March 12, 2023

One idea to keep it slow and simple… touch grass

If you know a teen, maybe you’ve heard them say it: “Go touch grass.” This may be some of the best advice the internet currently has to offer.

The meme, which is meant to tell someone they are spending too much time in the virtual world and not enough time in the real one, contains a very profound truth—that the greatest gift of the world outside our computer screens is the world itself—nature. And that the best way to experience it is through physical touch.

We learned during the pandemic that we could move an astounding amount of our lives online. We can meet, play games, do a bunch of work, chat, shop, read, and learn. We can even view the world in ways we will never be able to do in “real” life, with extraordinary images of the tiniest creatures and the vastest expanses of space.

There in the mirror world, we connect only to become disconnected. We see but cannot touch—cannot feel the rough and silky stubble of tree bark, the tickle of dew on bare feet, the cool gravity of soil folding around your fingers.

Maybe we should all celebrate the coming spring with our hands spread out on a patch of grass. You might even have a chat with a few blades. They have much to say.

And some clickable fun—spring garden edition!

We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.

• Thinking of starting a new garden, or just looking for new tips for your plot? All the gardeners we know love the Planter App. Get all the details for what to plant and when and where.

• You KNOW we love our gardening like we love everything, with a side of poetry. Ross Gay is one of our favorite gardener poets. Read and be delighted.

• If you’re on TikTok or TikTok curious, #gardentok is a wealth of knowledge in bite-sized videos. Check out the epic gardening account as a starter.