Personal Growth 

Over the past few years, Americans have begun spending an increased amount of time at home. This has led to an uptick in home-based hobbies, including activities like baking and knitting. There has also been a growing interest in growing plants. “Coming out of [the pandemic] and being in our homes more has proven the need to create warm and inviting spaces,” says Libby Bolles of Fancy Leaf Plant Co. “There is no better way to do that than by bringing the outdoors inside with houseplants.” Self-proclaimed Plant Moms and Plant Dads are filling their homes with lush greenery and documenting their plethora of plants online. This can promote emotional well-being and lead to a sense of community and connection.  “NASA produced a study that found that having plants in your home and office improves focus, relaxation and overall happiness. Tending to plants also provides you a sense of accomplishment and success,” Bolles says. “Additionally, the plant community is amazing. Before you know it, you will have found lots of plant friends!” While houseplants are great for bringing nature inside, for many people, an interest in gardening has led them to spend more time outdoors. Mindy Hanak is the Community and School Garden Coordinator at the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, and has observed newfound enthusiasm in the community. “During Covid, people were looking for home-based entertainment while also experiencing challenges sourcing items they wanted,” explains Hanak. “Hobbies that helped people improve self-sufficiency seemed to become more popular, especially hobbies involving food. Many folks leaned into gardening, especially edible gardening.”   As a county, state and federal partnership, the UF/IFAS Extension program creates community initiatives, classes and volunteer opportunities related to agriculture, gardening and landscaping. It is an incredible resource for people looking for support as they take an interest in gardening. “Our Extension offers classes and workshops on various gardening and landscaping topics,” says Hanak. “We have some recorded videos and webinars online and are continuing to develop shorter videos for people that may not have time for classes or longer recordings.” The Extension also offers tours or workshops at demo and community gardens.