It’s that time of year again when the green thumbs and cheeky bums shed their inhibitions (and clothes) to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day.
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you - the first Saturday of May is a day when we can finally let our shrubs breathe and our bushes bloom as the Universe intended. But what is this holiday all about and how do you celebrate it without inadvertently triggering a mob of neighbors wielding pitchforks at your front door while you’re (literally) getting down and dirty?
You probably have a million questions droning, and we’d love to answer every single one. So lather that sunscreen on your cheeks and let’s get digging!
What Is World Naked Gardening Day?
World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD) is relatively self-explanatory. It’s a day that encourages gardeners and non-gardeners alike to garden in the nude.
Naked Gardening Day is an annual event that takes place on the first Saturday of May. The idea behind it is to celebrate the beauty of nature and the human body in all its glory and promote a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle.
And we get it - there’s something liberating about feeling the sun and breeze on your bare skin while tending to your garden.
How Did World Naked Gardening Day Start?
The origins of Naked Gardening Day are just as naked as the gardeners who take part in the celebration. It all started in 2005 when an editor and a permaculturalist (what a duo!) founded and organized a movement to encourage body positivity and unequivocal self-love.
Mark Storey and Jacob Gabriel began engaging in guerilla gardening (yes, that’s also a thing) and materialized their vision of creating a phenomenon that promoted the benefits of naked gardening. It spread like wildfire internationally. The first annual WNGD took place on September 10, 2005, but in 2007 the date was moved to the first Saturday of May due to more favorable weather conditions.
Since then, the founders haven’t made any major contributions to the movement, but WNGD quickly took on a life of its own. Currently, it’s a collaborative project of the Naturist Education Foundation, Inc, and is endorsed by:
- The Naturist Society
- Clothes Free International
- American Association for Nude Recreation (AAN)
According to its founders, the day is primarily meant to be a lighthearted, funny, and entirely non-political attempt to promote wholesome acceptance of the human body. And that it is!
How Do You Celebrate Naked Gardening Day?
An unconventional celebration calls for some forethought, as the possibilities are virtually endless. If you’re thinking of joining the festivities, here are some ideas to spice up your Saturday:
Garden In the Buff
First, the name says it all - garden in the nude, baby! This day is all about becoming one with nature and feeling free in your skin. So, you don’t have to go beyond simply shedding your clothes and letting your body breathe while you tend to your plants.
Although it might feel odd at first (and some insects may take offense to your bare bottoms), you’ll quickly get into the swing of things. Who knows, you might find it to be one of the most liberating experiences of your life!
Take Bold Photos
The best way to commemorate the occasion is to take some cheeky photos while in the garden. After all, when else do you get the chance to do a nude photoshoot while gardening? Snap some shots of you having fun and think about creative ways to cover your goodies. Leaves and other types of foliage are old news - go bigger and better!
If you’re comfortable baring it all, head to the hashtag #worldnakedgardeningday and join in on the fun. And if you don’t want other people seeing your photos, save them and look back on this day a few years later. Just be careful not to accidentally send them to your grandma.
Make a Day of It
World Naked Gardening Day isn’t just a fantastic opportunity to commune with nature, it’s also a memorable bonding activity to do with a partner. Since you’ll be working towards a common goal, the shared accomplishment and the absurdity of gardening naked will strengthen your relationship.
But gardening with a partner requires solid communication skills coupled with the ability to work together and read each other’s body language (the latter might not be as difficult when you’re naked). So, are you ready for a one-of-a-kind date this Saturday?
Stick With Simple Tasks
Pruning and trimming every shrub and tree in sight can be tempting on Naked Gardening Day. But if we’re being honest, it’s best to avoid doing so in the nude because it’s not the most reasonable time to throw caution to the wind. Instead, the best course of action would be to stick to simple tasks like watering and weeding and avoid any thorny situations.
Even though gardening in the nude can be freeing, you should still practice balance. And if you still decide to tackle some more intense tasks, be sure to protect your prized possessions!
Have Fun With It
Last but not least, don’t forget to have fun! Naked Gardening Day is all about letting loose and enjoying the beauty of nature in all its glory (and all your glory). Don’t take yourself too seriously and revel in the joy of getting a little dirty. It’s not every day you can embrace your inner gardener and exhibitionist all at once, so don’t be shy.
Want to see how long you can balance a half-full watering can on your head? Go for it (and show us the results)! Feeling like doing an interpretive dance for your partner among the flowers? Sounds awesome! Whatever it is, be bold, be brave, be intrepid, and do it!
What Not to Do On Naked Gardening Day
WNGD might be a lighthearted holiday that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t follow some precautions when stepping out into your yard naked as a jaybird.
Here’s what you shouldn’t do this Saturday:
- Skip the SPF and a hat: We know you want to feel the sun on your buns, but sunburned cheeks are not a good look. So lather up that sunscreen and put on a hat to protect your delicate bits and avoid ending the day looking like a ripe tomato.
- Work with power tools: Power tools are undoubtedly cool and deserve the praise they get, but let’s leave them for another day. After all, the last thing you want is a mishap when you’re physically vulnerable.
- Leave your shoes off: Mother Earth can be prickly sometimes and stepping on a rogue thorn can put a damper on your experience. So we recommend keeping your shoes on when you’re not well-acquainted with the ground.
- Plant thorny plants: Adding beautiful rose bushes on WNGD will help you remember why thorns and naked gardening don’t mix well. So avoid thorny plants until fully-clothed-gardening days and stick to soft flowers and bushes for now.
While naked gardening may not be for everyone, those who choose to participate can experience life in the buff and enjoy the simple pleasures of being outdoors. Just be sure to follow our list of do’s and don’ts to have a safe WNGD celebration.
And if you’re more interested in the beauty of nature without any of the maintenance, we’ve got a spectacular range of diverse artificial vertical gardens at the click of a button. Talk to us about anything concerning fauxliege (and shoot a pic of you celebrating WNGD while you’re at it).