I was working in the garden the other day planting more seeds for my fall and winter crops when I had the idea for this giveaway. Maybe it will motivate some of you to get out there and try planting a fall garden this year.
This garden giveaway not only includes some of my favorite things, but it has a retail value of over $150!
This giveaway includes:
- Reclaiming Our Food by Tanya Denckla Cobb
- Backyard Winter Gardening By Caleb Warnock
- Ask Cisco by Cisco Morris {what a hunk!}
- Womanswork Garden Gloves with Arm Saver
- Womanswork Peppermint Muscle Rub
If you have never tried on a pair of Womanswear garden gloves before, they are awesome. I especially like how the elbow length cuff has a stretchy pull cord at the end for cinching the cuff around your arm or shirt sleeves. It comes in handy when your pulling weeds or moving plants with creepy crawly bugs all over. Plus the palm is made of a durable synthetic leather and are making them easy to work with.
- Danvers 126 Seeds
- Early Wonder Beets Seeds
- Bok Toy Choy Seeds by Botanical Interests
All you have to do to enter this giveaway is leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite thing about gardening is.
Just answer that one question and you’re entered to win. Life’s pretty complicated sometimes, so I like to keep things simple around here.
Rules
1 entry per person/ip address. If you cheat, you will totally be disqualified.
This giveaway ends Sunday, September 15th, 2013 @9 pm PST and the winners will be announced in the Tuesday, September 17th, 2013 edition of Mornings with Mavis. You will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim your prize. If you do not claim your prize within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited.
Good Luck! I hope you win!
♥ Mavis
Don’t forget, you can stay up to date with the latest news by following One Hundred Dollars a Month on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ as well.
Nancy Jo says
I constantly get new ideas of what to plant “next time”. And should i move my garden to this side of the house or that side! I love to garden.
Kelly says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing exactly where my food comes from and it is nice to have the only hands handle my family’s food is my own, I know where my hands have been 😉
Sondra says
My favorite thing about gardening is EATING!!!! lol
michelle g-b says
My favorite thing about gardening is that my kids love to forage in it– they will eat things in the garden that they might not normally eat if it were just offered to them indoors– tomatoes, snap peas, carrots, strawberries, raspberries. They love it all!
Emily Baer says
I’ve been thinking about doing a fall/winter garden, but I’ve been too chicken (so to speak). Perhaps this will be the kick in the pants I need.
My favorite thing about gardening: Mornings. Gardening has been therapeutic for me in grieving the loss of my Dad. (I wrote about it here: http://www.collectingraindrops.blogspot.com/2012/08/of-sewing-and-mending.html )
I recently observed: Morning in the garden is good for a sore and swollen heart. A soundtrack of song birds and the atomic thrum of bees bouncing between squash blossoms. Water drops hanging from tomatoe branches like chandelier crystals. And all of it backlit from the east, a cathedral and each leaf a stained glass window…
My garden has given me more than tomatoes and zucchini…
Angela says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing where my food comes from, what it is truly, what is or most importantly isn’t on or in it and the sense of accomplishment that I grew this.
P.S. I love to grow things. I always have, even since I was a child. I will sprout anything I can. I have a ridiculous amount of avocado trees in my house. 😉
jen middlebrooks says
I like knowing where my food for my family comes from and it makes me feel closer to my Papa who was a fabulous farmer and person.
Barb says
I have so many “favorites” about gardening–but it starts with perusing all the seed catalogs in the dead of winter and dreaming of what I am going to plant in the spring!
Jo Ann Gleason says
My favorite thing about gardening is growing healthy food. I know it is non-GMO, pesticide free and chemical free because I planted in and tended to it. It’s so satisfying growing food, and so easy. My second favorite thing would be cooking the homegrown food.
Ananga says
I love gardening for many reasons and I so wish it weren’t required for us to choose just one. Seriously. But I think one of the things I enjoy the most, because it so deeply touches my heart, soul and gut, is spending time in the garden with my kids. My boys are my amazing teachers, as children are if allowed to blossom. They get so excited to see the itty bitty plants emerge from their seed homes and transform. It blows their minds, as it does mine. Year after year it never ceases to amaze them and me. And I hope that wonder and amazement never goes away. It’s magic!!! How awesome to share in it together.
Russell says
My wife and I enjoy gardening as a way to relax and stay calm after a long strenuous and hard week at work. We can always get the kids involved by just telling them we are seeking treasures for dinner.
Peggy Stenglein says
My favorite thing about gardening is: peace! My gardens are my places for peace…no stress or dram allowed!
Mick Johnson says
My favorite thing about gardening is the fresh taste – especially from things that I don’t usually find in my grocery store (yellow crook-neck squash).
Tracey says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to grow our own food.
Heather says
My favourite thing about gardening is the food! Feeling closer to my Opa who taught me, in my early days of gardening everything he knew, and he always had extra rows of peas (my fave!) for me to tend to.
Kerri says
My favorite thing about gardening?? How therapeutic it can be!! Brings the stress level down and the happiness level up!!
Christine Ratliff says
I just walked in from planting seeds, I live in the deep south and I am sweating like crazy…..I love the smell of the dirt, the sweat pouring down my back and watching the little seedlings pop up. I love to eat my delicious veggies as well, nothing like it 🙂
Debbie Brubaker says
I never knew how much gardening would mean to me, until I had my baby daughter, was a stay at home mom, and was going insane with lack of time for myself. That is how I found myself outside practically in the dark, under the corner streetlight, digging up the grass and turning up the soil for my street corner garden and my sanity. That was 16 years ago , one more child, much more digging and now at least, my son may be following in my footsteps. Knowing that my kids are learning about local produce, sustainability, and environmental awareness is my unexpected favorite thing about gardening.
john says
I love to see the excitment of my 8 yr. old when its time to gather dinner out of the garden.
Mary Lynn Carubba says
My favorite thing about gardening is the incredible miracle of sticking a seed in dirt and watching a living thing rise up to produce and give glory.
Such great joy and it never gets old….
mary s says
I love that, for me, gardening is like therapy.
Lisa says
My favorite thing about gardening is how you feel when those plants start to grow!
Sue V says
Wow, those gloves would really take my weeding chores up a notch! Favorite things about gardening: weeding and slug catching!
Kele Bourdeau says
I love gardening when my 2-year-old eats tomatoes off the vine and carrots he has pulled himself.
Mary says
I love picking veges from the garden and serving them in a delicious dish!
Kaye blair says
I love knowing that I have been involved from the beginning with the seeds to the end product,the vegetables…A s a trained Chef, I love growing all the vegetables I use to prepare the meals for My Family and Friends
Monica Brown says
My favorite thing(s) about gardening is seeing the plants come to life and I also love how it makes me feel working in the garden, even though it is hard work, I feel like it relieves a bit of stress!
Cecily says
My favorite thing about gardening is the sense of accomplishment that comes from nurturing a plant through every stage, from seed to harvest. I also love feeling that I am doing something that my ancestors did. In a way it makes me feel closer to them.
Megan M. says
I just get so giddy knowing that I had a hand in growing what I’m eating, even though I know it was God who did all the hard work.
Naomi says
Homegrown vegetables!!!
Lisa says
My favorite thing about gardening is planting new little seedlings each spring.
Stephanie says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to eat delicious organic food that tastes a lot better than store bought.
Kate says
The greatest thing about gardening is watching the transformation from seed to something that provides our sustenance! I love it!
Corinne says
My favorite thing about gardening is feeling close to my dad, who always had a great garden, and helped teach me to appreciate everything about growing my own food.
Jennifer says
This was my first summer of gardening. My garden produced tomatoes and green peppers. My apple tree I planted 4 years ago also produced its first 2 apples ever. It was so exciting for my 8 year old, 4 year old, and myself to watch everything grow and then be able to pick it. We would love to win and learn how to plant a winter garden! I am not sure where to begin when it comes to a winter garden so this would sure help. Thank you!
Michelle Dee says
Inspiration is the most wonderful part of gardening for me. It touches every aspects from meticulously planning and then changing it all on a whim so you can make a tea sipping book reading hideaway among all the growing goodies. Inspiration as you examine the subtle colors and shapes emerging as your garden grows and transforms. I have to say my most giddy inspiration comes from what I have a chance to create in the kitchen from a seasons hard work.
Kristy L says
How can I pick just ONE favorite thing about gardening?? It would have to be the sense of accomplishment that comes with knowing that I am growing healthy food for my family right in my backyard. I get to see my plants grow from little seeds to producing veggies and I know EXACTLY what conditions they were grown in. Nothing beats that!
Amy says
My absolute favorite thing about gardening is the feelings it gives me. It makes me feel connected to the land and in touch with mother nature. Through out the growing season there are so many emotional highs and lows. The giddiness when your seedlings pop up. The sadness when a catepillar has devoured a whole plant seemly overnight. The triumph of the perfect crop of tomatoes or peppers. Anger because I goofed up and underwatered or overwatered or did something wrong. The utter relief when winter kicks in and you finally get to rest. I can’t imagine life without gardening.
Tracie says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to do something fun and feed hungry people at the same time. 500 plus pounds and counting so far this year donated. woohoo
Mary Jamison says
Gardening is wonderful therapy, relieve stress, lowers blood pressure and it is a “spiritual experience”.
Amanda Britain says
My favorite thing is getting the kiddos involved with me! They are loving the dirt! 😉
Becky says
Knowing that I grew it myself, and it has no chemicals or pesticides. There is nothing better than a fresh picked tomato that has just ripened in the 90 degree sun. Warm and delicious.
Marg Tuinstra says
I love it that there is absolutely no housework allowed while gardening.
Vicki says
My favorite thing about gardening is my fascination while watching these wonderful things grow from an itty bitty seed! Of course, I also love that I can feed my family, the food is organic and that I’m in charge of what goes into our bellies.
Keely says
What I really love about gardening is how therapeutic it is for me. It’s helps me relax and it’s rewarding. How does the saying go “Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes”. 😉
Mallory Smith says
I don’t have a favorite thing about gardening, I am still learning. I DO like seeing my efforts become fruitful though. 🙂
Jennifer says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing my kids, 4 and 16 months out there watching and learning! They love seeing the plants grow and get so excited when we eat things from the garden it amazes them!
Sarah m says
My favorite thing about gardening is the produce! What we wait for all year… but I love the smell of the garden, too, and giving over-abundance away to people–that’s pretty nice, too. 🙂
Sarah M
Kristin says
I LOVE being able to pull fresh veggies for my family! And the thrill of walking out to the garden and see what is growing that day! 🙂
Sarah says
My favorite thing is having yummy healthy food right outside my kitchen door!
Ken Orlich says
My favorite thing about gardening is connecting with the earth, feeling grounded and self-reliant.
Tina says
Love the fresh veg I get for my family
Kristine Roehl says
Feeding my family for cheap!!
Jo B. says
I love seeing little green sprouts coming up out of the dirt, it’s like magic 🙂
Loretta says
My favorite thing about gardening is the food that comes from the ground. I have been know to hold some sort of garden grown item up yelling “FOOD!!! FROM THE GROUND!!!”
Erin says
I love the peace in my garden while weeding and the feeling of being productive when done!
jamie says
my fav thing about gardening is knowing exactly what went into your food,no chemicals or gmo’s,organic is the way to go!
Angie says
My favorite thing about gardening is that I know where my food comes from. Not to mention we all work together as a family to pull it together!
Shelly Volz-Hazel says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching the baby seedlings come through the soil and reach for the sun.
Kim says
I get to work with the Master Gardener. Even though I dig, water, plant, and weed, I can’t make anything grow. Its a faith-thing: you plant and He makes it grow. That miracle-of-life thing. That’s what I love about gardening. And tomatoes.
Kim says
My favorite thing is being proud of the work I put in and being able to look at the finished product, and thinking, I did good! Whether it’s putting something fresh on the table that same day, or getting to enjoy canning and preserving, I like knowing I did something healthy for my family.
Ashley says
My favorite thing about gardening is actually how it’s like magic. You plant these things, and then you get food. It’s amazing. I love being able to eat what we grow, and share it with others. It’s amazing to me how much food we can grow in a small area.
Roo says
I would say my favorite thing is eating what I grow, but I really think the best part is watching things grow. You put this TINY little seed in the ground and then, MAGIC! It’s amazing to see what happens to those tiny things. And how fast. And the rest of nature interacting with it all – good bugs and bad bugs and everything in between. My favorite part is the magic.
Abby says
You actually inspired my new found love of gardening last winter- we chose our next home based on how much potential the garden would have! My favorite part is getting my kids involved, showing them how to become self sustainable, and that hard work and patience pays off!
Tobi says
I am just setting up my first garden in over 10 years – can’t wait for it to start producing goodies!
Lana says
The reward of bringing food into my kitchen that I grew myself. I love it!
Lindsey Andrews says
Love teaching my kids the difference between fresh and store bought veggies.
Katie C. says
My favorite thing has to be watching my children enjoy everything from yelling at me to come get a slug out of the garden, to watching them eat the fruits of our labor. We’re building each of them their own mini garden beds for fall (the kids are 3 and 5), so I can’t wait to watch them enjoy their very own gardens.
Jessica says
Getting to enjoy the fruits of my labor 🙂
Diana Cox says
sigh… my FAVORITE thing? EVERYTHING. I even love weeding. (ok… so I do not love flea beetles, but almost everything). How about this – I love everything about gardening but flea beetles… and fire ants. dang…
Samantha says
My absolute favorite thing about gardening is when my daughter has friends over and she says “my mom grew ALL of this!!”
jenn bane says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing ky 3 year old eat peas, green beans, tomatoes & whatever else he can find ripe at 7 am, while out in the garden. He loves snacking on all of our veges 🙂
Alyssa says
Gardening is a meditation for me… benefits of organic food and a calm mind!
Liisa Krause says
Food tastes so much better when you grow it yourself.
Judi says
To choose one favorite would be hard. But, if I must choose. My favorite thing about gardening is knowing that my children who once sat beside me smelling basil and eating fresh peas now find comfort and joy in their own gardens. Gardening with your children makes happy future gardeners.
jeri stelter says
I love gardening because it’s the closest I will ever be to childbearing again.
Dana Osborne says
It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment to know that I grew something that will nourish my family!
Jessi Severa says
My favorite part of gardening is that everything is a learning experience. Plus you get yummy food!
Michelle R says
My favorite thing is feeling like I accomplished something. I have so many things going on that seeing something grow and being able to eat it is a good feeling that doesn’t happen often enough.
Rosa Cervantes says
My favorite thing is the feeling of satisfaction that if it weren’t for me planting a seed this plant would not exist. 🙂
Khristi says
My most favorite thing about gardening is being outside with nature. The chickens are scratching around, the birds are singing their songs and butterflies are fluttering about. There is nothing more deeply satisfying than cultivating your own little piece of earth and tasting the fruits of your labor.
Thelma Susan Rogers says
I love everything about gardening, it’s healthy for the mind and body. My favorite part is being able to share the harvest.
bethann says
I love the food, and how fresh it takes, but honestly, my favorite thing about gardening is the peace I feel when I am in the garden. I am about to try my first fall garden, and am very excited to extend that peace from summer to fall 🙂
Heather says
I’ve been clinically depressed since I was about 6. I’ve had self esteem and self-worth issues which have virtually crippled me to the point where I can’t work anymore. Since I started gardening (which was only about a year ago) I feel better every time I find a tomato, or a flower turns into a bell pepper, or the wind blows the smell of spearmint and lemon balm across my back porch. I guess I love the feeling that I’m actually doing something worthwhile with my life now, even if you can only see it from my back yard and my kitchen.
Also? Tomatoes. Tomatoes are my favorite thing about gardening.
Melissa Schumaier says
My favorite thing about gardening is having your hands in the earth! I love seeing the fruits (or veggies) of your labor. This includes seeing the flowers grow, or other plants flourish…such a wonderful feeling knowing you were a part of their survival! 🙂
Tracy L. says
My favorite thing is making dinner with my FRESH from the GARDEN produce, doesn’t get any better than that!!
Daisy M says
My favorite thing would have to be how the garden goes from looking empty to looking like a jungle, after a couple months of growth!
Amanda McCormick says
My favorite thing about gardening is connecting with nature. It is grounding (no pun intended) 🙂 Raising a garden is the perfect way to align yourself with the seasons and experience the full cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth!
Craig says
The best things are knowing where your food comes from and sharing with your kids. It is very satisfying watching how they take on the responsibility and love the reward of fresh food. They are always so proud!
Kristin says
I love watching every day to see what’s new in my garden!!!
Brenda says
I am always thrilled and in awe of the wonders of God when I see the seedling break through the soil, just days after planting. Perfect.
Jenn Williams says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing where my food came from. It wasn’t trucked in from some unknown place and that I grew it.
Delores says
My favorite thing about gardening: tomatoes from the garden! Yum!
susan hall says
Gardening is more than food, it’s a way of life. I enjoy providing healthy, whole foods for my family knowing there are no hidden hazards. Thanks for offering this give-away!
Helena says
My favorite thing about gardening is that I can grow fruits and vegetables that I may not necessarily find in the markets. Heirloom tomatoes, red carrots, purple broccoli, etc.
Maia says
I love watching the plants grow and knowing that I’m helping them.
Jenny says
My favorite part of gardening is always having fresh produce in the yard, and teaching my kids to eat healthy.
Lisa in IL says
My favorite thing about gardening is eating food that I grew myself.
jessica jamison says
I love that it has brought me back to my roots I love that I can teach my boys where their food comes from how it’s grown and what is in their food or lack thereof when you grow it at home.
Uhmuna says
My favorite part is harvesting it and being able to share it with my freinds, coworkers and so on.
shauna e. says
My favorite part of gardening is wwatching the looks of wonder and amazement on my kids faces as they watch things grow and at the harvest. Most rewarding feeling ever.
Ann says
I love picking fresh veggies, especially after nurturing them to maturity.
Christina says
My favorite thing about gardening is the yummy veggies and also teaching my kids about growing and eating fresh veggies and fruit.
Diane says
Gardening is my therapy ! And I love to cook and can the many things I grow !!!
Michele Boyd says
I love being able to share the rewards with others!
Jessica Garcia says
Gardening….oddly….is a fabulous combination of “me” time as well as “family” time. Gardening by myself is therapeutic in a meditative way. I can forget about the phone, computer and all of the other daily nuisances. Then, in the evenings, when everyone is playing in the yard and helping to weed or water, or picking things on the sneak I enjoy how much a simple garden can bring us all together.
Kelly Butte says
The best thing about gardening is eating & cooking with fresh from the garden produce!
Patty P says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing where my food comes from and being able to provide food for my family from my own back yard!
randi says
my child asking for ‘homemade carrots’ for her school lunch today.
She decided the best way for her wiggly tooth to come out would be to eat a ‘homemade carrot’ for lunch.
She went and picked her own!
Cue Julie Andrews…”these are a few of my favorite things”… 🙂
Karen says
My favorite thing about gardening would have to be sharing our bounty with friends and family who aren’t able to garden for one reason or another. I know they are getting 100% goodness and I love that!
Jamie says
Love, love, love being able to “grocery shop” in my own backyard and being able to feed my family on what I have grown from seeds!
Barbara says
My favorite thing about gardening is that I am able to provide my family with the freshest food possible.
michele a says
Gardening is like magic! That is what my favorite thing about it is!
Kendra Puzzo says
So far I have only been in the planning stage of having a garden. I have 5 pallets and loads of cardboard to place underneath. I have even talked it over with my beloved on where I plan to put them. I have some seeds. Spring is when I plan to begin here in Illinois. I need all the help I can get. Look forward to this life long endeavor. Thanks for keeping me inspired.
Lynne says
My favorite thing about gardening is the excitement of seeing a seed sprout and grow into something large and ultimately edible.
If I can add a second thing, I love the unbridled optimism of planning a garden, when everything is covered by a deep blanket of snow. I get into so much trouble over-ordering seeds and plants!
Kellie Kraynak says
My favorite part of gardening is that I pretty much consider it free therapy.
sharon says
I love the way the soil feels between my fingers. I think it is instant relaxation. Plus it reminds me of some of my best times with my grandmother.
Missy Flickinger says
Is there anything better than that first ripe red tomato from the garden? That is my favorite thing!!
Sandy says
When I garden, I feel better about myself and feel more connected.
Kari J says
I love shopping for food in my back yard.
LaVerne says
I LOVE the smell of the earth and the feeling that I’m doing something good for my family!
Diana Smith says
My favorite thing about gardening…besides eating the yummy fresh produce…is starting seeds and watching the miracle of a tiny seed become food for my family.
Anita says
My favorite thing about gardening is, to sum it all up, the sense of accomplishment I feel when I harvest and prepare our own produce….I don’t want to forget to mention the positive improvement our garden has made for our stress level and overall health and fitness.
Staci W. says
I love the peacefulness of being outside surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.
Sarah says
I love how the plants smell after you water them!
JennyA says
The greatest thing about gardening is watching the transformation from seed to something that provides our sustenance!
Patsy Desautel says
I love the beautiful flowers in my yard as the result of all my mother and I’s hard work. Plus, my mother helping is good bonding time.
Sarah Ninneman says
my favorite thing about gardening is being able to go into my back yard for veggies, herbs, eggs and fruit 🙂
Kevin Mattinson says
I love that is something that nourishes my family. Body and soul.
Tamara says
What I love about gardening is, I love growing our own food, being outside and enjoying nature.
Diana says
I love having an edible landscape that enables me to provide most of the food we eat. I can grow heirloom varieties in an organic and sustainable manner and share the food with family and friends. I love the mailman telling me the black krim tomatoes we gave him were the best tomatoes he had ever eaten, or seeing the school crossing guards smile when we drop off a bag of produce.
Ginger says
My favorite gardening thing is that 1st ripe tomato each season!
Pam says
All the obvious reasons – the food is healthier than the stuff in the stores, it’s better for all of us, etc. But the best part of gardening for me is the solitude. I love being outside with the sun, the garden and me!
CeCe Turner says
I’ve always loved vegetable gardening, but gardening is even more special now since I share this experience with my adult autistic son (22) now. He loves to mix up the garden soil, watch the seeds grow, mulches and waters, and loves to pick the harvest. It’s a special time that we can share together.
Denise says
My favorite thing about gardening used to be cheap food! Now, my favorite thing about gardening is knowing where my food comes from and how “clean” it is!
Judy says
Gardening to me is to see what I can grow and how delicious it really is compared to store bought!!
Kristina says
I am really bad at picking favorites. BUT if I had to narrow it down, I think I’d say my favorite thing about gardening is being outside and getting my hands in the soil. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
jennsjca says
My favorite thing about gardening is how amazing plants are, from the tomato seeds that grow out of my compost, to the half dead prickly pears paddles that bloom in a cast off pile. They are always showing me that life finds a way.
Nancy R. says
I love knowing where my food comes from, the taste of the fresh veggies, and the cost savings from growing my own food!
Janet says
My favorite thing is being done weeding and being “done” and seeing the results. Neat looking flower bed, pretty flowers. Yummy veg. I need the winter gardening book and those gloves!!
Tia Loske says
Pride that I can feed my family without visiting a store with QUALITY foods!
Heather T. says
Awesome organic food right in my backyard, it truly doesn’t get any better.
Kristine Drumm says
Believe it or not I love to play in the dirt!:-)
Celeste says
I like gardening because of the accomplishment of growing my own food, and watching my kids actually enjoying the outdoors.
AshleyO says
I am just getting started but love the idea of growing my own food. Its amazing the gift that God has given us the ability to grow healthy foods for our family in our own backyard!!!
Julia Gruenzner says
My favorite thing about gardening is reaping the reward of eating great food and I know where it came from!
lindsay volpe says
gardening is rewarding to me b/c it is a way to take care of yourself, your environment and family in so many ways.
Christine Hansen says
My favorite part of gardening is discovering food ready to be picked. Like a treasure hunt for zucchini!
Beth D says
Oh Mavis… Only one thing I like about gardening? There are too many answers to this question..LOL Watching the plants grow, and knowing I helped them survive. Thanks for the giveaway. Love your blog
linda says
Planning my garden is the favorite thing- looking through all the catalogs.
Maureen Fountain says
I love watching the miracle of things grow.
Laurie Lafond says
My favorite thing about gardening is the constant wonder of how that little seed made that big plant.
Leslie says
The most wonderful part of gardening, for me, is to know what my family is eating. I love that
we are in control of that and it makes all the work worthwhile. Thanks.
Juanita says
I get excited seeing the little shoots appear from the earth….knowing they will grow and mature into something good to eat!
Billie Yates says
My favorite thing about gardening is being outside with my kids!
Tanya A says
I am new to gardening so I love everything I am learning and the dreaming of what to grow.
Wendy Perez says
I love growing my own veggies because they taste so much better than commercially grown. I think it is the combination of hard work and sweat that makes them taste so much better.
Michael G. says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing the smiles on my daughters face in the morning when there are ripe Tomatoes:) and knowing that my hard work paid off. We are kind of new to gardening so all this stuff would be put to good use by us:)
Amanda says
The best thing about gardening is knowing what is in the food I feed my family.
Lindsey S. says
I like growing my own food!
randy says
My favorite thing about gardening is how it connects me with my great aunt,mother and father all passionate gardeners. My sister brother and I all garden, My daughter grows bits of things on her ledge in her apartment.
Stephanie Lenox says
I too love watching the miracle of things growing and the beautiful flowers! Thank you for a chance to win.
Kathryn says
Smelling the dirt. That is what does it for me.
Shereen Travels Cheap says
I love getting to eat things that I grow. I know it’s good for me and it makes it seem tastier 🙂
Jeannette says
My favorite thing about gardening is the prospect of seeing a bounty after a bit of work and patience. I’m new to gardening and will be beginning with a Fall garden this year. Thank you for giving us all an opportunity to win such a great prize!
Rachel says
I love seeing it go from a tiny little seed to a big beautiful organic vegetable producing plant. It amazes me to see how quickly some things grow; like okra. I love that my produce comes from my own back yard and not from Mexico or China. It makes me feel really happy that I can feed my family food that I grew myself. 🙂
Erin K says
I’m going to be that person and not just share one thing: I love being able to SHOW my sons where their food comes from and why it’s important, it helps keeps us on budget with our grocery bill, veggies taste better and I know there are no nasty chemicals on/in them.
Ellen M. says
My favorite thing about gardening is how relaxed it makes me feel. Whenever i’ve had a long day, I sit and study my garden – it works wonders!
Bethany James says
My favorite thing about gardening is the chance to do good hard work for a great reason.
Patty says
I haven’t had enough success to freeze or can. Working in my garden gives me peace and helps me feel closer to the people I love.
Kim says
My favorite thing about gardening is the satisfaction of planting and then canning, etc. thereby providing for my family!! It is alot of work but very rewarding.
Emily says
I love gardening with my kids. I think it’s important for them to know where food comes from.
Julie Holbrook says
Pulling root veggies in the fall. It’s like a surprise party every time, not knowing what is going on down there under the stem. I <3 it!
Jennifer says
I love the alone time in the garden.
Linda Pawlak says
The best thing about gardening is home grown tomatoes. No matter how many locally grown or organic tomatoes I buy, they are just never as good as the ones you grow yourself! Thanks for the chance to win!
Angela Miller says
My favorite thing about gardening is the whole amazing process from seed — plant — food! It’s crazy something so tiny has the ability to make something so amazing!
Diana Lowery says
I was raised by gardeners (well my grandparetns were gardeners) that gene skipped my parents.. It is my zen.. It’s my retreat and a time just for me.. simple easy, and get to try new stuff every year, without any judgment or criticism.. just me, dirt, seeds and plants..
Michele says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing where my food comes from and teaching my children about it.
Emily says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing plants entire cycle, from seed to plant to bounty!
lindasue says
My dad passed away this year in May when I was planting my garden. He lived 725 miles away so I couldn’t be there when it happened. When I am out working in the garden I feel like a part of his spirit is there with me. The wind, the rain, the heat. It’s where I can talk to him and feel ok. It’s my happy place. And the veggies did very well this year. In know he is watching out for me.
Stacie Hiett says
My favorite thing about gardening is that the food from my garden is fresher & picked at it’s peak vs the stuff from the grocery store that’s been in transit for weeks…fresh food tastes much better!
andrea d says
i always feel so calm and peaceful in the garden… a nice change from my loud, full of children home 🙂 and there is such a feeling of satisfaction when i put away cans or freezer bags or put dinner on the table, knowing that it came from my own garden.
Rosemeri says
My favorite thing is to harvest all the goodies that I have labored so hard to produce. The smell of a fresh picked tomato is so heady and all those jars of “put up” vegies makes it all worth while.
Sally says
My favorite thing about gardening is the quiet!
Marlinda says
My favorite thing about gardening is the satisfaction you get when you sit down to eat, know where your food came from
Judy anderson says
The thing I like most about gardening is the calm it brings to me internally while creating beauty and food externally. It is my place of nirvana!
Summer L says
My fav thing is that its so darn relaxing!
Lisa Carson says
My favorite things about gardening is that it makes me feel closer to my Grandmother, Great Aunt and my Father who taught me about gardening and putting food up for the winter. They are all up in heaven looking down on my garden and canning. I feel that they are smiling and saying “Good Job ” and We are proud of you.
Kate says
My favorite part of gardening is weeding. Planting new seeds, harvesting, and planning the next round is all great, but weeding brings peace to the mind and the heart! For me, it’s as though everything melts away. It’s just me, the weeds, and my weed trash bin. Rip, Rip, Rip them out!! And then everything is pretty again. 🙂
Nicole gagnon says
My favorite thing is seeing my kids go into the garden and pick something off a bush and eat it. Fresh. They go into the grocery store and say “mom your tomatoes are prettier then these!” They can ID just about any veggie/fruit out there.
Tina says
My Favorite thing about gardening is being outside with my boys.
Mandy says
My favorite thing about gardening is the time I get to spend outside with my animals. I have two dogs, two chickens, and a cat. They all like to hang out with me and “help”. It makes me feel more connected with the living things in my life (and less connected with the tv/internet).
Ingrid says
My favorite thing about gardening is getting the food to feed my three hungry boys!
lisa says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching the kids harvest the food they are eating for diner that day!!
Leah Thompson says
My favorite thing about gardening is plant tiny seeds into the ground, feed them with water and love and watch them sprout. I will allows be amazed on how something soooo small can come from a seed and grow into a big plant that nurtures us.
Jill says
Feeling dirt on the hands and a crick in my back. A good days work and harvest too boot!
Milly Hill says
Being Independent of stores and feeling good you accomplished something
Melissa D says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing exactly where our fruits and veggies are coming from.
Marla says
I love those see those seeds emerge! Fresh picked flowers and herbs are also at the top of my list.
Milly Hill says
Being independent and proud with the fruits of your labor… get it fruits XD
Tracy Sch says
The fresh veggies are my favorite, not beats a home grown tomato…beautiful flowers are a close second.
Carrie says
My favorite thing is the smell of dirt…I know it sounds crazy, but it takes me back to being a child and helping my dad plant the garden.
Krystal says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to grow food for my family knowing it is safe and healthy without added chemicals, GMOs, etc.
Amber says
I love learning from my plants. Being a university student they serve so many purposes; from giving me first hand lessons that I can relate back to my botany and ecology classes, to putting my own grown lavender in my tea! It’s such a joy to watch them grow and flourish!
Erin Angiola says
What I love about gardening is that as I am learning to garden, growing my knowledge and garden, I am sharing and teaching my 13 year old daughter and 10 year old son so that they can learn to be self sustaining and then teach their children one day!
Kelly says
Gardening makes me happy, regardless of the chore I’m doing.
🙂
Christine says
My favorite thing about gardening is eatting all the delicious food
Dani Silvester says
I have a lot of favorite things about gardening. The smell of the earth and the peace I feel there. Also knowing where my food comes from brings a lot of peace of mind. My husband and I garden together and are looking to learn more.
Jennifer Platnico says
Peace and quiet! There is nothing like winding down your day in the garden.
Jen Malddonado says
My favorite thing about gardening is when my tomato seedlings in the greenhouse begin to smell like tomato plants 🙂
Anna says
I love getting dirty and making something beautiful all at the same time!
Joy says
Gardening strengthens my connection with the earth. There’s nothing like working with the soil and plants for being part of the planet. (And I agree with lots of the above comments too…)
Cory says
I’m new to gardening this year and have enjoyed walking outside every morning to harvest veggies for that day’s lunch salad. I’m currently reading a couple gardening books & blogs (like this one) 🙂 and building a couple 4×10 raised garden beds for next season. I’m learning something new everyday!
PS Any chance those gloves come in manly sizes? lol
Kelly Koetje says
I only do a few veggies but my favorite thing about gardening them is actually producing something and just being able to go out my door to feed my family. I love my flower gardens because I love to give away flowers to make others happy and also so others can enjoy them when they go by my home.
Chrystal says
My favorite thing about gardening spending time praying and praising that I’m able to use the gifts God gave me to provide for my family.
Margaret says
I love being able to plant a seed and foster the new life of a plant…
…and then eating that plant.
Janet B says
The fresh, organic produce that is much cheaper and very convenient!!!!
Chelsea Haga says
My favorite thing about gardening, well I have a couple of favorite things – hope that is okay. 1.) How relaxing it can be 2.) How I am give my family organic produce for nearly nothing 3.) How rewarding it is, well until groundhogs start to get into your garden and munch on EVERYTHING!
Thank you!
Tula says
I have so many favorite things about gardening. I love playing in the dirt and watching those seeds emerge. I also love the peace and how relaxing it is. There is just something about a garden that makes you feel at home.
Skagee says
I love playing in dirt and watching things grow from seeds that I have planted. Its so great to be able to go outside and pick my own fruits and veggies and know they are fresh without chemicals. But I don’t care how old I get I still love playing in the dirt…I have to be barefoot to feel the dirt between my toes and on my hands. Gardening gives me so much pleasure and a sense of peace from everyday life. If I am not growing something I feel lost. I talk to my plant just like they are my children. Happy Planting everyone! 🙂
Veronica says
I love looking for real buried treasure, like carrots, beets, and potatoes.
Christine says
My favorite thing about gardening is rubbing tomato leaves all over my hands so I can enjoy unique smell that symbolizes summer.
Trish says
My favorite thing about gardening? Tomatoes!!! They make me unbelievably happy 🙂
Michelle Proper says
I love the great rewards of all my hard work…especially when it’s time to can my goods! I grow all Organic so I know where my food is coming from and what went into it! Such a satisfying feeling!
Sara says
My absolute favorite thing about gardening is being able to share everything I do with those I love.
Heidi P says
I love the pride I feel when I look at my garden and think “I grew all of this fabulous organic food”.
Caroline says
I love everything about gardening. Even when I kill some poor plant, I learn something – when to plant it, what to water, what to feed, etc. But my favorite thing about gardening is watching my niece wander around the garden picking leaves and berries and just popping everything she sees in her mouth. It’s an amazing feeling to know I’m growing healthy food for her that is safe to eat.
Yvette Fratzke says
I enjoy every aspect of gardening. From planting the tiny seeds and watching them sprout, to gatherings fresh veggies and fruit. I have a definite sense of accomplishment with gardening. 🙂
Jasie says
Digging in the dirt!
Joan Blurton says
The thing I love most about gardening is the “oneness”. That nature is complete in and of itself as a circle, and that I feel complete and one with it when I am part of it while gardening.
Trina Bernice says
My favorite thing watching my 2 year old, Mirabelle snooping through the garden every morning to find hidden strawberries or blueberries that may have ripened up; or watching how excited she is when pulling up carrots. “Wash please!” Nom nom nom
Paula Black says
My favorite thing is that it gets me outside – (Hello Vitamin D! I live in Seattle and I need you!!) and away from the incessant clamor of technology.
Karen J. says
I don’t think I can pick just one thing that I love about gardening– it’s a stress-reliever, it’s a creative outlet, and I love getting food that I grew myself. OK, that’s one sentence I love about it.
LeKeshua Malone says
I enjoy gardening because I feel as if I’m reclaiming my independence. I have control of what I will provide to my family through harvesting the fruit of my labor.
Georgie says
My favorite thing about gardening is the rewarding cycle: perusing seed catalogs in the dead of winter, planting tomato seeds in the spring, admiring the young plants as they reach for the sky, biting into the first red orb of deliciousness in mid-August and even now, when I’m tired of canning, I’ll put on one more canner load of tomatoes to enjoy this winter. Eat and repeat.
Sena c says
My favorite thing about gardening is nurturing a tiny little seed to become a beautiful plant that produces yummy offspring.
Linda says
Gardening is so relaxing – love everything about it. Like you, this year has been a bit more challenging since we have two (brothers from the same litter) 6-month old boxer puppies who love to dig just as much as Lucy does! But I love every second of them being with me in the garden!
Sheila M. says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to walk through the yard and pick and eat….walk past the raspberry bed – pick and eat a raspberry….walk past the tomato plant – pick and eat the tomato…walk past the pea trellis – pick and eat a pea. Love it!
Heather says
I love being able to plant a seed and then being able to get our food or pretty flowers from that one seed. I feel accomplished!
Sandra says
Oh, what’s not to love about gardening?! I think my favorite thing about gardening is all the fresh produce you get! You know where your food is coming from!
Rebecca Loach says
My favorite thing is definitely the produce itself. It’s so nice to have really fresh fruits and vegetables and it’s handy to be able to walk out into the yard and dig up some green onions or clip off some fresh herbs for dinner.
Ash says
I love the smell of the earth, and to see the plants growing and smiling back at the sun!
Lori says
My favorite thing about gardening is sharing the experience with our 7 year old twins. My son says he wants to be a farmer!
Kelsey says
I like the end result when something grows. It is also a great time to spend time with the family in the dirt
Amy Sawyer says
It’s my therapy and it gets me most of the things I need for my second form of therapy which is cooking/baking 😀
Susan says
Eating produce that actually tastes the way it should!
Crystal says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to water can and pressure cook all the great stuff that our family has grown to use during the winter. 🙂
Donald Pilkey says
My favorite thing is the planning and keeping things neat. The planning is the anticipation of how I believe things will turn out. The planning of the chores for the day, and planning how I can get my sons out there to help me. I love a neat and clean garden where everything is ordered and pretty. I plan my garden so that it looks good. I like harvesting and eating the vegetable’s but that is my wife’s favorite thing. I do the maintaining and she does the picking.
We both read your blog everyday.
Happy digging!!
Julie says
How to pick just one favorite thing about gardening … ??? I guess the miracle of life coming from a small seed and multiplying to create and sustain more life.
Melissa says
My favorite thing is picking what I’ve grown!!
Joy Burnsworth says
I have been gardening for so many years and each year has brought great memories.
Gardening brings many positive things in your life, feeding your family with good healthy
food, teaching your children how they can feed themselves, now all my children garden.
Rachael Bohnhoff says
I have many wonderful reasons why I enjoy gardening. But my favorite event that I look forward to, with great anticipation (like Christmas Morning), is watching the transformation of the seed. I plant a seed and the miracle unfolds; poking out of the dirt and changing each day. It is magical to me how a seed that is planted turn into something bigger and better. That seed can provide for my family and nourish them. It brings me great relief to know as I’ve learned about gardening and experimented with, I have found I can be self sufficient. Which brings great self accomplishment and confidence in this life.
Ellen in Clackamas says
We always had a garden when I was a kid and my job was weeding..which I hated. But when I got back into gardening I began to love weeding because my kids would totally leave me alone when I was doing it so they wouldn’t get roped into it! So I had lots of peace and quiet instead of listening to whining, crying and fighting! And now that they are grown my favorite thing is picking those yummy ripe tomatoes…nothing better!!!
PS: thanks for having another contest
Elizabeth says
I love watching my 2-year old picking and EATING the peas, beans and carrots we planted together!
Jessica says
My favourite thing about gardening is harvesting. I have a young family, so investing in fruit trees and a good garden now will really help in a few years when I have teenagers with ravenous appetites. I got chickens for free fertilizer and am starting to save seeds for next year so the cost of our food should go down in the years to come.
Cathy says
I thoroughly enjoy the earthy smell when working in the soil. It
Niki C says
I have always loved that gardening provides food for my family and I know where it came from. But this past March we lost my mother in law unexpectedly. She was one of those people who could take a dead twig stuck in a pot and turn it into a huge healthy plant. And as I worked in my garden this year, I felt closer to her. She was a woman who blessed everyone who met her, and I spent my gardening time just thinking about all the lessons I have learned, just by watching how she lived.
Angela says
We love seeing the reactions of our children when they have chosen a vegetable and can eat right off the plant a few months later.
Angie Ruby says
I love gardening because it’s a project my husband and I enjoy doing together. I love those mornings where we go out to water and just enjoy our coffee and quiet…
Laurel Smith says
I love everything about gardening! ………Well maybe not weeding…….I love playing in the dirt, the anticipation of what might grow the best each year, the continual experimenting, coming up with the “ultimate” plan every year and of course the harvest.
Deborah says
I’m very new to gardening, and everything about it excites me.
If I had to pick one favorite, it would be seeing the plants grow and thrive. 🙂
Paula Dearr says
My favorite thing about gardening is that there is always something new growing, I can feed my family good pesticide free food,share the wealth and get some of the best therapy ever. sorry, that was more than one thing!
Heidi says
I really enjoy sharing a love of growing food with my daughter. We are raising a new generation that actually knows where food come from. .
Shari says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing the first seedlings sprout. It is a miracle that never ceases to amaze and delight me!
janet parks says
My favorite thing about gardening is the joy and sense of accomplishment I feel when I harvest my loot!
julie says
my favorite thing about gardening is the end result, that i get to share with our kids, grandkids, and other family and friends.
i am so proud of what we grow and amazed at what you can do by playing in the dirt. happy gardening!!!!!!!!!
Dianna says
I love seeing the miracle of how tiny seeds grow into huge plants and make food and more seeds for us.
Susan Finton says
My favorite thing about gardening – eating the results. Tasting those wonderful flavors that are missing from store produce.
Tammy says
My favorite part of gardening is putting up the harvest!
suzann says
I love creating beauty in my corner of the world–roses/tomatoes/lettuce!! love it all
Brandie says
My favorite part is seeing the plants grow and develop. Thanks for the giveaway!!
Linda Harper says
I love the de-stressing of putting your fingers into the dirt and working there. Man was made to garden. It benefits us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Then you get fresh food that you know how it’s been grown! Nothing better than put water on to boil for corn, go pick and shuck corn and then eat it about 15 minutes later!
Andi says
Satisfaction. From choosing seeds, to pulling weeds, to picking veggies and fruit, there is satisfaction in work done well.
Linda Dudley says
This was my first garden in about 35 years! My children (all grown) built my raised beds, and a clothesline for my birthday.
I love working outside in the dirt, and watching things grow, with my grandchildren. They helped me plant and are having fun helping with harvesting the things “they” grew. We’ve had so much fun this summer, and are getting ready to plant a fall garden now that some things are finally finished. We plan to expand next year!
April B. says
My favorite thing about gardening is teaching my 6 year old where our food comes from. I love it when she squeals in excitement when she sees the first melon or cucumber. It is so sweet. This is our first year gardening, along with our first year caring for a flock of chickens. Seeing the satisfaction on my husband and daughters face and feeling my smile light up when we sit down to eat food we grew as a family, is amazing. Literally, one digging, one dropping seed and one of us covering, I like to remind my girl of that. She was the seed dropper:)
Karen Lawson says
My favorite thing about gardening is being witness to all the birds that inhabit my small back yard. They are a true joy to behold!
And the good eats ranks pretty high, too!
Denise says
What do I love about gardening? Everything! Watching plants grow, touching & tending to them (I talk to them too!), enjoying their beauty and bounty, scrutinizing plants up close – and in total awe of how nature works! There is just so much beauty out there – I can’t get enough~!
Jessica says
My favorite thing about gardening is the time I spend digging in the Earth and using that time to clear mind of all my troubles.
Liz says
My favorite thing about gardening is making something beautiful out of a messy, untamed space. My least favorite thing is slugs…just in case you were curious 😉
Susie says
I love picking vegetables from my garden instead of a grocery shelf
Kelly says
My favorite thing about gardening is enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, and getting my hands dirty.
chris says
Planting, growing and picking results with my grandson and watching the not SNF excitement on his face also how proud he is of the bounty.
Sheryle says
I love all the fresh produce and the exercise I get taking care of our garden.
Shasta says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing my food and how it was grown from seed to table! No GMOs or pesticides here!!!
Terry K. says
I enjoy the feeling that I am putting my own effort into providing nutritious and unadulterated food for my family. I’m still learning about my garden and how to care for it, but I have a lot more respect for it than I used to! 🙂
Rose says
My favorite thing about gardening is the sense of peace that I get from it. I love seeing the fruits (no pun intended) of my labor and knowing how close I am to nature and self-sufficiency.
stephenie says
I love being able to say “I grew that!”
Vicki says
My favorite thing about gardening is the spirituality of it. The planting a tiny seed, waiting for it to germinate and then watching it grow into a mature, food-bearing plant. And then there’s the therapy of gardening – there were many mornings when my tears watered the soil as I was weeding or planting. And then there’s the opportunity to try different kinds of vegetables that might not be available in grocery stores or from the local farmers markets. Gardening is all good!
Megan says
My fav thing about gardening is just being out in the fresh air and sunshine. That and garden fresh tomatoes!
Jessica Grell says
My favorite thing is that it is something I can do with my children and it really is amazing to watch a seed grow into a something you can eat!
Wendy L. says
My favorite thing about gardening…everything!!
Krista p. says
I love to work the soil and plant seeds and I love watching things grow and eating the fruits of my labor.
It is easy to love gardening.
Alison Cooper says
My favorite thing about gardening is just watching things grow from a tiny seed – its truly amazing. Gardening also brings me a lot of peace – both my parents were avid gardeners and I think about them often when I am putzing around outside.
Denise says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it is something we can do as a family and take pride in our accomplishments and help each other through the disappointment when something doesn’t go as planned such as the weather, critters eating the plants, etc.
Cindy says
Gardening is a teacher and is all about the rewards of patience and learning. For example one might say from experience, “See those beautiful cucumbers over there? I grew them myself and I’m so proud. Alas, I should have picked them yesterday because today they have worms in them.”
Julie2 says
Hi Mavis. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. You are gonna make one of us extremely happy.
What I love most about gardening is sharing. Sharing new start/plants to get others interested in gardening their own food, sharing a fresh harvest (what you grew this?!) or sharing something I grew then canned. Its all good.
Randi says
I just love digging in the dirt and shopping for food in my own yard.
Marie says
Favorite thing about gardening – growing our own food – especially strawberries!
Aunt G says
I feel closest to God in the garden… AND it’s cheaper than therapy. Ooops. That’s two.
Shelah says
EVERYTHING!!!! I love the sense of accomplishment and I especially love knowing where my family’s food has come from.
Ricki says
Sharing with neighbors!
Jessica says
My favorite part about gardening is that when my big kid (ahem husband) asks if what is on our plate came from our garden I am able to answer “yes!”, and it ALL gets eaten! This is coming from a man who considers a squeeze pack of apple sauce a day his fruits and veggies for the day. Works great for real kids too!
CathyB says
I love (but am sometimes frustrated by it) that gardening is never the same from year to year. I also love being able to eat food that we have grown ourselves!
Cyntha says
Every different type of plant has such amazing, beautiful design, from our delicious tomatoes to peonys to every plant you can think of. I thank our Creator Jehovah God for giving us such wonderful plants.
Andrea says
My favorite part about gardening is harvest time!!
Alicia Humphrey says
I love that it makes me a little more self sufficient. Growing my own food and knowing its healthy makes me really happy.
Peggy Ann says
When I was a child, my sisters and I would go into the garden and help ourselves to cherry tomatoes, kirby cucumbers, beans, and a variety of berries. Sometimes we would rinse them off with the hose, sometimes not. But nothing tasted better than what we had just picked ourselves. I love to garden to give my children the same experience.
sue says
My favorite thing about gardening is on your apple galette page. My teenage peep clicked off your page as I was finishing canning green tomatoes for winter frying and signed me back onto the wrong page. Its never a dull moment here. Love your blog.
Kim says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to eat and can/preserve what I grew while teaching my children how to be self-reliant in the process.
Cathy says
My favorite thing about gardening is creating meals with the food I have grown.
katherine slate says
I love gardening because it gives me a sense of power. I know what goes into my food and i chose to compost which gives plants wonderful nutrients.
Kimberley says
The thing I love the most about Gardening is similar to what most people are posting. The sense of calm and tranquility it gives me, as well the sense of accomplishment. Knowing that you created something to provide to others from such a small beginning, is amazing and fulfilling. 🙂
Danielle O says
My favorite thing about gardening is… the people I’ve met because I showed an interest in it 🙂 I actually got to meet Cisco (such a nice & goofy guy) & I got to meet Joel Salatin… I GOT TO MEET MAVIS BUTTERFIELD!! (& studly boyfriend Ryan) & I got to meet the awesome team at the Mukilteo Community Garden & Ben the crazy farmer guy from R Heritage. All because I was looking for a way to save some money & find a cheap, fulfilling hobby – I’ve got to meet some really awesome people & change my perspective on the food system & nature entirely.
*high-fives all the way around* Y’all ROCK for what you do & are truly inspiring.
Lisa Larson says
My favorite thing about gardening is the miracle of life from a tiny little seed…and it’s yummy!
Deborah P says
My favorite thing about gardening is the sense of accomplishment when I am able to harvest fruits and veggies.
Andrea at Opulent Cottage says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing the beauty of nature!! Nevermind the great exercise, the creativity and the thrill of seeing your crops come to fruition. Oh and TALKING about it! That’s awesome too 🙂
Laura says
The thing I love about gardening is that you get so much from one tiny seed. To grow something I can feed my family is truly a gift.
Allison says
Hi Mavis! My favorite thing about gardening is knowing exactly where my food is coming from. Thanks!
Jenna says
Mine is watching the pure joy that blooms upon the faces of my children when they are out in the garden with me. They have been through some terrible traumas in their young lives. They have been through so much and when I see them out there working, smiling and laughing, grinning ear to ear, with no traces of sorrow, anxiety, or anger it is a true miracle. I am so blessed to have them in my life and to be able to give them such a simple thing that so many take for granted, humbles me. Also, knowing that they are learning and gaining so much knowledge and experience that they can use in their future, that they will always have a means to put food on their tables, and provide for themselves brings me hope and a sense of peace.
I love women’s work products. I used to have a pair of their gauntlet gloves and I loved them, but they were stolen out of my car and I haven’t been able to replace them. I have never planted a winter garden, and this year is my first attempt. So far, I have planted a few varieties of spinach, swiss chards, beets, lettuces, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for being an inspiration to us all, Mavis!
karijean says
The sense of accomplishment. Even when things aren’t great (blight, bolting, birds, slugs, bad seeds) there’s still “fruits of your labor”, and being able to make dinner from you back yard and can the over abundance for the winter is very gratifying.
Lois Fletcher says
I live in California, far from where I grew up in Hamilton, Ontario.. My love of gardening comes from my father, who would take me with him to buy 6 small tomato plants and about 4 packs of seeds each spring. I’d plant a big vegetable garden with him every year. My mother would can dill pickles, chili sauce, peaches, tomatoes, etc. There is not a seed or plant that I put into the ground or tend my garden as it grows that I don’t hear his voice, gently teaching me and making comments about the plants. My parents passed away several years ago and I’m reminded of each, as I tend my garden daily. I love gardening.
Bridget says
My favorite thing is seeing the fruits of my labor.
paula says
I am so excited about being able to plant a fall and winter garden. I am retiring from my job in just a week. One of my first projects is to put together a composter that I purchased and begin gardening. I have not had a garden since 1990. What have I been doing so long!
Sapihia says
Love working with my hands and getting the rewards!!
Michele C. says
After all the hard work -you get to eat!
Traci says
The quiet activity of nature is the best thing about gardening. The different birds, bees, rabbits and deer that go on with their routines around me as I work. Yes I think that is the best thing right now. I know it isn’t the harvest this year. But there is always next year, right. Thanks for this great give away Mavis.
Sarah says
I have ALWAYS loved gardening. I work at a computer 10+ hours a day and it gives me a much needed break. I also like that nothing is PERFECT in gardening. Things happen (weather, bugs, etc) and you just have to grow with it 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway Mavis!
Lucy says
Fresh air! And seeing my hard work as a delicious meal or vase of flowers on the table 🙂
Mandi S. says
My favorite thing is making my family a meal with ingredients nearly all from the garden and having my daughter eating things she wouldn’t before, just because Mommy grew them!
Eduvina says
Satisfaction that I did it!
Maggie Little says
Favorite thing? Just one? Fresh food! Raspberries, tomatoes, rhubarb, apples, butternut squash, etc. Or, the smell of fresh dirt. Or the birds hopping from tree branch to tree branch. Or the sight of the peach, apple, and pear trees in bloom. Do I have to pick just one favorite?
Carol says
One fav thing is seeing results from hard work and planning.
Christine J says
My favorite thing about gardening is constantly learning something new, either a new skill or technique or about new to me heirloom plants.
Amy L says
My favorite thing about gardening is going out to the backyard to get fresh food for a meal – herbs, veggies, lemons – whatever. 🙂
Barbara says
My favorite thing would be eating our garden harvest when the snow is flying!
Tim says
I love pulling juicy red ripe tomatoes off the vine and then making an incredible BLT out of them.
Miya Dowds says
My fav thing about gardening is how it challenges me. Makes me more health, relaxes me while invigorating me all at the same time. It is such a great way to channel my ideas even if they don’t always work the way I had imagined.
Lisa says
my favorite thing is definitely eating amazing, vine ripened organic produce. for almost free!! 🙂 thanks for the giveaway!
Karen says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching everything grow and to share with friends and family.
Deb Toth says
My favorite part of gardening is two fold. 1. It gives me time for meditating, for me it is so peaceful and 2. I love to share the bounty!!
Jaime says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing the “fruit” of my labor! 😉 It is so rewarding to actually grow and enjoy something that would put sweat and love into!
Sally Kirsch says
I love to get out in the fresh air and plant healthy organic seeds and plants. It is so relaxing and calming playing in the dirt. The reward I get is watching what I have planted develop from each stage into healthy food that I have confidence in eating. Gardening brings out the best of me.
Becky says
The thing I love about gardening is being by myself for just a little while, weeding here,hoeing there, and at the end seeing all the love come back to you in produce.
Susie Wachendorfer says
Gardening allows me to give thanks to Mother Earth for all of her bounty.
Jennifer L says
Gardening allows me to feel a great sense of accomplishment each time something grows.. It allows serves as a self reminder that there is no such thing as a black thumb!
Kelly Jackson says
Sharing my bounty with my family & friends!
Angela Vetter says
I love gardening with my mom, working together outside has brought us closer than ever. I would absolutely love to win this for her!
Emma says
The joy of growing your own food. Knowing when i am making dinner we are eating real food!!!
Sakura says
My favorite thing about gardening is sharing my veggies with friends and neighbors.
kathy says
I like planting the little seeds and watch then shooost up to the sky. 🙂 “Green Acres”
Actually I like knowing exactly how my food is grown.
Sue Seay says
I experience a very real thrill when those little tiny seeds display their first leaves. The care required from that point on seems small compared to the wonder of the seeds germinating. Always a pleasant surprise!
Catherine says
My favorite thing is having food I grew myself. Plus, I’m allergic to most pets and its nice having something to care for, though somewhat stranger when I talk to them… 🙂
Jodie says
I love to dig up root vegetables. I feel like I am opening a surprise.
Rebecca says
Being outside. Helping things grow. Playing in dirt. Teaching my son about all of the above. Eating fresh veggies! It’s like magic, really.
Andrea says
free and organic fruits and veggies!
Susan says
My favorite thing about gardening is the fact that my 16 year old son enjoys working in our vegetable garden as much as I do!
Tanja Pike says
My favorite thing about gardening is the satisfaction I get from planting something that I know will grow. I say to myself…yes, I did that!!! 🙂
Lara Gutierrez says
Learning something new! I just started gardening this year
Jamie says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing I’m actually able to grow a little plant from seed and pick something off it and feed my family. Which is quite surprising, because most of my houseplants I tend to kill.
Kate says
My favorite thing about gardening is showing my kids where food really comes from. They love it!
Claudia says
My favorite thing is seeing the seeds turn into plants, then into delicious food to eat. YUM!!
Don says
My favorite thing is the great eating I get to enjoy.
Kerry Fowler says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing that the food I grow will be safe, nutritious, and more flavorful than what I can buy at the grocery store.
Jennifer Dilks says
My favorite thing about gardening is the free time to think! I like to involve my family but usually I’m alone. This alone time allows me to center myself and reconnect with nature. You’d be amazed at the peace you can find digging in the dirt . 🙂
Teri says
The fact that it grows! Plus the fact that it reminds me of grandmother. She always “made” me garden with her when I was younger.
Kimberly Schotz says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching everything grow.
Becky says
Since I haven’t actually started yet, I am going to say my favorite thing about gardening is going to be the ability to provide healthy food for my family for way less money than I would pay for it from the store.
Jen S. says
As an experienced gardener but novice beekeeper, my favorite part of gardening this year has been watching the bees pollinate our peach tree and harvesting our first crop of peaches. I should have channeled my inner Mavis and weighed them before putting them up!
Jenny says
I love gardening because of all the food 🙂 We eat tons of fresh fruit and veggies, and it is so satisfying to grow our own. Our chickens love the garden scraps too!
Cynthia says
Watching the plants grow and of course the harvest!
Gerrie says
I love everything about gardening, but I really love it when my tomatoes turn into these brightly colored fruits the size of footballs, and the look on the face of the recieier when I share the harvest with them.
Jean says
the connection to the earth that’s my fav. There’s just something about my hands in the dirt that is just … earth (pun intended) 😉
Amanda says
I love knowing that I can grow things to feed my family and I know exactly where my vegetables are coming from! I also love watching my babies try new things. My 2 year old LOVES garden fresh tomatoes!
Erin says
The peace! That’s my favorite thing about gardening!
Janet Weeks says
Exercise, education, gratification and frustration all rolled up into one.
Nadia says
I love the conversations I have with my kids while we are working in the garden, growing our own food.
Cheryl says
Spending time outside!
Jam Ris says
Fav thing about gardening: pretending the plants can hear you of course. Who doesn’t like talking to their plants?
Carla says
My favorite thing about gardening is eating the harvest. However, everything is exciting from planting the tiny seeds to the first little leaves poking through the soil to the fruit and veggies developing on the plants.
Gail says
I love gardening because it connects me to the past, present and future. I have many fond memories of Dad digging monstrous potatoes and Mom and Grandma canning and freezing bushels and bushels of tomatoes, beans, and corn. Walking in the fresh dirt was fun but I HATED pulling weeds. Now I enjoy trying methods to grow more with less work. Raised beds, straw bales, and potato towers are all new adventures in my own back yard. My children are learning to grow, pick, and sell some strawberries to Grandma! They see our chemical free raised beds and they can pick and eat from the vines. They are learning where whole foods are coming from and are able to compare fresh to processed and it is easy to gross them out reading labels. Children learn be seeing and doing rather than some health person in a book or on TV telling them what they should eat. Did I mention I have five kids and I LOVE to weed. Kids don’t so I am left with sun and soul food! I believe whole, chemical free and old-time traditional gardening is our future. My garden produces chemical free, preservative free, non carcinogenic food that builds our bodies. I see home grown and home raised foods as a basic necessity. As the saying goes “We are what we eat” and people are catching on!
Julie says
so many things! sunshine, fresh air, fresh food, superior taste! but the very best things is the look on my kids’ faces when they see what they have helped to grow!! priceless
Mary says
Besides eating awesome, healthy food, I love that my family does not want to help me. I get some alone time to think, plan, work out aggressions, pray, whatever moves me. I do also love watching all my cool little babies grow every year!
Shannon says
I love be able to grow our own food to share with our families. I also want to be able toteach my kids how to live sustainably
Samantha says
I love the smell and feel of the earth! Digging in the dirt and feeling how easily it can be molded makes me feel so accomplished. The smell after I have watered it soothes my soul. Gardening is wonderful!!
Yvonne says
Gardening is therapy to me – peaceful time spent thinking and enjoying nature – getting my hands dirty just digging in the dirt and connecting to the earth and its seasons.
Stina says
I love rummaging through my garden just before dinner to see what’s ready to harvest and then figure out how to add it to my dinner plan for the evening…therapeutic and mentally challenging at the same time! (It also makes me feel empowered to know I can at least provide healthy side dshes during the times my hubby is between work…)
Beth says
I’m a pretty simple gardener. I put seeds in the soil, water them, and then gather the results a few weeks later. It’s a miracle to me every year. I live in Michigan though, so I’m not sure it would actually work in the fall. It would be an adventure in gardening!
jason says
Just being outside and growing things that I know I grew myself to eat..
Dena Harris says
I have to pick one! Well, I guess the thing I love most about gardening is, come February I can go to my “put ups” shelf and open a jar of my favorite pasta sauce and make dinner that tastes like summer! And its so healthy too! I know exactly where those tomatoes came from. Oh! and the yummy dessert that comes from the freezer……. chocolate zucchini cake!
Lissa Beebe says
The taste of home grown food. Yum!
julia mortensen says
With all the confusion in the world with government regulations, monstato, gmo’s, blah blah blah… i just like the feeling of producing my own. I guess its kindof my way of flipping off the powers that be!! Hehe:)
Tammy Middleton says
My favorite thing is simply knowing where my food came from. It makes one appreciate it and all the work that goes into it. Things are always better when you work harder for it yourself. Knowing that you have grown nutritious food that is healthy for my family.
Kim Hill says
I totally LOVE those gloves. My absolute favorite thing to do is to find a beautiful, ripe tomato all warm in the sun and to pluck and eat it. How much better can you get than that. My problem is that I am actually allergic to the vines the tomatoes grow on. My arms turn green and itch like crazy. Those awesome gloves sure would come in handy!!!
Diane Bernath says
My favourite thing about gardening is the harvest!
A.murphy tx says
Reaping all of the awesome home grown organic benefits that are free!!!
Tricia says
I love gardening for the stress relief factor. Anytime I can’t stand the kids or the disastrously messy house I head outside and after a while, and some hard work, everything is right with the world. I’m much more able to conquer everything inside after my work outside.
Plus free food is always an awesome thing.
Kim says
What an amazing package! My favorite thing about gardening is that undefinable moment when you look at the plants laden with amazing stuff to eat and realize it all came from a single seed.
Reneya Buseck says
My favorite thing is all the fresh foods I get to preserve for the winter. I LOVE my shelves in the basement with all my canned goods!!
LindaW says
My favorite things about gardening are the great feeling of serving up food we grew ourselves, that is gets me outside frequently, and finally, the best thing about gardening — all my gardening friends who love to share their tips, knowledge, triumphs and troubles.
Renee says
My favorite thing about gardening? ….. going from nothing to something.
Carol says
I love that gardening is very forgiving! I make mistakes – sometimes plan B works out, and I always learn something!
Susie says
Totally canning/preserving the end result to enjoy over our long, hard, midwestern winter. It’s great fresh, obviously, but in February, when I can crack open a jar of green beans or some salsa to go with our nachos, it’s like it’s summer again.
Michelle R. says
My favorite thing about gardening? The HARVEST!
Nicole Smith says
My favorite thing about gardening is the simplicity. I know here are no chemicals or hormones in the food I have planted. Just clean and healthy eating.
Charlene DeLallo says
My favorite thing about gardening is picking fresh tomatoes, peas, and beans and eating them before they ever make it into the house.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
My favorite thing about gardening is the flavor. I’m not sure if it’s because I grow less common varieties or because I do it organically or because I work so hard in the hot sun or because of the love that goes into the project…but at the end of the season, the flavors are just unbeatable. You can’t buy a tomato at the grocery store that tastes even a fraction as amazing as one that is home grown.
KK from Preppy Pink Crocodile
Denyalle says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing where my food comes from!
Cat Washburn says
My favorite thing about gardening is the peacefulness of the earth. The smell, the feel and finally the taste. To be in the garden is to be in the joy of life, things are growing, life is happening , the fruits and vegetables of my labor are born and I am grateful.
Stacie says
I love being able to preserve the fruits and vegetables that I have grown! The bonding and family time the garden brings is great, whether I want the help or not the kids are out there digging in the dirt right along side me.
Beth says
Working in our gardens helped me get through my father’s time in a hospice facility while also homeschooling our 4 children. Sometimes I would be hacking at the weeds, after sundown, trying not to succumb to my weariness. I poured out my stress into the dirt and sweet potatoes, onions, and many other things grew. Thank God for my gardens.
Kathy Gervasio says
The smell of fresh picked tomatoes is intoxicating to me. If I could only grow one thing that’s what it would be.
Celie says
My favorite thing: watching the garden grow.
Laura B. says
I love the excitement my kids and I feel watching our little seeds grow into something we can actually eat!
Janis Carrigan says
My favorite part of gardening is, the expression on my grand daughters face, when she digs up the carrots she had planted.
Kelly says
That it gets me outside. Some days I come home from work and the thought of going outside to water is the last thing I want to do. But once I’m out there it ends up being the best way to relax in the evening.
Karen Albert says
My favorite thing about gardening, especially from seed, is makinggrowing something where there once was nothing!
April says
Does it have to be just one thing? I love getting dirty, and eating fresh out of my yard, and watching my food grow. I love the solitude out in the garden, the colors, teaching my special needs kids how to grow food. Too much to choose from to pick just a favorite!
Elizabeth says
My favorite thing about gardening is the many years of memories that I have of Grandpa and Dad … both who loved to garden, share the bounty with friends and family, and cook big pots of food. I can still picture walking through my grandpa’s vegetable garden as though it were just yesterday. Memories to live by for sure!
Mindy says
It’s like free therapy : )
Ellen Green says
Love your posts!
Nancie G. says
Companions. That amazed me. Learning that plants like people prefer certain
AlysonRR says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it forces me outside when I might otherwise veg out with the computer and/or television…
Jupiter says
I like that it’s cheap therapy that gives me food.
Sue says
I love watching everything grow and knowing I had some part of the process.
jen keith says
the wonderful sense of accomplishment – feeding my family and saving my budget!
Jessica Johnson says
I love gardening because I get to eat what I sow 🙂
Kim says
I love having a hobby that produces food for my family!
Colleen says
I love teaching my kids how to garden and grow their own food. 🙂
Jessica Phelps says
I especially love weeding! Or, more specifically, the time I have to think and pray, and just be!
Abigail says
I love know exactly where my food came from!
Ann says
love to see nature at work.
Sarah B says
Eating the raspberries!
Leanna says
I love every season of gardening . . . prepping the ground in the spring, the miracle of a tiny seed popping out of the ground, taking care of the plants in the summer, busyness of harvest in the fall (think canning, drying and freezing), and the break from all that work during the winter. But seed cataloges in the mail get me dreaming about another year of the cycle!
lori hoffman says
my favorite thing about gardening is watching the fruits and veggies grow and seeing my family and friends enjoy the results.
Sherry says
So many reasons…playing in the dirt, being outdoors, doing something as a family, watching your little seeds grow, harvesting all this good stuff, eating all this good, fresh produce, satisfaction of being self sufficient.
Becky L. says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it just makes me happy.
laurie goldstein says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching the excitement in my 2 year old daughters eyes when she gardens with me.
Liz says
My favorite thing about gardening is the eating! Everything from the garden is just soooo much better tasting than anything you can get anywhere else.
Lydia B says
My favorite thing bout gardening is growing food with my children. It’s so wonderful to have them help in the garden and then be able to eat the rewards from their work.
mona says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it’s a way for me to connect with my dad. Also, it is wonderful enjoying delicious food that is so healthy.
Sharon says
I love gardening because I get to be outside and have time to think about all kinds of things. I have time to work out problems, count my blessings, pray, plan my week, enjoy the beauty and the sounds all around. Plus, I just enjoy digging in the dirt!
Andrea kalmbach says
The thing I like best about gardening is knowing what my food is, I know what it’s grown in, how it’s grown & that makes me feel healthy.
Patti M says
When my tomatoes start to turn red…
Kathy says
I love the way tomatoes smell in the warm sun
Jenny H. says
My favorite thing about gardening is the satisfaction I get when I harvest and supply my family with good, healthy food that I know where it came from, and how it got there! It’s a wonderful feeling!!
Herdog says
Sign me up for the give-a-way, please. My favorite thing about gardening…feeding my pup dogs the forgotten green beans.
Marilyn says
I love being able to go out and harvest vegetables and herbs. Bringing them into my kitchen and preparing our food, not only tasts better, it is better. Gardening is so therapeutic. No matter what I am worried about, when I am in my garden, all my worries fade away.
jaime says
I’m not very good at gardening (not only is my lawn dead, but so are the weeds!), but I’m glad that other people are great at growing things.
polishacorn says
My favorite thing about gardening is it has become a stealth date night with my husband. It’s not the kids’ favorite thing to join us outside perusing and weeding in the evening, so that gives us some quiet time to hang out and chat before the little pickers come out eventually. 🙂
christi says
My favorite thing about gardening is the sights, sounds, smells as i’m up to my elbows in God’s green earth!!
Tracie says
Days stress just disappears and the sun shines into life again, the kids also love it when i have my zen place, especially when it is in the backyard. Ha
Katrina says
Love reaping the rewards of all my hard work over the summer. Eating fresh fruits and veggies, canning and being able to look at all the beautiful colors in my pantry. It’s fun going out and looking under vines to find pumpkin, squashes or even those giant zucchini. .
Krista Fox says
My favorite thing is having my toddler love watering and checking on the plants with me
Melissa says
I love the quiet, peacefulness of gardening; the fact that I am providing food for my family; and the important life lessons my young children are learning by helping and asking.
Jessica says
My favorite thing about gardening is the smell of the earth and how it feels in my hands. Love it!
Kris p. says
Working in the dirt is like hopeful meditation. Worries disappear, and you know that you are providing sustenance and beauty for your family and friends. You are linked to past and future generations just by tilling the soil. Those and being outdoors are my favorite reasons to garden.
Sherri Chekal says
My favorite thing about gardening is how my sheep and goat flock stand at the garden gate and fence and stare in and watch my every move in there… hoping that I might bring them leftovers or goodies to munch. It’s like free cheese day at the local church! 🙂 And it’s funny, because normally they would baa and try and get my attention but they don’t, they just stand and stare all 12 of them. And Cody Pony too. I think they are trying to use mind control on me to get their goodies…. 🙂
Great site! Love it!
Sherri
Helen Jolicoeur says
I love gardening and teaching children where good food comes from. The looks on their faces as they harvest food they helped grow is a great reward!
Monica W says
I love listening to the birds and breezes outside while gardening.
Amy says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to see my two boys outside planting and weeding and picking the fruits of their labor. Sharing the art of working the land with my babies is the best feeling in the world.
Angela Kozak says
Playing in the dirt! Its my therapy!
Laura says
I love the miracle of such a small seed growing into such a beautiful thing. They are all magic beans for me.
Connie W. says
My favorite things about gardening is growing my OWN produce and knowing that it’s completely organic! It makes my day EVERY TIME I pick my own greens for salads, main dishes or for smoothies. I love it! :] Btw Mavis, thank you for sharing your life through your blog.
Lyn says
Definitely the taste.
Jessica says
My favorite thing is the first sign of a little green tomato and knowing what’s to come.
Dot says
I love watching my grandchildren pick veggies from the garden. They’ll try anything that they pick themselves, things they would never try at home.
Laura Z says
I love how fresh and delicious our home grown food is….. and I love being able to “shop” from our backyard!
Carrie Allen says
My favorite thing is I can grow healthy food for my family and it won’t cost me tons of money if I were to buy it at the grocery store.
Jenny V. says
Gardening gives me inner peace.
Liz Shook says
Gardening!!! What can I say…. It’s free!! It’s my therapy and it’s’ saved me millions on a shrink over the years!! Well Seriously, it is very therapeutic and I’m just happier getting my hands into the soil! Watching the fruits of my labor come to life and grow. Knowing where my food is coming from and enjoying the harvest with my family…. Priceless!!
I’d love to learn about winter gardening!
Heather says
We love to pick fresh berries in the summer and be able to eat frozen ones in the winter.
Loree says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing the garden mid-summer and being in awe of how it’s grown from just little seeds 🙂
Laura M says
My favorite thing about gardening is feeling closer to nature and to our Creator, Jehovah. There’s just nothing like watching a plant grow and having a small part in caring for it – and then it gives back to us with its beauty or in food, sometimes both. What a bargain! Nature’s majesty, what more can I say? I love getting my friends started on gardening- or just on eating vegetables. When they realize the best tasting fruits and veggies are the ones you grow, they are hooked.
Dor says
My favorite thing about vegetable gardening is to see the seedlings emerging in neat little Riss, and, if course, enjoying eating those veggies fresh from the garden (even in the garden sometimes)
Dor says
I love to watch the seedlings emerge in neat straight rows and, of corse, I love eating those fresh veggies right from our garden
Connie K says
I love the wonder my kids display and their excitement over eating our garden bounty.
Arlene Wong says
Other than being one with nature I would say harvesting. It amazes me that I can grow food from just a tiny little seed.
Charity says
Growing up, my mom’s idea of vegetables with a meal was the packet of tomato sauce in the hamburger helper box. This year was my first attempt at gardening and my favorite thing was that first bite of a lemon cucmber. We had never heard of them before but as we are incororporating the principles of permaculture on our land, we thought they might be a neat change from regular cucumbers. They are delicious (the pig loves them too) and I grin each time I pick one because I helped grow the food we are eating.
Thank you Mavis!
Andrea says
My favorite thing about gardening is walking outside to get a piece of lettuce for my sandwich. I mean, really, how cool is that?
Julie says
It’s all about the harvest! Except when it seems to hit all at once and I lose sleep trying to figure out how to process it all at once.
june says
The peace of nature in the garden is my therapy!
Jessica says
I love the planning of the garden space! Figuring out how to organize it, what goes well with what, etc!
Cheralee says
I love that my garden is solely mine. My gloves will be where I left them, no shoes will be piled up in a corner, no pile of mail clutters it. My family respects my little kingdom and what I say goes. I love it!
Michele B says
I have never had a garden before. This is my fist attempt for fall. We are starting with container gardening. My favorite part will be taking my kids on the journey of growing their own food. Having that spence of accomplishment, and of course….the food!!!
Demarie says
My favorite thing about gardening is adding water to dirt and watching food appear!
Marcy Isherwood says
My favorite thing about gardening is being close to the earth.
Digging in dirt, pulling weeds & touching the plants is very therapeutic.
No need for a therapist.
Vanessa says
This was my first year gardening and my favorite part was watching the plants grow. It is the best feeling to see the vegetables start to grow and know that I grew my own food!
theresa b says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it gives me a sense of food security.
Gitte Kaan says
My favourite thing about gardening is the stuf is free of cemicals and therefor healty for us, and its free. And gardening are good for my soul <3
Laura @ All Spice and Yum says
My favorite part about gardening is definitely the harvest!
Mellie says
My favourite thing about gardening is sharing it with my kids. They are 15 and 5 and they both love to help out in the garden. We chat about lots of things and stand in awe at our yield!
Elyse says
My favorite thing about gardening is how amazing nature is when it creates large plants with edible results from the tiniest of seeds.
Margery says
My favorite thing is it is a time to just think, to be alone with nature.
Trish K says
I’ve always said my favorite thing about gardening is that it always brings me back down to the basics of life: you reap what you sow, and just like weeding a garden you have to weed your life. I think it keeps me grounded, plus we get fresh organic veggies! 🙂
Thatia Awua says
I love gardening because is so nice to see a seed transform in a nice plant/ flower.
susan says
My favorite thing about gardening is at the beginning of spring when you forget where everything is planted and you see little green shoots coming up. Its like a new beginning of life.
Eileen Carr says
My favorite thing about gardening is watering and watching everything grow.
karen says
My favorite thing about gardening is knowing that I grew it myself! Not that you asked, but my second favorite thing is sharing with my neighbors and family!
Mara says
Losing myself in the smell of the plants, the dusty/wet feel of the earth, and the drip of sweat.
Kellianne says
I love discovering all the different creatures in the garden…rabbits, snakes, praying mantis, butterflies, the variety of bees, frogs. We live in the city and I’m an amateur photographer, so this is exciting for me!
The best is eating from the garden! I planted greens last fall and was amazed how they stayed fresh through the snow.
Super giveaway, thanks a bunch!
~Kelli
Jessica says
My favorite thing about gardening is the satisfaction of knowing that what comes out of the ground is nourishing my family. I also love that I know the food hasn’t been treated with pesticides, or altered in any way.
Hailey says
I have a sign on my garden gate that says “Therapy in session, do not disturb” This is truly why I enjoy gardening, the sweet silence while connecting with the earth.
Kelly E. says
My favorite thing is being able to go outside and come back in with organic, super local, fresh , yummy food for almost free!
Rebekah says
My favorite thing about gardening is that when you are weeding, you have lots of time to think and plan. Also, when a plant actually produces something (I am a not-so-good beginner), I am thrilled beyond belief!
april says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to make something from nothing. Being able to take a tiny seed and see it grow and produce food is amazing.
Abbie says
The way you can take a tiny seed, poke it down into a hole and a few days later out pops out a perfect, tiny plant. It is truly a miracle and a wonderful testament to the beauty God created. That is my favorite thing about gardening.
treebee says
being able to feed my family and the peace of taking a break from my family.
Dee Wolters says
my fav part: eating!!! Nothing like fresh fruits and veggies, warmed by the sun.
Carrie says
I love watching the garden space grow from an empty space to a thriving, colorful, full space of goodness.
Kathy says
There are many things I love about gardening. I think the main reason I continue is the wonderment of placing seeds in the soil, nurturing them, and seeing new life burst forward. I never tire of the excitement of seeing tiny green leaves appear in the garden and the possibilities of what will happen.
felicia says
Everything! The challenge of a new plant, the rewards of your labor!
Lizzzy says
I love the feeling of seeing so much food coming out of such a little seed. It amazes and thrills me every time something tasty comes from my garden that started off as just a small seed in my hand.
Julie says
I enjoy the sense of accomplishment and sharing the fresh vegetables with my family.
Sheryl Grimm says
My favorite thing about gardening is the dirt! The feel of it as I dig my fingers in it, the smell of it after a rainfall. My favorite smell next to fresh cut grass. I used to have a large garden like you and now live where I’m lucky to have a couple tomato plants, But planning on moving closer to the grand kids, can’t wait to teach them to garden and can the veggies and fruits!!
JC says
I like the smell of turned dirt.
Holly H says
We live next door to my parents, so we all garden together. My favorite part is gardening and visiting not only with my girls but my mom & dad also. Cherished family time.
Tara says
The results! I love picking fresh food from my own yard.
Holly says
My favorite thing about gardening is getting outside and sharing the beauty of nature with my husband.
Stan says
Even after many years of gardening and canning, it is still exciting to see a tiny seed push its way through the earth and grow into a vegetable producing plant. Home grown veggies are so much better than anything bought at a store and are much better for us nutritionally also.
tonya triplett says
My favorite thing is thinking I wish I had a “blank” to go with dinner, & then I remember I have it growing outside!
Teckla Buller says
My favorite thing about gardening is the food! Just can’t beat fresh, healthy, food that actually tastes GOOD!
Bee Girl (AKA Melissa) says
My favorite thing about gardening is how wonderful it feels to, covered in sweat and dirt form several hours of work, eat a still-warm-from-the-sun tomato, sprinkled with just a little salt 🙂
Sandy Burd says
My favorite thing about gardening is being outside, feeling the sun on my face, getting my hands dirty, checking everyday to see if a seed has sprouted, watching it grow, and then figuring out a new way to cook it, and then the icing is eating it!
Dawn says
I love being able to know where my food comes from and what isn’t in it.
Dayna says
It can be as big or small as you like. Oh and (sorry two things) you can grow things you cannot buy in stores. 🙂
Tina Landis says
My favorite thing about gardening would be: How my Step-son can tell when its fresh or canned. I love the look he gives me when I try to slide in something from off the shelf. And he always follows with, Yours is better…lol. He’s just 12 and already has a palette for fresh produce.
Brenda says
My favorite part is when my 8yr old daughter asks if the produce we are eating is ‘homemade’ because she knows homemade is way better than anything you can get in the store!
Kaja Sample says
My favorite thing about gardening is teaching my children where food comes from! They will always try something we’ve grown in the garden.
Frances LeClair says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it is so relaxing to me and makes me so happy when I see my pretty flowers, fruits, and veggies.
Joy says
My favorite thing is preparing a recipe and being able to WALK OUTSIDE AND PICK THE INGREDIENTS! That is so awesome! It gives me shivers just thinking about it!
Dawn S says
My favorite thing about gardening is the sense of satisfaction that comes with looking around at all of the beauty you’ve created!
Lisa B says
My favorite thing about gardening is harvesting and preserving what I’ve grown! I love pretty mason jars filled with my efforts 🙂
Heather says
I love being outside.
Sherri says
Harvesting your food. It is nice to see and taste the results of all your hard work.
Erica says
My favorite thing about gardening is the harvest; seeing the results of all the hard work is amazing!
Ann says
I love the warmth of the sun on me and the smell of earth and plants.
Lane says
My favorite thing is that it’s free therapy. My husband doesn’t like to garden so it’s guaranteed “me” time.
Colleen Hufford says
My favorite thing is the taste of home grown fresh tomatoes. You can’t get tomatoes that taste like that in the store.
Monique says
My favorite thing about gardening? Pretty much everything from prepping, planting, weeding to harvesting. I find that the best part about gardening is the break it gives me from my day-to-day. A time and a space to focus. I also feel a great sense of accomplishment cooking, preserving and eating what I grow.
Cheryl Mitchell says
I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis in my neck, hands, lower back, and right knee. Gardening is very therapeutic for me. It’s relaxing, very satisfying and helps me forget about the aches and pains I experience every day.
Rochelle says
My favorite thing about gardening is the peace and quiet. Soothes my soul!
Amy E says
My favorite things are watching tiny seeds transform themselves into great big plants full of ripe veggies, and getting to dig in the dirt with my son!
Meredith C. says
My favorite thing about gardening is the enjoyment of nurturing plants from start to finish and having such tangible results (=food you can eat!). I also love that it involves constant learning through trial and error.
Leslie Collins says
My favorite thing about gardening has been the continued learning and trying new things. I have gardened for a long time but within the last few years I have really learned how to improve my crops. There are so many workshops, articles and now I am part of the Organic Gardeners club which I thoroughly enjoy. I think gardening brings people and ideas together. It is becoming a more common bond. Of course I love the food too!
Solducky says
My favorite thing is weeding – crazy but true. There is just something so satisfying about it, and it allows my hands to work while my brain works on other things that I usually can’t process thanks to the kids!
Megan W says
My favorite thing about gardening is weeding! I think it’s a great stress reliever and helps me relax.
Kim Gregorius says
I currently don’t have a garden but am in the process of planning one out! So maybe my favorite thing about my yard is that I have lots of space available for a garden!
Chastity says
My favorite thing about gardening is the nurturing cycle of mother nature… I nurture the growth of the plants and in return it provides me with the nutrition my family and I need 🙂 It’s quite a fascinating thing and I can’t wait to get started!
Johanne says
I descend from 350 years of farmers. I guess it’s just in my blood. I feel connected to them somehow and that matters a whole lot to me! 😉
Beatrix Agrios says
Hi Mavis, a simple question is not always simple to answer. Every time I walk into my garden I think that this must be my favourite time of the year, so right now I’d say that harvest time is my favourite time. I am amazed at the amount of food we can grow from a small city lot, overwhelmed by the quality and the taste. It is easy too. I am already planning and looking forward to next year!
Amanda says
My favorite thing about gardening is all the yummy food that comes out of it.
Alicia says
My favorite thing about gardening is the awesome feeling of accomplishment every time I get to pick something I grew and feed it to my family. 🙂
Susan Baker says
Dust to dust, my soul heals when my hands are in the dirt, planting, weeding, repotting. I’m so truly happy when I spend time in my garden, surrounded by the things growing. The best therapy in the world!
Tonya Rhodes says
This year is my first year gardening. My favorite part about gardening, that despite my health and physical ailments, I was still able to do container gardening. Watching everything grow and harvesting my own vegetables gives me a sense of accomplishment as well as comfort me in knowing that what I am eating is organic instead of gmo’s.
Mary Ann says
Growing our own fruits and vegetables.
Marcie says
I love the feeling of providing for family!
Karen P says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing my kids expressions when things start to grow and then their excitement over eating something that they helped to grow. It has been a learning experience for the entire family.
Melinda says
My favorite thing about gardening is tasting the first strawberry, blackberry, sugar snap pea, ect.. right as you pick it.
Vanessa says
Freedom to create and silence. Being on my own!!
Emily says
My favorite thing is the tomatoes!
Leigh says
My favorite thing is just being outside with my hands in the dirt. You can’t beat the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and the sounds of God’s beauty all around.
Elena says
My favorite thing about gardening is the quality of food my family gets to eat. I can’t afford to buy organic but I can grow it.
Tammy says
I love knowing exactly how my food was grown! It has also taught my children so much about their food supply!
Katie says
I love that gardening is pretty easy, but a lot of people are intimidated by it. Throw out a few annuals, and the neighbors are overcome with awe. It’s even more fun when you get to share the fruits of your labor…literally!!
julianne r says
i love being able to eat strawberries off the vine
Lisa A says
I would love to win this! Winter Backyard Gardening is on my reading list, and I am preparing to garden on a much larger scale next year in the hopes it will fully sustain our family throughout Spring – Fall. I love being able to grow my own food and the solace that working in the garden gives me.
Andrea t says
I love being able to produce food for my family.
Nada says
The thing I love best about gardening is how sexy my husband looks working in the garden! 😉
Stacy says
There are almost as many things to love about gardening as there are gardeners…but my absolute favorite is being able to open up a canning jar or freezer bag of home-grown fruit or vegetables for a taste of summer during the heart of our snowy Ohio winter.
Shelle says
Because I’ve been canning up a storm, I’d say my favorite part about gardening is that we can literally eat the fruits of our labor. The green beans we grew in the summer will feed us all winter. The corn and tomatoes that we nurtured will be the salsa our friends enjoy when they come over for football watching parties. The apples we picked will be the pies we share with family this Christmas and Thanksgiving. It really is amazing, isn’t it?
Eliza Dobbins says
My favorite thing is just about everything! I love the smell of freshly turned dirt. Dirt under my nails. Seeds that have sprouted. Eating things that I’ve grown. Love gardening and love watching yours grow through your pictures. Thanks for your blog!
Harmony says
My favorite thing about gardening is the sh*tload of fresh produce that I get from it, obvs! I always feel overwhelmed when I know I have a few dozen bottles of peaches to process for winter, but there is NOTHING better than a fresh peach. NOTHING. (except maybe a fresh tomato. Or fresh strawberries….)
Sarah G says
My favorite thing about gardening is that nostalgic aspect of continuing a tradition that our ancestors began so long ago. Plus, gardening is something that all mankind have in common on every continent and in every culture. It is what brings us together! It is also neat to see my small kids continue in the tradition by FREAKING OUT about getting new seeds!
Mary says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching my kids and the kids at their school, where I am the garden coordinator, get so excited about healthy and organic food. I love to see them so interested and having fun while in the garden!
Kelea Town says
I am a new gardener and I am loving EVERYTHING about it. I love that I am able to provide healthy organic food for my family, I love that my kids are learning how things grow and that they are interested in helping in the garden, I love that our whole family is trying new foods and new recipes, I love the exercise and the therapy. My favorite thing……………….. providing healthy quality food for my family.
Leisha says
Mavis,
My favorite thing about gardening is not having to leave home to grow healthy food for my family!!
Samantha says
I love to teach my kids about gardening and the hard work it takes to grow your own food. I think it helps them appreciate where our food comes from. Hope I win! 🙂
Mike says
The freshness of the food. Knowing what went into it & where it came from. Satisfaction in one’s work.
Bea says
The satisfaction of walking out and picking something to eat that you grew yourself.
Nancy says
My favorite thing about gardening is getting home from the office and getting my hands in the soil. It is a better stress reliever than blood pressure meds.
Danette says
I enjoy providing my family with nutritious food sadly not found in stores these days, also enjoy the money saving opportunity and teaching experience it brings to the young.
Noelle says
The perfect ripe tomatoes. No store bought tomatoes can compare.
Linda says
My favorite thing about gardening is planting seeds and watching for them to come up. And, of course, enjoying the delicious, home grown food!
Jen says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it is peaceful – no phones and no emails.
Mary S says
One of my favorite things about gardening is sitting in my blooming aromatic lavender patch weaving lavender wands and watching the amazing bees busily at work!
Savanna says
Simply put… Very therapeutic and still reap rewards.
Laura says
I like watching how the plants have grown together and their beautiful flowers!
Kate Iline says
I work on a computer all day, so I love the way gardening forces me to take a break from the electronics and focus on the nature around me.
Helen in Meridian says
I love eating tomatoes off the vine while still out in the garden. Those cherry tomatoes taste best in the garden.
Kara Beth says
I love getting up early and seeing what has popped out of the ground overnight. I swear the asparagus grows five inches in one day.
Becky M. says
I love to garden because it’s a new adventure every year, and always makes me feel good when I am serving my family something I grew.
Jen Hen says
I love the miracle of a tiny seed transforming into a big plant that can produce enough to fill our bellies. I rarely buy seedlings from the store b/c of that.
Linda in So. Cal. says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it can be so therapeutic. When my mom was on hospice, and I was her only caregiver, I would often find myself outside tending to my raised beds, thinking and praying. It was so nice to escape the dread and stress for even just 5 or 10 minutes and to recharge myself to carry on with what I needed to do and face. Mom has since passed, but my little garden perks me right up when I am feeling down.
Lea J says
Walking down the rows in your bare feet and feeling the dirt change from sun warmed to cool as you dig your toes into it.
Tara Stiggs says
My favorite thing about gardening is growing my own food that tastes better than from the store.
jfred says
My fave part about gardening in when the garden is all fresh turned dirt, and I makr my rows, and patt the little seeds in. (my hated part is all those weeds that then grow up in that gorgeous dirt!)
Jody Carter says
I love the beauty of all Gods creations while gardening..
Jen L A says
My favorite part about gardening right now is taking my 2 toddlers out to the garden and having them eat the vegis as we pick them (tomatoes, Broc, peans & beans…..they love their vegis) It makes me feel like the garden experience will make them grow so well!!!!
Jamie G says
My favorite part of gardening: The blessings it has reaped in other areas of my life. My husband and I are closer b/c we spend time together outdoors doing it together. The health benefits not just from the food, but the actual work of gardening. The joy of helping others throughout my large family get started and excited about it. My brother who has four daughters now grows almost all of his own food. His wife now cans and helps in the garden. It started with gardening and raising home grown beef and expanded to raising home grown poultry and pork as well. We are so blessed.
Kerry @Coffee With Us 3 says
I love that gardening gives me great exercise without it feeling like exercise.
Kim says
My favorite thing about gardening is the smell of tomato plants. Oh, and the taste of sun warmed tomatoes. Oh, and seeing the gold finches come to eat the sunflower seeds. And having a glass of wine and pulling weeds while listening to the wind and the grasshoppers. And watching my children learn to love veggies as they watch them grow and pick themselves. Wait, how am I supposed to pick just one?
Richele says
I love the sun on my face, sweat on my brow and eating my fried green tomatos along with the rest of my goodies that come from my hard work! Those gloves are really rockin’!
Andrea says
Gardening brings me peace. Something about the putting a seed in the ground and watching it grow to produce food to eat and more seed to plant gives me hope.
Courtney Martin says
My favorite thing about gardening is being closer to the earth and teaching my daughter about a way of life before supermarkets.
K says
Preserving all of the wonderful, non gmo, organic, chemical free produce!
Pam H says
I love eating something right from the garden. Like when the first strawberries are ripe. I just go and eat them. Same with the blackberries and concord grapes. Yummy.
Jennifer says
Favorite thing about gardening..fried green tomatoes. Especially this year, I was one of the few who actually tomatos with all the rain we had in Virginia!
Kathy says
I love just about everything about gardening: pouring over seed cataloges in the depth of winter, all the physical work, the joys of watching plants grow, chatting with neighbors and passersby, adding beauty to the world, working with my kids, eating and sharing the harvest.
Jessica Schlatzer says
My favorite thing about gardening is how relaxed and pleased it makes me feel. I can work my butt off all day and when I’m done for the day, i never feel more relaxed and complete. That is my favorite thing about gardening.
Beckybeq says
Getting my kids to eat veggies. Not a single snow pea nor asparagus spear made it into the house this summer. And the kids think they’re pulling one over on me. 🙂
Rachel says
My all time favorite thing about gardening is all of the random vegetable eating that my children do because of it. Sometimes my husband complains that he doesn’t get to eat the produce from the garden, but I’m happy knowing my kids are growing up healthier because of their garden grazing!
Krista says
Gardening is magic! You put seeds in the ground with dirt, add water and food appears. It’s magic I tell you.
Paula says
It’s hard to pick just one favorite thing but…
My favorite thing about gardening is the way it keeps me grounded (PUN! That was a pun!) in things that are really important, and that holds true for me whether I’m flower gardening or food gardening. The fresh food is a nice by-product of that, though.
Donna Richardson says
Ohhhh, so many things I love about gardening! #1 above all else is the satisfaction I get in making sure that the food I grow and feed my family has not been exposed to vast amounts of chemicals, it hasn’t been shipped hundred’s of miles and it hasn’t been sitting in the store for who knows how many days. It is quality food that I grew for my family – doesn’t get much better than that!
Betsy says
Spending time outside, eating the rewards of my labor, and feeling at peace in God’s creation!
Shannon M says
Sitting in the back yard with my daughter (and friends) and having a munch in the grass!
Jessica says
Digging in the dirt, and picking fresh flowers and produce!
Gretchen says
Educating and inspiring my 5 young children about the beauty of Mother Nature and Her circle of life; how the garden must be valued and taken care of and in return, it gives back. Many life values can be learned in a garden.
Caroline B says
What I like about gardening is that it relaxes me and helps me unwind
Pamela says
Best thing is the fresh veggies! Sweating in the sun and good dirty fun.
Judith Trujillo says
Gardening offers opportunities for non-stop learning and teaching, building community, wonderful cooking experiments and healthy eating. Hands in dirt, sky above – it can’t get better!
rise haynes says
My favoorite thing about Gardening is its gives me Peace to my soul! It’s such a great way to relax in this crazy and busy world!
donna bradley says
I like to work in my garden but the most enjoyment I get is being able to give my family fresh food. .
Jessica says
My most favorite thing about gardening is everything. I can’t seem to pin point one exact thing. I love nuturing something to life and watching it grow. My children have to be my most prized growers,hehe. I even got my hubby into gardening and I have to say I am quite surprised at how much of a green thumb he has. I love the excitement of coming out every morning and evening (yes we check twice a day just to see if anything is different), to seeing how well everything is growing. Being a military family we will move come next year and I am hoping to start a much larger garden when we get to our new home. I also love that many of my neighbors have taken to creating gardens and we often exchange veggies and fruits with each other, it’s absolutely wonderful. Like I said there is so much I love about growing my own food. I can’t begin to cover it all 🙂
Faith Gorham says
My favorite thing is sitting down in the dead of winter and planning my garden for Spring. What will I add that is new? What will I plant again? What will I plant more of? I love digging through the seed catalogs, bulb catalogs and ideas on Pinterest!!! Makes my winter blues melt away!
Kellie says
My favorite thing about gardening is harvest time. I love to reap the rewards from something that I started from a packet of seeds and raised til fruition. It is a great feeling to share the bounty with neighbors and put a smile on their faces as well!
Rebecca Cafouros says
I don’t really know since I haven’t started it yet. However, I plan to get going in the coming year. Winning this contest would help a ton! 😉
Maegan says
My favorite thing about gardening is preserving my own food! I love knowing in the cold winter I am eating produce from my own garden. 🙂
Jill King says
My favorite thing about gardening is that plants obey me (for the most part), and don’t talk back like teen-agers 🙂
Nina says
Being able to grow vegetables and fruit from Italian seed.
April Anderton says
I love being able to throw together a meal from my own yard. Cucumber and tomato salad, for one!
Sandi says
I love the meditative and peacefulness of gardening. Mostly planting and weeding in my garden.
Lena Magoon says
I love that my work actually yields something visible…..I have a toddler and an almost-toddler so when I clean my house it doesn’t last. When I go out to the garden, Ahhhhh….food! I love the learning process also, ie next year, pole beans not bush! My kids eat them like they’re going out of style!
Esther says
My favorite thing about gardening is spending time with my family while teaching them a valuable skill. I have the fondest memories of working in the garden with my Grandmother & my mom and I have shared it with my children as well. It’s wonderful to see my kids run outside to pick a tomato for their sandwich, peas to crunch on and chives for their potatoes. It’s the best outdoor family tradition ever!
Colleen says
My favorite thing about gardening is being out in the fresh air and sunshine and getting my hands dirty! The fresh veggies and fruit aren’t bad either!
Allison Aplet says
I love knowing where my food came from and the benefit of the work it takes to grow it!
Beth says
I have so many favorite things of gardening! Probably the therapeutic trance I get into is my favorite. I can have the biggest time warps when weeding. Just last week i went outside early morning in my pj’s and noticed a few weeds and next thing I knew it was noon and i was still in pj’s happy and weeding 🙂
ps – I live in the country – it’s okay to weed in pj’s.
Chris J says
Although I like growing my own food, my favorite part of gardening is the peace and quite! I’m the only one that likes going outside in the heat and humidity so it’s like my own little retreat from the daily demands of family and work.
connie says
the satisfaction of seeing things grow from a tiny seed
Erin @ Quixotic Magpie says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it has brought my uncle and I closer. He is older, around 75, and has always loved gardening. When I became interested in it, he was my go to source of information, and still is. Every February we get together with our seed catalogs, coffee, and doughnuts and make our wish lists of seeds. We usually end up splitting seeds, and he always starts them for us in his greenhouse. We also can and make jam together. 🙂
Eileen G says
My favorite thing about gardening is tending to everything. I love spending time watering, and digging in the dirt, and trimming, and picking the fruits and veggies!
Jennifer Young says
I think my favorite thing about gardening is planting the seeds and starts. There’s just something fresh and new about it. A clean start. And so many possibilities!
Sarah M. says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to teach my two toddlers that food doesn’t come from a grocery store, it comes from the earth, and it takes a lot of hard work to make it!
Courtney A. says
My favorite thing about gardening is learning. I’m addicted to information and knowledge. I try to grow something new each year so I can learn something new. I never run out of new things to try.
Sarah says
My favorite thing about gardening is the feeling it gives me: a wonderful combination of satisfaction, calm, beauty, and accomplishment.
Melinda Brehm says
I love that no matter what i’m doing in the garden, big or small, I have a sense of accomplishment!
Rita Kerr says
Oh, I have enjoyed reading through all your comments. My thought as I read each one was “I like that about gardening too!” Even though we have drip lines to each of our garden beds, I still enjoy watering more than anything else. I always manage to find something to water that is not on a water line; our white lilac, the snowball bush, a few raspberry and blackberry bushes, asparagus, rhubarb plants, the apricot tree, the flower bed in the middle of our drive and our RV drive, newly transplanted flowers and herbs, iris along the back cedar fence, and my newest planting, a miniature ginkgo. As I was growing up, my parents had the largest and oldest known ginkgo tree in the United States. I remember groups coming from Japan and Korea coming to our home in Indiana see the tree, taking home seed pods and taking my picture (as the youngest of five) in front of the tree. It was a lovely tree, with such character in the trunk formation and giant leaves like no other. When I found the miniature ginkgo, I knew I had to have one next to my front door. It grows slowly and at it’s maximum height, will only be around four feet tall and five feet wide. It’s tiny leaves are the sweetest miniature of those I remember from my childhood. Be blessed, Mavis.
Susan says
My favorite things about gardening is the peace and calm that comes from being in the garden..Of course all the fresh food that we eat and preserve for future use.
Julie says
My favorite thing about gardening is the harvest, whether planted by me or by the upick-I feel so blessed when I am picking produce 🙂
Charla Echlin says
My favorite thing about gardening is that peaceful feeling it gives me as I work in the dirt- just me and my plants- there is a special kind of bond I have with my gardens- it pulls me – I can’t think of ever NOT gardening.
Jennifer says
My favorite things about gardening is that it brings me closer to my dad. He has been gone now for over 11 years but I think of him and smile whenever I harvest a Golden Boy tomato or when I am planning on growing white eggplants. He always liked some unexpected things in his garden. Many times I wish he was still here so I could ask him questions and learn from his experience.
Beth says
Great comment! I can relate to your feelings. My dad is the inspiration for my love of gardening. He had the most beautiful gardens. And agreed that I wish he were still here to learn from. When I am missing him badly gardening is a good way to feel close to him.
Danielle T says
This is a topic I have thought about extensively. What I’ve decided is this: I love gardening because it is the only time I am completely present. When I pull weeds I am just pulling weeds. No thinking about anything else, and it is an incredibly freeing experience.
Christine says
It’s the peacefulness of digging in the dirt and the promise of things to come that I love about gardening.
Christa H says
My favorite thing is to grow tomatoes and watch them turn red. I really enjoy eating the first one of the season.
Anna says
Narrowing it down to just one favorite thing???? Turning the compost and seeing millions of wigglers – makes me think of my dad who taught me so much about gardening. Okay, and just one more – when my kids pop a snap pea or a cherry tomato in their mouths and say, “Mmmm, this is soooo good!”
lizzy says
I love gardening, because it actually relaxes me! It takes me away from all of the technology and the busy life of working in an office.
Leah Elliott says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it is like good therapy and then you have vegetables for dinner as well 😉
amanda says
I love getting dirty and feeling so much peace . It is so amazing how everything works.
Angela K says
I love watching something come from the earth and my care.
Heidi W says
My favorite think about gardening is growing nutritious food for my family but also having the peace while weeding/harvesting. It’s almost like cheap therapy. It’s a quiet calming activity to admire Gods amazing work.
Cliff Hawley says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching things grow and flower. Then finally being able to pick something off the vine and eat it right there in the garden.
Brooke says
It’s like a science experiment. I like seeing how each plant turns out.
Marsha says
Knowing where my food comes from. Not having to go to the store when I want fresh fruit & veggies (and they taste better too).
Allison says
Right now I’m just a daydream gardener. But someday I’ll start gardening for real!
Madam Chow says
My favorite thing about gardening is the miracle of planting a little seed, watering it, and then, BAM! Tomatoes! Monster zucchinis! All that from such a little thing!
liz says
My favorite thing about gardening is learning new things each day.
Melissa says
The harvest!!
Kim says
My favorite thing about gardening is having the freshest food right there at your door.
Christi {Jealous Hands} says
Those gloves! The books! What a fun giveaway! My favorite thing about gardening – well, it’s too hard to pick just one! I love the clmness & peace that comes in the mornings and evenings. I love finding out what critters are living in my gardens. i love that it’s something I can share with my boys, and that my love of gardening is something I inherited from my grandmothers & that it makes me feel connected to them, especially since I have many of their plants in my garden. I love that I can feed my family. So much to love.
Your blog is one of my fave reads, though I rarely comment. Thanks for this fun giveaway! xo
Megan says
My favorite thing about gardening is when the little green shoots first peak through the soil.
Kathy Barlean says
I love many things about gardening, but most of all I love to serve my kids, grandkids and other family and friends safe, healthy vegetables and fruits. 🙂
Julia says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing how quickly some things grow; cucumbers are awesome!
sharon says
I like being outside. Digging in the dirt is therapeutic.
(I enjoy and appreciate reading all your tips, recipes, etc.)
Dena Wessels says
Focused concentration on a task that gets my hands in good dirt, lets me create habitat for a new growing plant, & lets me block out everything else but what I’m doing at the moment.
Maria B says
My favorite thing about gardening is KNOWING WHAT’S IN/ON MY FOOD! Other faves: my children know where food comes from and learn all kinds of sciency things! Also, the workout.
Karen says
I love being able to know there are fresh tomatoes or onions right there when they are needed. I’m really looking forward to fresh tangelos this fall. My son gave me a tree last year for Christmas and there’s more than a dozen green fruit on it:) The tree is still small, but obviously it’s prepared to show it’s stuff!
Kathy says
My favorite thing about gardening is getting to spend time out doors with my granddaughter, she loves to see each new produce and always has lots of questions about what is growing, My favorite one is “nana have I ever eat that before and did I like it”?
Fun times
Shannon Smith says
Favorite thing about gardening? One word: peace.
Terri Betz says
Wowed! My favorite thing about gardening is enjoying the harvest! Knowing exactly where it came from, what was put on it, what wasn’t and eating it with satisfaction! Makes us feel really good about our meals! Thanks!
Debbie says
It’s hard to pick one favorite thing about gardening. I love the smell of dirt, the neat rows, and of course the produce.
Joanna says
Growing my own food is the best part of gardening!
Those gloves are gorgeous!
Tracy says
The fresh food!
Donna says
I love the peacefulness of the garden and being able to help to bring something to life. Always something new!
Pat says
My favorite thing about gardening is eating the fruits of my labor!
Kristi says
My favorite things about gardening are the fresh food and enjoyment of working with the soil.
Regan says
fresh air. sunshine. lavender. fresh tomatoes. hydrangeas. holly hocks. herbs. ….
Chantal O'Byrne says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to provide food for my family without any pesticides. Being able to just go out to your garden and picking things out for lunch and supper and know that they are fresh.
Amanda says
I love harvesting and preserving all that yummy, healthy, affordable food!
Emily says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing my children learn to grow and harvest and cook with the seeds that they sow.
Heather says
My favorite thing about gardening is feeling like I had a hand in influencing at a very basic level how we eat as a family and how our children eat. They LOVE going out into the garden and seeing how everything is growing, and are fascinated (at least my 5 yo is) that we can EAT what we pick and it didn’t come from the store. You started a movement Mavis, as this garden wasn’t created until after reading your blog, and then my husband and I decided we could do it!
Kimber says
There are too many things to list that I love about gardening but if I had to name just one thing I would say it provides good food for my family to eat all year round!!!
Dena says
I enjoy gardening because I love to eat all the interesting fruits and vegetables that are cost prohibitive or hard to find at the grocery store. I also love knowing that at least some of my food has been grown naturally.
Janie Smith says
I think everyone has a creative light in them, and gardening helps that to shine brighter. To take a piece of ground and make it beautiful, a plot of earth and make it productive, a packet of dry seeds and watch them transform into fresh and healthy food – that nurtures the creative light of gardening and that is what I love to do. The smell of freshly turned dirt is the best perfume!
JoAnn Whitley says
One of the most exciting things for me is buying an organic piece of produce like sweet red peppers or butternut squash and drying the seeds myself and planting them and seeing a crop come up! Amazing…free and delicious food!
Suzanne says
I love gardening because I know that what I grow is safe for my family.
kathy says
my favorite thing about gardening… well im fairly new at this. got 4 tomatoes and 1 pepper this year. big improvement after last year. nothing grew but the weeds. year before that was good 12 ears of corn. no flowers grew either last 3 yrs. BUT, the thrill, the joy, the absolute amazement when even 1 thing grows is my favorite thing.
Heather T. says
Walking out by back door and getting at least part of dinner.
Monica says
My favorite thing is playing in the soil! I love it! I love the feel between my fingers and the all the possibility that it holds! You never know what results the soil may hold: veggies; beautiful flowers; or big earthworms (the sign of healthy soil)!
Becky Cook says
My favorite thing about gardening is the feeling that I am closer to and more connected with the earth, which is what God originally intended for us.
Carol Rhodes says
I love the whole garden experience. I can’t really pick out a favorite. We are blessed from above making food from the dark rich earth. The ability to use my muscles and brains to plan, plant, and share and eat delicious vegetables fresher than ever!
Patti says
Everything. I hate to exercise, but I love to garden, so I get exercise. I love to be outside with nature, birds, butterflies, bugs, what’s not to like? I’m far from self sufficient, but I have learned many things bc of my love of gardening. I have chickens, compost, vermicompost. We just moved to TN. Our new house has 2 pecan trees and 2 maples large enough to tap! I’m 52 and have only been without a dog 2 weeks out of my entire life. I think everyone able to have a pet should, be it a cat, fish, dog, etc…. They make life a little more special. I feel the same way about a garden.
Linda says
I LOVE everything about gardening!!!!
Cassandra Price says
Teaching our 4 year old grandson to love to garden is the most amazing part of it for me. He is so cute out there pulling weeds. He loves to wash a tomato and take a big bite!
Nysher says
Best thing for me about gardening is picking out all the cool seeds from the catalogs during January when we dream of summer produce!
Janice says
To me, the immense satisfaction of planting the seed, growing it, harvesting, preserving, and finally serving it, knowing what is in it, and how good it is for my family and myself, is totally beyond words. Incomparable!!!
Kris says
I love that my 7 year old daughter and I can connect with the earth in our garden while our surrounding world continues to be covered with pavement!
Mary says
My favorite thing about gardening is eating all the fresh veggies and crawling around in the dirt weeding. I just came in from harvesting my onions and picking my green beans and tomatoes. I planted a lot of veggies foe a fall garden already. Peas, collard greens, kale, beets, carrots, kohlrabi and onions. I hope they grow really fast!
CATHY says
I HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO VANCOUVER ISLAND AND I LOVE THAT HERE (VS NORTHERN BC) I CAN GARDEN ALL YEAR ROUND! THEREFORE I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK THROUGH THE WINTER GARDENING BOOK, SOUNDS AWESOME. MY FAVORITE PART OF GARDENING IS BEING ABLE TO GIVE AWAY MY SURPLUS AND FEED MY SCRAPS TO MY CHICKENS. LOVE YOUR PUG PICTURES AND STORIES!!
Jumbe says
I love it because it ALWAYS makes me feel better.
Melissa Perez says
I’ve recently been researching and planning my own garden. I’m so excited to be able to both save money and control what goes on my family’s dinner plate. I love the satisfaction that it brings knowing that I grew it, that those tomatoes I’m eating wouldn’t be in my mouth without the labor I put into them 🙂
Missy says
My favorite thing about gardening is prepping in the Spring. Picking seeds, plotting out the garden, fresh dirt, oh my! I love it all.
marci says
Fresh tomatoes!!
Debbie says
My favorite thing about gardening is my children being involved and getting excited to harvest. Thanks for the chance to win!
Brenda R. says
My favorite thing about gardening is providing inexpensive healthy food for my family.
Elisabeth says
My favorite thing about gardening is feeling so accomplished when I’m done!
Beth Todd says
I love the feel of freshly turned soil . The feel of triumph pulling up a difficult weed. Listening to my favorite podcasts all alone.
Maki says
My favorite thing about gardening is that I feel so passionate about the entire process of growing and sharing food with friends and family (food = love)! I enjoy learning about gardening, as each season brings something new to the table whether its learning how to grow something you’ve never tried, making compost, battling pests…and I’ve really enjoyed how gardening has connected me to a community of other gardeners. Its more rewarding than I ever thought it would be – I guess when I was a youngster playing in dirt and mud in the backyard, I was onto something, I just didn’t know what it was!
Holly Pickens says
My favorite this is the satisfaction of knowing that I grew everything that I am eating.
poppy says
My favorite thing about gardening is being in the fresh air with hands in the dirt.
Carol says
There is something pretty darn cool about using simple items (a tiny seed, water and the earth) and being able to live off what comes from your efforts.
elisap says
I really dont have a favorite thing because i’m a wanabe gardener. I dont think i have a green thumb but i sure do envy all of you that do. If i win i will try 🙂
Kellie Brown says
I love the satisfaction of growing healthy food for my family, and the fun my kids have gardening with me (they’re 5 and 2). They are often found foraging for snacks in the garden, and I love the accessibility we have to yummy, healthy snacks.
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
Jodie says
My favorite thing for produce is the Harvest and for flowers are all the pretty blooms!!
mandy says
Spending time outside and getting dirty…I do really like the veges and fruit also :]
Maddy Gunter says
Would love to try out those gloves, I enjoy fresh veggies from my garden
Michelle says
I love the way my food tastes that is freshly picked from my garden!
Melissa Richardson says
I think my favorite thing about gardening would have to be piece of mind. There are so many things to study and learn and you can watch the world change before your very eyes. Going out each morning and looking at lush ripe fruit, imagining what it could end up as: A beautiful, rich sauce, a spicy salsa, warming soup, dried goods. A garden is something no one can take away from you and, if they do, you can find some squirreled off place on a back nine somewhere and dig a new one.
Not… that I condone that sort of thing 😀
Natalie says
My favorite thing is the tomatoes! Store bought tomatoes taste fake when compared to homegrown tomatoes.
Emily says
My favorite thing about gardening is watching seeds turn into full grown plants. It’s amazing every time.
kat says
It’s a tie between being amazed at getting something to sprout and then watching it grow each day and the satisfaction of getting to eat something you grew
Debbie Evans says
I love the designing/creative aspect of gardening.
kathy f says
I love the feeling of picking fresh veggies for my family.
Rebekah says
My favorite thing about gardening is that I can share all the extra fruits and veggies with my friends. I love to trade gardening goodies and flower seeds with my friends!
Lacey says
Gardening with my son. Especially seeing the magic sparkle & sense of wonder in his eyes as we pick vegetables from huge plants he sowed as little seeds.
Kath Mason says
I love digging in the dirt, the smells, the wonder of watching plants come up and grow, the pleasures of being outdoors, creating a little order in a chaotic world, the changing tasks, the delicious and healthy harvests, reading about other’s experiences, and more.
Kristy says
My favorite thing about gardening…My parents grew up in Indiana and were the children of farmers.
They lived through the depression poor but they were never hungry. Gardening sustains us. Hard work, creativity,
and then the fruits of our labor:) Everything seems to come full circle in the garden
And that’s what I love most.
Ann says
For me, the best part of gardening is being able to just open the back door and walk,to whichever bed to harvest fresh, delicious fruit, veggies or herbs to add to our dinner. The very best is to pick a feverfew leaf (frond?) to treat my headache! Can’t get any fresher that that!
Jesss says
My favorite thing about gardening is that it gets me outside every day. That and the fresh food. 🙂
Mary Czarnecki says
My favorite thing about gardening is seeing the results of my labor. In my day job, it sometimes takes months (if ever!) to see results – gardening gives me tangible results of the effort I put into my garden.
Sadie B. says
I love to be able to grow my own food. And show my kids where things really come from and the process of growing.
Jamie L. says
My favorite thing about gardening is the closeness I feel to God.
Maxine Glil says
Fresh! I love how growing your own food means biting into something so fresh and delicious and you have to wait patiently for it to be in season, you appreciate just how great and fresh it is!
Melissa W. says
My favorite thing about gardening is showing my little one how to pick the fresh vegetables and teach her what each vegetable is. She is only 16 months old but loves being outside in the garden. She always walks me to the door and points that she wants to go outside. So sweet 🙂
Dalene says
Running to the garden at dinner time for an ingredient!
Lauran says
My Favorite part of gardening is having healthy food at your fingertips. It allows our family eat more healthfully everyday! My son is also willing to try new veggies. And there is no comparison when it comes to flavor!
kelly says
I enjoy sitting in the garden looking at all the wonderful things that are growing-veggies, herbs, and flowers! I have favorite things
about the garden in every season, spring-the first sprouts, summer-the beauty of a “weed free” garden after weeding, fall-shelves full of home canned food for my hungery family, winter-snow covered garden beds and meals made from the pantry.
Amy Roberts says
I enjoy the satisfaction of watching things grow from seed to plant. I also enjoy eating the goods.
Larada L. Read says
With having Fibromyalgia and arthritis I literally have to decide what I am going to do that day and is it worth the “payback” of pain.
Gardening is right up there with playing with the grandbabies and Christmas morning…there is something wonderful to show for it.
Anna-Maria says
My favorite thing about gardening is my excitement to see the vegetables grow, when they first sprout to when they are ready to be harvested. I know that we are eating healthy food and don’t have to be worried about chemicals. Also I love to work outdoors on sunny days and walk around barefoot without caring about getting dirty feet.
Paige Koch says
I love watching the plants grow, knowing where my food comes from, it’s a stress reliever and most of all…it just makes me happy!
carol says
I love the meditative, calming aspects of gardening. There is something about nurturing plants and having your fingers in the soil (even in gloves!) that is so soothing. And then it’s such a satisfying, little miracle each time a seed germinates and begins to grow.
Kelly says
My favorite thing about gardening is being able to go pick delicious food from my own back yard.
Amy Boer says
My favorite part of gardening is being able to provide food for my family and know exactly where it came from – that there are no chemicals or preservatives.