What do you do when you first wake up?

For me, it used to be kettle on, tea for two, then back to bed for another cheeky five minutes. My slumbering other half might have stirred by this point and be reaching out for his mug, blinking like a sleepy mole.

These days, it's all change. I go straight into the garden. Breath in the morning smells, examine the snail damage from the night before and generally take an inventory of what’s going on out there. It’s lovely, even though the sun has rarely reached it and barefoot, in my nighty, it’s chilly. But this isn’t proper gardening time. I resist the urge to check my tomato plants for aphids (here's one in the picture), or pinch out any shoulder branches, or even excavate tiny slugs from my strawberries. Otherwise I’d never get to work. Instead I wander around taking deep breaths, listening to birds and wondering if the neighbours think I'm a loon.

If I was a scientist, I’d say something about how taking deep breaths outside helps you benefit from extra oxygen which gets you off to a good start. If I was an anti-caffeine freak, I’d say it was almost as good as a shot of espresso. As it is, I’ll simply say that since taking up the habit my days have been calmer, more pleasurable altogether. This week, I’m nominating my tiny Hackney garden as my favourite green space.

If you have somewhere similarly inspirational, please nominate it for our 2008 Green Spaces Travel Awards. It could be somewhere you’ve stayed on holiday, a lunch hour hideaway or simply a journey that you’ve taken. If we feature it either in The Times or timesonline as part of our monthly selection, you’ll win a copy of Alastair Sawday's Green Places to Stay. Click here to enter.

Comments

[Ben]

Have you tried egg shells around your plants for snail damage, Eco Worrier?
Also, I know what you mean about strawberries. Slugs love 'em.
I'd nominate my local park - it's not used as much as it should be, but I love it.

[Sarah]

I like to step out into the garden in my pyjamas *with* my mug of tea - it's a lovely way to start the day for all the reasons you day, but no way can it replace the tea!

[My Green Blog]

My mom had a garden when we lived in New York. I use to wake up early and pick fresh mint from it for tea the sit out side and drink it. Its true that morning are make you feel better all day long. I have to nominate Central Park in New York I love going there.

[Paul Foyster]

Dear Anna

What we used to be able to find on the internet a few years back is now controlled and blocked. I have a strong interest in research and development along new space travel methods. A few years ago there was much available on the internet now it is a total blank. The ability of software to do this was demonstrated to me the other day when my son-in-law was looking for a nanny the internet agency stated on there site that they would block all access on the internet for anyone to look up his name and find out where he was located. The religious community would find such blocking software very interesting then they could stop all passing of information to the general public about controversial developments. Our freedoms never seem to stop being eroded.

Paul

[John Costigane]

Anna, gardening is a great passtime at any time of day, though early day is a peaceful time. My potatoes plants are beginning to flower so harvesting is close.
I still await your book's arrival, with anticipation.

Regards,

John.

[Eco Worrier]

Thanks for the tip Ben!
Sarah - I agree, perhaps tea should come first.
John - my book is now out. How Green Are My Wellies is available from amazon, or buy it here http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk

[Ms Ferozi]

My garden is one of the interests that has kept me going as I search for jobs following redundancy. Potatoes, strawberries, mooli, courgettes, peas, spinach and mint are all growing well. Have even gone onto composting. I even power walk circuits around the garden, no cost and very good for meditating. http://ferozi.blogspot.com

[Ms Ferozi]

My garden is one of the interests that has kept me going as I search for jobs following redundancy. Potatoes, strawberries, mooli, courgettes, peas, spinach and mint are all growing well. Have even gone onto composting. I even power walk circuits around the garden, no cost and very good for meditating. http://ferozi.blogspot.com

[Eco Worrier]

Ms Ferozi - what is mooli? i'm intrigued...

[SamTamm]

Well, I fight CO2 wile I surf the internet! The website www.treehoo.com plants trees for most of its ad-based profit. The site offers Google search and more and is perfect for everyone to have as homepage. Ad revenues on the net sum to 6 billion dollars each year! Imagine that kind of money invested in our nature!!!

[Jen]

This is really awesome, good for you. Love your green lifestyle, and great site. We reference your content for our own blog, thanks!

[Jenifer Jurden]

LOVE THIS ARTICLE! I am a green cartoonist with the character, "Jurdy" who appears in single panel cartoon strips to help people cope with green... to offer some comic relief to keep them motivated. Would you consider featuring these on your blog? I am currently on several sites and Jurdy is getting rave reviews. Would love the opportunity.
cheers!
Jen

[Chris]

Changing the world starts with changing our daily habits, and one habit that urgently needs to be changed is people's consumption of bottled water. It's ridiculous that countless amounts of oil and energy are used to sell WATER when great tasting, healthy water is available free from the tap! I think you should write another story about this issue. One great place to start is tappening.com, which includes important facts about bottled water use, and this video describing the bottles the company sells to promote drinking bottled water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVM3mY3gMpg

[Alex]

I'll have to agree that most of the time I wake up, go teeth cleaning and face washing and then I head to my home office. Sometimes I don't even put the pajamas off.

I work for 1-2 hours and then realize it's breakfast time :)

[Stephen Pain]

I think one of the great things about waking up in the UK - is noting the seasonal changes - those nuances of Nature's paintbox - colours, resolution, and of course
not forgetting all her characters,
who also change over the year. To
sit with tea or coffee and muse
over these beautiful details - well
it is bliss.

[hedgewizard]

Anna, "mooli" is a type of daikon or japanese radish. It is mild and crunchy, and will grow happily through the winter under glass or in a cloche. There's a picture on my blog;

http://hedgewizardsdiary.blogspot.com/2007/01/shelving-and-stir-fries.html

Where are you? I hopes you're having a wonderful holiday somewhere where the sun is shining, that's what I hopes.

[Niki Buchen]

Hallo Anna!

I am wondering me many times how small things like getting up from bed can be exciting but the truth is that you can make a real ritual of it. I enjoy too to go to my small garden at the balcony and check if all is "ok" like I left it last day :-) Greetings, Niki

[Erik]

Hi Anna!

My morning wake up is that I slip with my wife in the bad tub filled with warm water and we enjoy it. When we are on vacancy or something like this and we only have a shower we are glad when we arrive home and we can enjoy our bath tub. Regards, Erik

[Frank P.]

Every morning when I wake up my sleeping room is already bright because the light of my aquarium is at 6.30 on. It is nice when you are still a little bit sleepy and you can follow with one eye the movements of the fish. The second step is when music starts and after 15 minutes I know it is time to stand up.

[Gabi]

My morning is not very thrilling because I try to sleep as long as I can and then I have to hurry up not to get too late to the office. Sure between this steps I wash myself and drink some coffee ;-)

[Annie]

True, Rising up to have a walk in ur garden seems to be the best thing to do early in the morning. But unfortunately many of them do not realise this.

Annie
Save Our Planet

[Annie]

True, Rising up to have a walk in ur garden seems to be the best thing to do early in the morning. But unfortunately many of them do not realise this.

Annie
Save Our Planet

[Christine]

I'm inspired by your early-morning garden time - thanks so much for sharing! I need to remind myself to take such moments, and you're right, it does have an effect on the whole day. That dawn time is so magical, too. . .

[Sarah]

Great article, never seem to get enough time to get out there though.

[Banka Bags]

The first thing I do is hit snooze on my alarm. Then I brush my teeth so I can get the taste of death out of my mouth. Great post, keep up the good work.