My Garden Mission Statement - First, Do No Harm

"If you don't set your goals based upon a clearly defined mission statement, you may find yourself following a path that doesn't take you where you thought you were going." From leadership-tools.com

Every business seems to have a mission statement these days - a statement that spells out the values and goals the business hopes to achieve. I think mission statements are a great practice, not just for businesses but for most aspects of life. They can help you to keep anything on track - your relationship, your family and even your landscaping.

A mission statement should guide the actions of the people involved, spell out the overall goals, provide a path and guide the decision making.

Back in December of 2008, fellow garden blogger Helen Yoest put out the call, encouraging gardeners to write their own garden mission statement. She said:

For the new year, I suggest you give your garden some deep thought. By doing so, you help to not only identify yourself in relation to your garden, but elevate your garden’s status by naming it and then to concisely describing it by giving it a mission statement. Next time someone asks you to describe your garden, you can do so in a very concise manner.

I love Helen's own garden mission statement.  

Helen Yoest's GARDEN MISSION STATEMENT  

Helen’s Haven is a sustainable wildlife habitat, created to attract and feed birds, bees, butterflies and for the enjoyment of friends, family, and visitors to educate, enjoy, and to understand we are the earth’s caretakers, so let’s take care.

Back in 2008, my garden mission statement probably would have been almost identical to Helen's. Since then, mine has gotten shorter....more succinct.

My garden mission statement now is simply this: First, do no harm.

When taking care of my yard, my mission is to not pollute, not waste water, not displace wildlife and not destroy anything that would probably be here if I wasn't. Of course, there are lots and lots of ways I do that. You can read some of them here in my post about Bare Naked Gardening or learn many more by following this blog.

But I'd love to hear from some of you and hear what your Garden Mission Statement is. Does your garden have a name? Do you have a specific mission or vision for your gardens? Do you garden for food, beauty, exercise or some other reason? Please feel free to add your statement in the comments section below. I'd love to add it to this post, as well as a link to your garden blog, if you have one.

Thanks. And happy gardening.

Be sure and visit Helen Yoest's new and updated garden blog at: GardeningWithConfidence.com