Worthwhile Goals for the Garden in 2022

 So much fuss is made about new years eve resolutions and honestly, does anyone EVER keep them? Anyone? So, lets do away with them for now and instead look at a few smaller, doable goals for you and your garden. You don't have to give up junk food to have a great year, here are some goals that you will actually enjoy. 

Not a looker but this is a free and functional compost pile.

1. Visit at least one public garden. Longwood Gardens is my happy place. I usually visit there with my good friend Liz Chen so its a double dose of happy. But there are public gardens all over the place and visiting a quiet area to enjoy the beauty of nature is good for you on so many levels. 

2. Help someone with their garden. Gardening is an awesome hobby in and of itself but it's even better when it's shared. Perhaps a neighbor or friend is interested or in over their heads. If nothing else, volunteer at a local community garden. It's also very good for you!

3. Start a compost pile, or start feeding your compost more. Composting is the most brilliant way to help the earth by keeping stuff out of landfills and helping yourself by creating awesome soil amendments for free. My husband made my compost bin with some old pallets we got for free but there are options for any living arrangements.  Click here for some ideas. For me, this year I'd like to be more mindful of composting stuff that normally gets thrown out, like paper and cardboard. More goodies for my garden and less trash for the garbage truck. 

4. Learn to grow a new plant. No one is too young or too old to learn something new. Continuing education is a great way to keep your brain young and there are always new things to learn in the garden. This year, I want to grow turnips and pop corn for the first time. Pick something new and read up on it before Spring. You can also do this with your kids to make it a family project. 

My very own gardening notebook. 

5. Cut back on your use of chemicals in the garden. Most of us who garden for personal reasons (i.e. not farmers) really don't need to use pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Take stock of what you normally use and look into either organic alternatives or just doing away with them. Even small steps in the right direction will benefit the ecosystem of your yard. 

6. Start keeping a garden journal. Taking notes about what works and what doesn't, what happens in your yard and when, and ideas for the future is definitely a great idea! You can do this electronically or in an old fashioned notebook. You can make entries when you want to. But it's good to look back on it. 

Do any of these sound like a good goal for you? What are your garden plans for the new year? Be sure to comment below!