What Earth Day Can Mean For Gardeners: From Hobby to Climate Action
Hello gardeners!
This Earth Day, let’s drop the shame and embrace the quiet power of regenerative gardening.
A Different Kind of Earth Day Message
Earth Day often arrives wrapped in guilt. Use less. Waste less. Buy better. Do more. For many of us this annual call to action can spark a quiet sense of 'not-enoughness' and for gardeners specifically it can be a quiet sense of green shame. We know the planet is in crisis—and we want to help but there may also be concern our past gardening practices have contributed to climate change.
The truth is your garden is not just a hobby. It’s a living, breathing act of climate hope.
Reframing Gardening as Climate Action
Too often, gardening is portrayed as decorative, domestic, or nostalgic—a pleasant pastime disconnected from the serious work of climate resilience. But this framing couldn’t be more wrong.
When you plant for pollinators, build soil carbon, choose native species, or let a corner of your yard go wild, you’re healing an ecosystem and changing the climate story—one square metre at a time.
This isn’t just greenwashing—it’s grounded in science. Regenerative gardens store carbon, support biodiversity, and reduce emissions. They can capture rainwater, build drought resilience, and create corridors for wildlife. They also nourish the gardeners themselves—body, mind, and spirit.
Let Go of “Green Shame”
Many gardeners feel they’re not doing enough. Maybe you’ve used peat mixes in the past, or sprayed pests out of desperation. Maybe your yard doesn’t look “wild enough” or you’re still figuring out how to compost in a corner of the garden.
That’s okay. Progress in the garden is layered, seasonal, and slow. It mirrors nature herself. Dare I say it also mirrors our growth as gardeners as well. Let’s stop letting perfect be the enemy of good. Every small change matters. Earth Day isn’t about guilt—it’s about growth. Climate better, not climate perfect.
Photo Credit: Jeff Topham
This Earth Day, Step into Stewardship
This year, I invite you to see your garden as more than a private space. It’s part of a patchwork of change within the community. If we all do something, collectively, we can make a difference when it comes to providing food and shelter for insects and birds. Plus is we can add a few extra trees or large grasses we expand the carbon sequestration capabilities of our garden. The trees are literally pulling pollution out of the air and storing it in the soil.
You’re not just a gardener—you’re a climate steward!
This Earth Day, pick one new way to garden with the planet in mind.
Share your intentions or actions by tagging me on Instagram. Let’s celebrate the difference we’re making—together.
Come on, let’s get our hands dirty. We can make a difference.