Gardening is the practice of growing plants for their attractive flowers or foliage, and vegetables or fruits for consumption. Gardening is a human activity used to produce edible foods and use plants to beautify their local environmental conditions. Its scale ranges from fruit orchards, to long boulevard plantings, to residential yards including lawns and foundation plantings, to large or small containers grown inside or outside. Gardening is often very specific with only one type of plant grown, or involves a large number of different plants in mixed plantings. It involves an active participation in the growing of plants and tends to be labor intensive, which differentiates it from farming or forestry.
Voltaire said the best we can hope for is to "tend our own garden." While he meant something quite different than we do (he was an Enlightenment humanist), gardening is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy God's creation. Being outside among plants chosen for their beauty slows us down, helps us appreciate the beauty of the natural world, and is just plain enjoyable. And if you don't like pulling weeds, you can teach your kids from early on to enjoy gardening as much as you do.
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