WINNEMUCCA - These two items may not be connected at all, but I've been gardening in Nevada for 16 years, and for each of those 16 years, I've made New Year's resolutions.
A peek at part of the scorecard:
1998 Resolutions:
1. Lose 20 pounds, and be the size I used to be in high school.
2. Get a few packs of flower seeds, and beautify the premises.
1998 Results:
Can you believe it? Some of those plants are still growing!
2008 Resolutions:
1. Lose 20 pounds, and be the size I used to be when I first started trying to get down to the size I used to be.
2. Plant a vegetable garden to save money and enjoy fresh vegetables.
2008 Results:
That was some of the best watermelon I've ever tasted. Now that I've started growing my own vegetables, I spend much less at the grocery store, even as prices go up.
I think we can all see the trend here. Some resolutions fizzle by mid-January. Some become self-perpetuating. This year, I invite you to join me in resolutions that grow even better as the years go on.
Plant a garden. If you've never gardened before, you might consider a few pots of herbs, or a couple cherry tomatoes. Fresh herbs and fresh tomatoes are both expensive; you'll find the cost is much less and the quality is much higher if you grow your own.
If you want a bit bigger challenge, you might consider a small garden plot. If you have a sunny area in your yard, you can spade up the dirt - or do it the lazy-man's way, and put a raised bed right on the grass, making sure that you build it high enough so that the dirt will smother the grass. Plant the things you love.
If you don't have access to your own dirt, consider a plot at the Winnemucca Community Garden. You won't have to pay for water, and you'll probably have access to compost and mulch, so the $20 plot fee is a bargain. If you're strapped for cash, they'll even waive it. You'll find plenty of friendly gardeners to swap seeds and advice with.
If you already garden, you're probably hooked. I don't need to tell you that there are always new challenges. You've already looked at the seed catalogs that begin to appear just before the winter solstice, and you've already circled a new variety to try this year.
If you're exceptionally ambitious, you've marked out the spot where you'll add a greenhouse, some raised beds, a cold frame, or some other garden addition.
Gardening makes me happy. I used to believe it made me happy because was fostering growth and beauty, or because I enjoyed being "one with nature" - although nature has a way of being stubborn in my garden. There might be a more scientific reason for the joy gardening brings.
A recent Outside Magazine had an article discussing things that contribute to happiness. One of them was dirt. Apparently, soil has a type of bacteria which stimulates the production of serotonin, which contributes to happiness.
Another item on the list was chocolate.
At least now I know why some New Year's resolutions are easier to keep than others.
When Teresa Howell is not lowering her beauty standards, she teaches English at Great Basin College.[[In-content Ad]]
