The curbs and concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have left a great number of people confined to their homes. By nature, people are longing to get close to others and go outdoors for some fresh air. During this harsh time, many people are finding peace in gardening. After all, nature is not limited to mountains and oceans; it exists in our daily lives.

In the latest episode of CGTN's new live-streaming program "The Chat Room" aired on Saturday, CGTN invited gardening enthusiasts from the U.S., Italy and China to reveal their gardening secrets and how the pandemic has affected their plantation routines.

Live: Global gardening boom – How do gardens help people get through the pandemic?

Gardening during the pandemic

George Davis, author and residential remodeler in Essex, New York, has various species of plants in his garden, including apples, eggplants, tomatoes and cherries. He said the tomatoes had attracted raccoons and deer who like to eat the vegetable. 

Wang Sijie, associate director of government affairs and policy team at AmCham China in Beijing, said she has 42 types of roses, 12 kinds of hydrangea, cherry-blossoms and 24 kinds of perennial herbs, most of which are flowers.

Zou Luxiao, product manager at an e-learning company, lives in an apartment in Beijing. She doesn't have a garden, instead she plants sunflowers, parsley, orchid and other such plants in a public area near her apartment. She said gardening makes her feel fresh during the epidemic.

Anna Couvillon, a nurse practitioner in Washington, D.C., has a really pretty garden. She said her family members are very environmentally cautious. They have a rainwater collector which is used to water the plants. She said the city promotes such water reservoirs and gives 100 dollars per purchase.

Filippo Mattia Dobrovich, an architect in Rome, Italy, introduced a garden which could have been demolished. He said the city wanted to build buildings on the area three years ago, but people didn't like the idea. Instead, they wanted to turn it into a public garden. People now take care of the plants in the garden together.

George also introduced several ways to be environmentally friendly when gardening. For example, they collect all kinds of kitchen waste in boxes and cover it with soil. In the fall, they put the mixture in the soil instead of using a fertilizer. If people use fertilizers in the garden, the chemicals will be washed into the water with the current, and eventually the chemicals will be eaten by humans.

How has gardening changed people's lives during the pandemic?

Although the guests come from different countries, they reflected a similar sense of contentment when talking about their gardening achievements.

Zou said that from February to May this year, she had more time taking care of the plants every day because she worked remotely from home.

Anna believes gardening is a salvation during the pandemic, a perfect way to do safe outdoor activities. It allows people to bask in the sun and breathe fresh air without feeling trapped by the pandemic. She said the pandemic has also made more people learn about gardening and like it as a new hobby. In March, there was a gardening craze in her area and all the seeds in the local markets were sold out.

Suggestions for the beginners

However, gardening is not an easy skill. One Weibo user asked the guests for advice for those who do not know how to grow plants.

Wang Sijie suggested watching related TV programs and professional books on gardening to obtain relevant knowledge. Patience and love are the most important things, she added. Gardening is about facing nature and giving all your gentleness in the right direction.

George and Anna advised beginners to start with the simplest kitchen plants, such as tomato or basil, which are relatively easy to grow. These plants will give beginners a lot of fun and make them more willing to keep trying.

"Once you grow your own herbs and taste how fresh they are, how incredibly easy they are to grow, you will not spend five or seven dollars at grocery store for week-old herbs," Anna said.