From Scarcity to Abundance: A Gardener’s Reflection

What Gardening Teaches Us

Gardening has a quiet way of teaching us about abundance. What starts as a single seed or a handful of compost can, with time and care, become a thriving ecosystem. For me, gardening is a reminder that nature doesn’t just give—it multiplies. Plants spread, reseed, and return year after year, turning even the smallest effort into something generous and lasting.

The Garden's Invitation

I’ve found joy in repurposing what others might toss away. Used milk jugs and juice bottles become vessels for rough compost, which I enrich with mint and catnip until it transforms into rich, living soil. It’s a simple act, but it connects me deeply to the land. It’s not just gardening—it’s participating in nature’s rhythm.

One of my favorite memories is from a summer afternoon when I noticed bumblebees gathering around my Rose of Sharon flowers. Their gentle buzzing and focused presence made me hesitate before pruning. I didn’t want to interrupt their joy. That moment reminded me that gardening isn’t just about shaping the land—it’s about sharing it.

Gardening also pushes me to pause. It invites me to slow down and notice the small things: a sprout breaking through the soil, the way moisture clings to a leaf, the quiet persistence of growth. It’s grounding. It’s humbling. And it’s a daily reminder that beauty often lives in the details.

From Scarcity to Abundance

Being part of a team that values this kind of connection—where priorities are rooted in care, sustainability, and community—makes the experience even richer. Gardening isn’t just my hobby. It’s my way of contributing to something bigger, of turning scarcity into abundance, and of finding meaning in the soil beneath my feet

Alyson Miers

Lead Gardener & Agricultural Instructor

Nemas Gardens