As far as hobbies go, gardening is absolutely perfect for an introvert. It is an occupation most commonly done alone in the privacy of your own backyard. It provides endless hours of me time, toiling in the soil surrounded by wall-to-wall soothing greenery and sturdy fences that keep the prying eyes of the neighbours from watching you commune with nature, with the sounds of the birds and your thoughts as your soundtrack.
The workout that the garden provides can be more comprehensive than dressing up in lycra to sweat it out under the gaze of other lycra-clad gym bunnies who may or may not cast judgement on your workout techniques. In the garden, bunnies aren’t welcome and are intentionally excluded from destroying your achievements. Instead of forking out cash to exercise, a garden workout gives back with the health benefits from freshly grown produce.
Gardening alone allows the creative vision of your ideal garden emerge from your efforts with a spade. While there are horticultural trends and seasonal must-haves determined by those intending on selling you something, in the privacy of your own backyard, you can do whatever you want without any judgement. Garden design is deeply personal and if you want to go against the wildlife meadow vibe that is all the rage, and create a cottage garden oasis, then you are entitled to do so. There are no rules.
Research into the needs of the garden, what plants you might like, and problems that need solving can be done, with some discernment, on the internet or found in the pages of a myriad of books on the subject. The internet can also be a source of anything physical you may need for the garden, from tools, fertilisers, lotions and potions, seeds and even plants, all obtained with a click on the button without so much as a whisper of human interaction.
It can be so satisfying to reduce stress levels brought about by the busyness of life, to reconnect you with you and remind yourself you are strong, capable, creative, and productive, and recharge emotionally worn-out batteries. And if this is all you need from your garden then that is perfectly ok that you and your garden are living your best life.
However, there is something more, as the next level of benefit to be unlocked, something unexpected that will enrich your gardening experience and even the most introverted person need not be afraid. Step out in faith and join the garden community. The greater gardening community is renowned for its welcoming friendliness and among the least toxic groups in a world where outshining and standing out at all costs seems to be the standard. Gardeners really are the nicest people.
Gardeners are quick to share their knowledge, often learnt the hard way through their own failures and mistakes and genuinely want to help others to avoid the same pitfalls. They will commiserate with you when slugs munch their way through your newly planted, grown from seed seedlings and will also celebrate your successes with you in a way that non gardeners wouldn’t understand. They will freely share a handful of their favourite seeds or snip off a cutting of a treasured plant you admire. The gardening community will rally around with creative recipes for an overabundance of zucchini that appear overnight in the middle of summer. They can quickly become friends that deeply understand that side of your personality that cherishes the benefits of hands in the soil.
This amazing community of gardeners is hidden in plain sight in so many different places and the level of engagement can meet with your comfort levels.
To be passively involved, lurking in the background, but absorbing inspiration and passion, you can’t go past social media. There are so many gardeners on the internet, sharing what they are doing or talking to others for a wide range of ideas. Some are personal, newbies sharing the joy of seeing a seedling emerge for the first time or seasoned gardeners encouraging others through their learned experience. Even trusted gardening companies have a social media presence offering tips and hints to help you become a better gardener.
Botanic gardens, educational institutions and even government agencies can all be a valued source of knowledge online to improve your gardening abilities. Podcasts are great to listen to while you are out in the garden, to help quiet a busy mind and teach or inspire you to learn a thing or two. Videos can demonstrate techniques and social media posts can provide a peek over the garden gate. But the presenters become familiar like an old companion, and by reading the comments you can see an even greater treasure in the support and wisdom of the communities attached to each post. Reaching out and adding your own comments can see you becoming a welcomed part of the group.
Joining a social media gardening group can open up a world of possibilities and communities. There are groups for general gardening with thousands of gardeners or specific niche groups with a handful of devoted followers. Some groups are global with members from across the world with diverse experiences and others are local enough to be within walking distance of your own garden with insight into very specific challenges you all commonly face. By throwing yourself wholeheartedly into online communities you can create some lasting virtual friendships without leaving the comfort of your own home.
For real, face to face friendships and community, you can’t look past gardening groups and there is a high chance there is a group of similar people that regularly gather together in a community hall for a cuppa tea and a biscuit with support, guidance, knowledgeable guest speakers, friendly competitions, raffles and even outings to visit inspirational gardens that wouldn’t ordinarily be open to individuals. The comradery from spending time with people who share your passion makes the effort to step out of your comfort zone worth the while.
As an adult, making friends isn’t as easy as the carefree days of childhood, but when you find your tribe, you are no longer isolated, and there is value in spending time in the company of like-minded people and with gardeners by your side the world becomes a beautiful place.
