With World Naked Gardening Day now upon us, Josh Meyer, owner of Newmarket's New Roots Garden Centre, has a few safety tips for anyone planning to garden au naturel today (May 7).
"Definitely you want to be careful if you're doing any hedge pruning so you don't snip off any important parts, that's for sure. If you're using hedge sheers or pruners be careful you know what you're snipping at.
"Barberry bushes are very prickly, so you wouldn't want to get your backside into those. You might want to wait for a day that you're fully clothed," he added.
Celebrated on the first Saturday of every May, the international event is intended to be a lighthearted way to promote naturism and body positivity. It was started by non-profit American organization The Body Freedom Collaborative in 2005.
According to York Region's Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park owner, Stéphane Deschênes, gardening and nudity seem to fit well together and the activity makes sense to those who are new to naturism.
"For some reason, people have a hard time with the idea of dining indoors without any clothes on. ... I think there are things that seem more natural. ... Gardening fits into that, you're communing with nature."
Meyer said he can appreciate the appeal of bonding with nature in the buff, but he has no plans to strip down at work or in his own garden this weekend.
"I can see that for sure. It's just not my cup of tea."
According to Deschênes, we are "sensing machines" who become more aware of our surroundings when we remove our clothing and gardening naked can awaken senses to the colours and textures in nature.
"Clothes kind of separate you from the world and deaden a lot of your sensory inputs. When you've got nothing on you are the way you were made with all of the sensors that we have working the way they're supposed to — cold, hot, feeling the wind, feeling the sun, feeling the rain — so it makes you hyper aware you're connected to nature."
Of course, not everyone has a backyard garden, or even a backyard, but working with potted plants indoors is fine, too, said Deschênes. "The idea is to try to do an everyday thing without your clothes on."
Fortunately for those who will be taking part, the forecast today calls for a mixture of sun and cloud, but with a single-digit morning temperature, it might be best to wait until this afternoon.
The good thing about World Naked Gardening Day's early spring date, Meyer joked, is you don't have to worry too much about sunburn on your backside. (The garden centre does sell sun hats for those who are concerned about sun protection on their 'other' cheeks.)
Anyone who takes part in World Naked Gardening Day is encouraged to share their experience on social media using the hashtag #WNGD.
