Stress Reduction for the Busy Gardener

Marionberries and loganberries for the freezer

Gardening is supposed to be relaxing…

Then why does it often feel so stressful? Here at Berryridge Farm in mid-July, the blueberries, marionberries and other cane berries are going like gangbusters, and I’m picking and putting up fruit every day. 

Here's a pic of one day's harvest of marionberries and loganberries, including plenty for our breakfast!

Despite the pleasures of berry season, though, there's a lot of other pressures. In this drought summer, you can practically see the soil drying out before your very eyes, so I’ve been spending my gardening time watering everything. And trying to fit in mulching when I can.

As a result, I’m behind on weeding.

As in, WAY behind. A number of crops are looking pretty peaky, and I’m sure it’s because of all the nearby weeds I haven’t gotten to are sucking up the available water and nutrients. Some of these are perennial plants too (hello loganberries and rhubarb, I know the buttercup has you surrounded). And the problem is, I know the weeds are going to impact future yields if I don’t get them under control.

All my compost piles need turning (2 kitchen scrap piles, and 2 chicken manure piles), the beds could use a top dressing of compost but I haven’t gotten to that either. And I have yet to finish thinning the apple trees, which should have been done over a month ago.

Plus, life. Writing deadlines, housework, cooking. We just finished one round of family visits, and are getting ready for another. Plus the worry about our well going dry only piles on the stressors.

So what’s a busy food gardener to do?

I’ve found the best stress reducer is very simple. Extremely simple, in fact. It’s…drum roll…

Tai chi.

I discovered Tai chi after a cycling accident this past winter. I couldn’t work in the garden for nearly 3 months— which is why I’m so very behind this year on everything. I was unable to chop wood, or do housework; I certainly couldn’t ride my bike, and I couldn’t walk without a cane. But I could do some basic Tai chi moves without any pain whatsoever.

I found a lovely woman on YouTube, Leia Cohen, who does beginner’s videos billed as “Tai Chi 5 Minutes a Day.” Tai chi is considered one of the martial arts, but to me it feels like moving meditation—simple, flowing movements paired with slow, rhythmic breathing.

2nd book of a trilogy

I tried sitting meditation shortly after the holidays of this year—I’d gotten super stressed out trying to finish my recent novel, Becoming Emma--part of my Irish Fairy Cottage mini-series. But I’m not good at sitting; I would just get restless. I also felt like I was sort of wasting time, when I had so many other to-dos to take care of.

But Tai chi feels completely different to me.

The movements super easy—so simple, in fact, I can’t imagine any way a person could possibly injure themselves, unlike when doing, say, Yoga or Pilates. The moves are named after and reflect what we find in nature—water, animals, trees, and the universe we live in. A few examples: “Hand like clouds,” “Embracing the moon,” “Hug the tree,” “Flying like a bird.”

The movements require very little physical exertion, yet helps move energy in your body.

Since I’m a total amateur, this is not medical advice, and I hope you’ll take my experiences and comments with a grain of salt. With family, writing and taking care of our place being my top priorities, I don’t have plans to take any real-life classes at this time. (Which would involve trips to town, which stresses me out.)  I would like to learn more about how Tai chi actually works, but that’s for the future.

I’m just happy to have memorized several of the videos, and I do Tai chi about 15 minutes every morning before breakfast. It’s calming and relaxing, and gives me a positive start for the day. I haven’t missed a day since early March.

I credit Tai chi with helping me recover from the bike accident—I’m back to daily bikerides and full days of homesteady tasks. I find I have more stamina out in the garden, and when it comes time to stand for a few hours putting up our crops, my back and legs don’t get sore.

Best of all, though, is feeling like I have a calmer, quieter mind. I can look out at all those weeds, and instead of getting overwhelmed, or kinda depressed, I simply aim to do what I can, in the time I have. The website of the Tai chi I discovered is www.taiflow.com ... even if Tai chi doesn't interest you, the site has some interesting info about wellness. 

And you'll find all my gardening books at www.susancolleenbrowne.com !