By Jessica Damiano
January is traditionally a month for fresh starts and resolutions, many of which center around self-care. And if you’ve spent any time watching television or scrolling social media this month, you’ve likely been bombarded with diet and exercise pitches.
But there’s another route to self-care that influencers rarely mention: gardening. A few hours spent outdoors nurturing fruits, flowers and vegetables each week can provide physical exercise, stress reduction, vitamin D and even a better diet – all without a membership fee. And getting started is easy.
As with any new hobby, an overzealous, gung-ho approach will likely backfire, so it’s best to start small. Although you may happily keep up with a large garden at first, chances are you’ll become overwhelmed by midsummer, resulting in a dead, weedy disappointment to harvest.
Instead, begin by planting a small patch of flowers by the front door, one or two rows (or raised
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