John Cuddleback on the Benefits of Gardening

"The literature on millennials is extensive. And I have not read it. But as a college professor, I have lived and worked with them day in and day out for many years. More and more I realize that I face the same challenges they do.

"I offer no precise diagnosis of the problems millennials face. It is obvious that the current cultural climate has serious consequences for all of us - though often more serious for those who have known nothing else. We experience disintegration and disconnection; we are distracted and bored. We form addictions. We are often not at peace.

"For years I have suggested to my students that they start a garden over the summer. This year I am going to be more insistent. Gardening is not, in my judgment, just one healthy hobby among many others. Rather, I am convinced that this is the strong medicine directly fitted to address our worsening ailment."

In a recent commentary, writer John Cuddleback, professor of Philosophy at Christendom College, reflected on the (spiritual) opportunity that gardening offers as it calls gardeners to work, to wait, and to worship.

To access Mr. Cuddleback's complete post, please visit:

The Catholic Gentleman: Gardening as Medicine for Millennials, and the Rest of Us (12 APR 17)