Finding Peace in the Soil: Where Curiosity Grows
by Michael Piepkorn
Have you ever wondered why so many scientists, thinkers, and innovators find comfort in gardening? What is it about soil, sunlight, and growing things that seems to calm the mind while sharpening it at the same time? Landscape gardening, surprisingly, offers an answer it’s where peace and curiosity coexist, where the rhythms of nature mirror the rhythms of scientific thought, as noted by Michael Piepkorn.
At first glance, gardening appears simple: plant seeds, water them, and wait. But look a little closer, and you’ll find an intricate world of chemistry, biology, and environmental balance at work. Every handful of soil holds millions of microorganisms. Every leaf turns sunlight into food through photosynthesis. The garden becomes a living experiment, and the gardener often unknowingly takes on the role of a scientist
This is where curiosity takes root Each season brings questions: Why do some plants thrive while others fail? How does rainfall, soil acidity, or sunlight intensity change growth patterns? Gardeners test, observe, and adapt—using the same process
scientists follow in laboratories. Gardening quietly teaches hypothesis, experimentation, and analysis, all through hands-on exploration.
Yet, there’s more than science in the soil There’s peace Digging, planting, and pruning invite mindfulness the kind that comes from focusing on small, deliberate actions The scent of earth, the texture of leaves, and the hum of insects create a sensory calm that refreshes the mind. Studies even show that contact with soil bacteria can release serotonin, the “happiness” chemical that improves mood and focus.
For curious minds, landscape gardening offers an endless source of discovery It’s a reminder that observation doesn’t only happen in laboratories; it happens in every garden bed, where nature reveals her experiments daily. Through the patient study of soil and growth, gardeners learn lessons that apply far beyond the garden about persistence, balance, and the beauty of slow, deliberate progress.
Perhaps the greatest wonder of all is realizing that in tending to the earth, we also nurture our own curiosity and find peace in the process