After evaluating the
entire situation, I knew
what I had to do. I needed
to downsize. I needed to go
small. First, I got rid of the
raised beds and returned my soil
plots to their original size. A year
later, I downsized to a smaller soil plot
that incorporated a container garden
of 10-15 plants. I focused on growing
plants I knew I would use.
Less Work with Smaller Gardens
As I began to make changes, the
benefits became apparent right away.
The smaller, more focused garden
took much less work during the initial
planting and required less daily effort
to maintain. By downsizing the garden
and minimizing the amount of work I
needed to do, I began to experience the
same excitement and joy I had in my first
few seasons. I no longer felt the stress
and anxiety that had grown from years
of unreasonable garden expansion. It
was so refreshing to be able to sincerely
enjoy working in my garden again.
I am glad I made the choice to
drastically limit my garden’s size. Aside
from the emotional impact, I’ve found
a smaller garden is just as visually
appealing as any big garden when done
properly. The trick is to work with the
area you have and to not squeeze too
many plants into a small space.
Containers Limit Garden Size
There are many ways a gardener can
successfully start small or downsize.
The easiest way is to limit oneself to a
container garden. Almost all vegetable
plants can successfully grow in
containers with a soilless potting mix
and adequate fertilization. When going
this route, research what the plant will
need from seed to harvest to ensure the
right container size and type of fertilizer
are used. In similar fashion, a small
raised bed is a great way to create a
simple little garden that yields plenty of
delicious food all season long. Growers
can also use different techniques, such
as the square foot gardening method or
staggering plantings in accordance with
seasonal changes, to ensure the small
garden is truly a productive endeavor.
Also, don’t be afraid to get creative
with small gardens. For example, if a
little patch of turf beside the house gets
a good amount of sun each day, why not
skip over the ornamentals and plant a
vegetable garden there instead?
If there is one thing many of us have in
common in this ridiculously fast-paced
world, it’s the fact we all have busy
lives. Between work, kids, and social
activities, it can be difficult and stressful
to find time to maintain a large-scale
garden. However, the garden should be
a place where we can relax and forget
the worries of the world. If your garden
has you stressed out, downsizing could
be the perfect step to take. Going small
could help you once again feel the joy
that came from digging your hands into
the soil for the very first time.
Maximum Yield
55