grow specific crops for each one based on their favorite foods.

Finding your why doesn’t need to be hard. Think about all the reasons why you garden, why you want garden fresh meals and what it means to you. Likely the very first thing that comes to mind is a solid option for your why. You can have many why’s, I know I do! It can be many things or a single reason, it is completely unique to you. Either way, knowing why you are doing something gives purpose to the activity. This is crucial in the middle of a fight against a garden pest that has taken over or after a hailstorm takes out a good portion of your garden. It is also beneficial to know your why when life gets hard. I often find solace in the garden when life gets bumpy or I need to work through something. If I didn’t have a solid why and gave up gardening, I wouldn’t have this place to come to. 

Another reason for knowing your why and your purpose for gardening, especially as a beginner gardener is when you inevitably have doubt about your garden and gardening skills when you see others gardens on social media. There are tons of glamorous gardens on social media with many making it seem easy, but remembering your why will help you focus on what your garden is doing for you whether it is like social media gardens or not. (Also don’t compare your garden to anyone else’s, they may be years and years into gardening and you are just starting out.)

Whatever you do, having a solid why will be helpful in many scenarios throughout each gardening season as well as the off season. Be true to the gardener you want to be and be proud of growing food for your family. Your reason why is completely personal, there are no wrong reasons. Enjoy the process! Please share your why in the comments, I’d love to hear them.