One of the best ways how to get to know a country and its traditions a bit better is to set into the shoes of a Latvian. And there is one thing that many Latvians feel the urge to do in spring.
Latvians feel that it’s a privilege to live close to nature and have the possibility to keep their gardens and grow vegetables, so especially in springtime the “green thumbs” start itching, and people tend to start planting seeds and preparing gardens. And by garden we don't mean acres and acres of land, one can create a small garden even on their windowsill or balcony.
Some might say that gardening is similar to meditation, your hands might get dirty with soil, but the process of observing how a small seed grows into a wonderful plant blooms. Gardening provides an opportunity to connect with nature and the environment. Sometimes the result might not be so significant, but the process is the key.
Quite often you will see instead of flowers that someone is growing a miniature tomato plant, thyme, or dill, there is something magical in the possibility of growing your own vegetables or herbs - it tastes different, or as Latvians say it’s grown with love. All major supermarkets will have a sale on seeds, and you might see full parking lots beside the shops which focus on gardening equipment. Growing your own vegetables is a terrific way to learn about the environment, agriculture, and the science of plant growth. Once you find the correct method, you will feel more connected to nature and better understand it.
Latvians have a strong tradition of gardening - a lot of Latvians have roots in the countryside, and Riga has become a metropole like it is today only in the last century, so still, a lot of Latvians you will meet will have parents or grandparents coming from the countryside and they have learned their gardening skills as kids. Even now in Riga, people have the opportunity to rent a small piece of land from the municipality for the gardening season. Have you seen the big island in the middle of Daugava in Riga called Lucavsala? Behind the supermarkets, the island is made of small municipality gardens rented out to people of Riga who want to grow their own fruits and vegetables.
Gardening is also a strong socializing activity in Latvia, with neighbors and friends often coming together to share tips, seeds, and produce, there are also a lot of online groups and forums, where Latvians meet and exchange their knowledge. So, if this is a hobby you might enjoy you have a lot in common with a lot of Latvians and use this as a possibility to connect with locals.
If you would like to sense the feeling of one of the Latvian spring hobbies, look at the possibilities to try to grow something this spring. Growing your own food or even an herb can give you a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. And actually, many Latvians up took this hobby during the pandemic years returning to their roots. There's nothing quite like harvesting your own vegetables and herbs and enjoying them in a meal. Even if it’s a single tomato plant on your windowsill. So why not try something new this spring, maybe this is one of the things which will let you understand Latvian culture even more.