By Chuck Harp

Illustration by Joe Scordo

Filthy hands. Worse clothes. All covered in sweat beneath an unmerciful sun. is it skateboarding? No. It’s gardening. Upon first digging in, there’s plenty of surface level comparisons when  comparing skating and gardening. Each can take up hours of your day, both can be a solo or group activity, and sometimes there are specific sections of which this activity is done  (community gardens, skateparks, backyard, etc.) But there’s much more beneath the soil…I mean  surface. 

Finesse is a factor here. A lot of plants are extremely delicate when they first begin to grow. So  properly handling and overwatering plants is vital. Similar to a beginner skating, everything  needs to start off small. Getting used to the terrain, how the board moves and how you move  with it. Otherwise you might damage your own branches. Patience is a lesson gained from both  activities as well. Usually you’re not getting a trick first try. The same can be said with growing  specific plants. Many times research needs to be done. Different tools may need to be purchased.  There is a rigorous amount of trial and error before one can see the fruits of their labor. Literally, in regards to gardening. 

And like all physical activities, both of course provide you with not only physical, but mental  health benefits. Even if we’ve all have seen someone lose their shit while attempting a trick.  There has been plenty of discussions had about gardening assisting with stress and anxiety. Like  gardening, skating releases the “feel-good” hormone dopamine into the brain that helps with  stress and anxiety. And being around people with a common interest and getting exercise can do  wonders as well. So next time you want to clown your homie for needing to trim their trees or  water their flowers, remember they’re preparing themselves mentally for the next session.