Depending on the season & weather, I spend 15 minutes to 5+ hours a day in my yard. Since 2020 we've owned almost 5 acres in central NC & I'm pulling invasive non-natives, planting natives and mowing less areas.
Looks like the yard work study was funded by a lawn mower company so I’d take it with a grain of salt!
Where are my ladies who mow? My husband has zero interest and I prefer outdoor chores to indoor ones so I get to mow! We joke that his family calls it “yard work” while my family calls it “gardening,” revealing who considers it a chore versus a hobby. So I’m the one broing out with all the dads on the block about turf maintenance and mowing (with not-so-secret plans to reduce the square footage of the grass while getting the grass I keep to meet the exacting standards of my neighbors).
It does seem like lawn mowers (I got the ego 21 inch self-propelled) are designed for much taller people than me (5’4”). Any tips and tricks from fellow shorties?
I have a full-time job and a toddler, so ANY time I spend gardening/doing yard work/landscaping, in my opinion, makes me an enthusiast!
Fabulous points! And kudos for mowing when you've got a toddler. That makes you especially rare, according to more reliable national data. I actually wrote about the data, in case you're interested: https://www.designyourwild.com/p/men-vs-women-the-green-gender-gap
Since I work in a nursery and am outside taking care of plants 5 days a week, I am a Sunday-Monday gardener. Frankly, I come home a little burned out on plants! The vegetable gardens are very demanding in spring, and planting out seedlings and weeding are the other tasks - but by the end of June I'm only giving the gardens 2 hours and helping myself to some time on the screened porch relaxing with a book!
We spend our summers at a rural property where we're rewilding an old hayfield. We're outside 2-4 hours every day that it isn't pouring rain -- digging, scything, planting, weeding, building fences, being immersed in nature. Last week a Blandings turtle laid her eggs near the house and yesterday a pair of trumpeter swans flew overhead so low that I could hear their wingbeats. It's magical.
When we replaced our deck a few years ago, we had part of it screened in and covered, which makes it possible to spend lots more time outside than we could when sun, rain, flies, or mosquitos could drive us indoors. I'm lucky to be able to start and end most days there. And who knows how many hours are spent gardening? I go out to pick mint, see crabgrass where it shouldn't be, and an hour later I've weeded and watched and listened and if I'm lucky, I remember to bring in the mint!
I nature journal in my yard several times a week. It’s the best way to be outside if you’re not gardening! See wild wonder.org for more information
What an excellent practice, Joette. Thank you for the suggestion and link.
Depending on the season & weather, I spend 15 minutes to 5+ hours a day in my yard. Since 2020 we've owned almost 5 acres in central NC & I'm pulling invasive non-natives, planting natives and mowing less areas.
Sounds lovely, Donna. Looking forward to seeing some before and after pics.
A cool dry morning removing grass that creeps into flower beds is a moment of zen.
Mowing the paths between the flowers is a weekly run.
Having a cup of coffee with the birds at the feeder is an otherworldly conversation.
I agree, Rich, sustainable landscaping is a practice--mindfulness, zen, otherworldly, indeed:)
Looks like the yard work study was funded by a lawn mower company so I’d take it with a grain of salt!
Where are my ladies who mow? My husband has zero interest and I prefer outdoor chores to indoor ones so I get to mow! We joke that his family calls it “yard work” while my family calls it “gardening,” revealing who considers it a chore versus a hobby. So I’m the one broing out with all the dads on the block about turf maintenance and mowing (with not-so-secret plans to reduce the square footage of the grass while getting the grass I keep to meet the exacting standards of my neighbors).
It does seem like lawn mowers (I got the ego 21 inch self-propelled) are designed for much taller people than me (5’4”). Any tips and tricks from fellow shorties?
I have a full-time job and a toddler, so ANY time I spend gardening/doing yard work/landscaping, in my opinion, makes me an enthusiast!
Fabulous points! And kudos for mowing when you've got a toddler. That makes you especially rare, according to more reliable national data. I actually wrote about the data, in case you're interested: https://www.designyourwild.com/p/men-vs-women-the-green-gender-gap
Doing “yard work” aka gardening is when I observe the wildlife in my garden. Sometimes I even sit down and just look about me!
Love that, Linda!
Lying down in the grass is definitely not a good idea in my yard - I live in an area with lots of ticks. I remember when we could! 😕
Oops, guess not. Too bad.
Since I work in a nursery and am outside taking care of plants 5 days a week, I am a Sunday-Monday gardener. Frankly, I come home a little burned out on plants! The vegetable gardens are very demanding in spring, and planting out seedlings and weeding are the other tasks - but by the end of June I'm only giving the gardens 2 hours and helping myself to some time on the screened porch relaxing with a book!
Well earned downtime—and isn’t time on the screened porch practically outside? Enjoy.
We spend our summers at a rural property where we're rewilding an old hayfield. We're outside 2-4 hours every day that it isn't pouring rain -- digging, scything, planting, weeding, building fences, being immersed in nature. Last week a Blandings turtle laid her eggs near the house and yesterday a pair of trumpeter swans flew overhead so low that I could hear their wingbeats. It's magical.
Wow! Magical indeed!
When we replaced our deck a few years ago, we had part of it screened in and covered, which makes it possible to spend lots more time outside than we could when sun, rain, flies, or mosquitos could drive us indoors. I'm lucky to be able to start and end most days there. And who knows how many hours are spent gardening? I go out to pick mint, see crabgrass where it shouldn't be, and an hour later I've weeded and watched and listened and if I'm lucky, I remember to bring in the mint!
Theresa, beautiful description. And so glad you screened in that patio:)