I like to garden. I like growing food and putting my hands in the dirt. The outdoors are great and being able to feel the sunshine on my face is great. Florida A&M University has a pretty awesome gardening club and I abuse the hell out of that membership. Collectively I believe I spent a full week in that garden my junior year. It was actually a really fun engaging hobby; which surprised the hell out of me. I have never thought I had a green thumb. My grandfather was a gardner, he had a vineyard on his back lawn, and pineapple bushes, and a variety of other fruit trees on his property. remember being a kid, and walking around outside just looking at plants. It is so different taking care of them. The cool thing about gardening is that it's a meditative activity. Personally I feel very calm surrounded by plants.

Here's how to start gardening if you've always wanted to.

1. Join a community garden.

Google is probably the best way to find out if their are any in your area. Go out to the locations and meet some people, ask them how their garden accepts members, or how to get a plot for yourself. Or if you're part of a college that has a gardening club, sign up! Gardening is a good way to meet people and also learn a useful skill.

2. Buy your own potted plant.

Depending on whether or not you want to go meet people, I know a lot of people don't, you might want to purchase something small that can grow indoors. You can keep a lot of things inside in a small pot or a vase that will flower or can be used in meals. It's a nice way to personality to a living space, or just spend less on ingredients. Go to Home Depot, or Lowes, or visit some garage sales.

Pick one according to your financial situation, and don't get something you wont take care of. If it needs be watered everyday and you know you wont ; then why did you even purchase the item. Get something easy, and engage with the plant. Tell the plant what you want to get done that day. If the plant talks back visit a physician.

3. Make a trade agreement with a friend.

You get to be Switzerland. Or Norway, or some other friendly European country that exports cheese. Each of you picks a plant that bears fruit, or a spice plant, or whatever is easiest to take care of and you get that done. You nurture that plant. You pay it the time and attention it needs. You commit. And when the time comes to take the bountiful harvest of your choosing; you very much appreciate your plant.

And then you trade the stuff away like you and your friend have started your own private Amish sect. This activity is really fun when you both know how to cook. Because otherwise it is just random free produce. Knowing how to make something and what ingredients you can grow yourself is really convenient, and you can also get a group in on it and do potlucks.

4. Get creative with planters.

Aside from meeting some pretty specific criteria regarding soil type, amount of water and amount of sun plants are pretty adaptable. Try growing them in different places like empty glass bottles, vases, a bowl you don't eat out of anymore because of this weird looking spaghetti stain on the bottom. Keep them in decorative places around your house and stare at them while you think about the things that are happening in your life. Keep one above your bed to help you think about growing things. Actually no. Don't keep things above your head when you sleep.

I hope this list helps you out if you feel the need to grow a green thumb, or just go out and have a different kind of experience from the day to day. At least I hope that you appreciate your vegetables a little more after reading.