Why Gardening Is Important for Humanity

Most people think of gardening as a hobby, and indeed, for most people it is. But gardening is far more than that, and although the reasons why we garden may be as many as there are gardeners, at a basic level the real reason is that it fulfills some important needs for us as humans.

Obviously one of the main reasons is that it helps us feel some sense of control over at least a part of our food supply - however small that part may be. In today's day and age, the importance of this aspect cannot be overstated. Most people haven't the faintest idea where their food comes from in any real sense. Where was it raised? How was it raised/what kind of a life did it have? Where has it been since then? There is no connection between us and where our food comes from anymore.

"Spirit of '18. The World Cry FOOD. Keep the home gardening going". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Being able to say you know exactly what is on your plate and what went into growing it, harvesting it, and getting it onto your plate is something most people aren't able to do with any sort of certainty these days. Growing some of it in your own backyard is a great way to have a real connection with what you eat - and also to experience what goes into growing food, and therefore at least feel a greater connection to those who grow the rest of yours.

But at perhaps an even deeper level, humans yearn to feel that they are contributing something of value, and feeling that you have a hand in directly contributing to the survival and well being of yourself and your family is a powerful thing - so much so that it's hard to put into words. Contributing food that you planted, cared for, and harvested with your own two hands to your family's dinner table offers an important sense of control and connection in an often uncertain and disconnected world. Those who garden may not put their reasoning into these words, but it goes a long way towards explaining why gardening is just about the most popular and widespread "hobby" in the developed world.

If you haven't started a garden before, or even if you have but you're not sure if you want to do it again this year, think about the deeper meaning behind what it is to garden - not just to enjoy a pretty scene of flowers and vegetables, but to truly help to support yourself and your family with your own efforts. It may not always be easy, but when it comes down to it, it's always worth it.