Gardening as Therapy
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
Right now more than ever, human beings are becoming aware of our deep interconnectedness, of the myriad ways that we belong to and depend on each other for health, happiness, and, ultimately, survival. Through the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges facing our society as a result of broken governmental systems, and the dramatic and worsening global climate crisis, we are seeing the ways in which our collective ways of thinking and behaving affect every living being on this planet. This vital interdependence has the power both to destroy and to heal, to worsen or to improve, depending on our sense of purpose and how connected we are to each other and to Mother Earth. At Plenitud PR, our aim is to teach and demonstrate skills for deepening this connection, and to joining with our community to experience greater harmony within ourselves, with each other, and with the beautiful Earth we all share.
“Love the world as yourself; then you can truly care for all things.”
With so many crises raging across the planet, it is all too easy right now to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. Those of us who like to translate our feelings into concrete action may feel bewildered by how to engage in the time of social distancing, police brutality, and interpersonal hostility on social media, etc. In such times, we at Plenitud PR find it helpful to simplify, simplify, simplify: to dig down deep into basic practices that foster connection with ourselves and the Earth so that we may feel more grounded, peaceful, and aware of our place in the greater fabric of our global community.
A great place to start is in the garden. By working together with the gifts that Mother Nature provides, we see firsthand the value of those gifts, and we gain a deep respect for the combination of effort and natural magic that provides every fruit, vegetable, and flower we depend on for our survival. No matter where you live or what your budget may be, there is always something you can do to participate in the practice of natural gardening. Check out our tips below for where to get started, and please reach out to us with your questions so that we can help you on your gardening journey!
Start small.
Whether you live in a high-rise apartment in the city or a country cottage, you can always get growing by gathering a few pots, some organic gardening soil, and direct-sow seeds from your local gardening store or preferred online retailer*. Some examples of things you can grow right on your porch directly from seed include sunflowers, bush beans, pumpkins, radishes, lettuces, spinach, and beets.
Try one new crop each season.
Mother Nature has an intuitive and rhythmic seasonal growing plan for every area of the Earth, so what works for us in Puerto Rico may not grow at all in Vermont, and vice versa. Get to know what you can easily grow in your area each season, and try something new in your containers when they change. You may be surprised to find just how many things you can grow where you live!
Invest in natural pest control.
Even in a high rise city apartment, the urge to live and grow is strong for all living beings, and garden pests will find their way to your home garden. At Plenitud PR, we use a solution of natural organic neem oil to treat our plants and prevent infestation in the garden, and it works very well. Neem oil is inexpensive and highly effective, so a bottle will last you for at least one or two growing seasons depending on the size of your garden. Here is another recipe that we can share, compiled by the third grade students at Dr. Silverio Medina Gaud School in Las Marías:
“Basic Mix" Natural Repellent
4 tbsp cooking oil or neem oil
2 tbsp liquid soap (other than antibacterial)
2 tbsp baking soda
1 gallon of water
Mix everything and place in a spray bottle. Spray the bottom of the leaves for three consecutive days in the mornings, before 9am or in the afternoons after 5pm. Try it in your garden and let us know how it works!
Harvest and enjoy in gratitude.
One of the main benefits of working with the Earth in the garden is the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction it brings to harvest our fruit, flowers, or vegetables for sharing with others. The practice of gardening requires patience, perseverance, love, and a sense of purpose, and when it is all said and done it is worth taking a few moments to express gratitude to Mother Earth for providing us the opportunity to share in her gifts, and reciprocate her effort through our gratitude. We like to spend a quiet moment in thankful meditation while harvesting, processing, cooking, and serving meals at Plenitud PR, infusing our offerings with love and joy. We recommend this practice to truly experience deeper inner harmony, as well as renewed connection with our first Mother and with the people we serve through her bounty.
We hope that you find these suggestions helpful and inspiring, and that they encourage you to connect with the Earth on a deeper level. We guarantee that you will feel a deep sense of satisfaction and joy when you see that first flower in bloom, or when those first baby cucumbers emerge from behind a leaf blowing gently in the breeze. You may want to take a deep breath, fold your soil-stained hands in front of your heart, and say a brief, silent prayer of gratitude to Mother Nature for giving us one small way to feel her presence. In a time when not much else is certain, we can always return to the Earth and join her in the sacred dance of growth, harvest, and return to the soil that grounds and balances us. Enjoy the process, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us so we can join and support you in your journey!
Seed Suppliers:
*Some of our favorite organic seed suppliers include Seed Savers Exchange, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Botanical Interests, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and Seeds of Change.
Our favorite organic seed suppliers in Puerto Rico are Desde Mi Huerto, Estación Experimental Lajas and Govardhan Gardens.
Do you want to learn more about planting?
Our manual, ¡Siembra Boricua! Manual de agricultura en armonía con la naturaleza, is available in Spanish our online store.
“This manual is a guide for both a beginner and an experienced farmer who wishes to deepen or transform their agricultural practice in order to produce food in harmony with our environment. Every Puerto Rican should have this knowledge!” ~Dr Bryann Bruner
