Woman Reveals Why Millennials Are Resorting to 'Grandma & Grandpa Hobbies'

People often think that living your best life in your 20s means wild parties and being carefree (read: reckless). But this millennial woman is showing that life can be far more peaceful and much less expensive.

While Sam may only be 27, her favorite hobbies include canning, gardening, composting, and baking at her home in Michigan, and she certainly isn't the only one. After taking the hobbies up in 2023 to save money, Sam, who doesn't wish to disclose her full name, told Newsweek that she loves the "fulfillment and satisfaction" that she gains from being so self-sufficient.

She explained that many millennials, just like her, feel exhausted by the world of constant connectivity, and turning to nature proved a hugely rewarding experience. So far, she has managed to grow tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in her garden, and she's not done yet, as she's going to add potatoes, onions and green beans. The practice of canning, which involves preserving food in an airtight container and giving it a much longer shelf life, also cuts costs and creates a sense of accomplishment.

"Gardening and baking provide you with food that you can consume and nourish your body with. Food coming from your own garden or made at home is also much healthier than most grocery store options. Everything is getting more expensive, and without an end in sight people are looking at activities that can both save them money and are low cost," Sam said.

"I think people are doing more of these hobbies because they save money and they're hands-on and productive. There is fatigue from all the social media and technology, so people are craving activities that create something in the real world."

Since becoming a modern-day Martha Stewart of the homestead, Sam has documented her routines on social media (@morethangardening). One Instagram post from December, which has been viewed 12.5 million times, joked that "millennials are resorting to grandma and grandpa hobbies" because everything has become more expensive.

Why Are More People Taking Up Gardening?

Baking certainly became a popular trend during the Covid-19 pandemic (banana bread, anyone?), but many also turned to gardening to pass the time, as the National Gardening Association revealed that there were more than 18.3 million new gardeners throughout 2020.

A third of gardeners (33 percent) are aged between 50 and 64 years, but the growing interest means that 15 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds have also become green-fingered, as highlighted by Statista in 2023.

Gardening can be a cost-saving exercise for many, but it also has numerous health benefits too. Digging can be grueling and requires great strength, which is why an article by the Royal College of Physicians suggested that it can easily burn just as many calories as a trip to the gym.

Not to mention, the exposure to sunlight and nature is perfect for increasing the body's vitamin D levels, and the overall activity of gardening has proven to be incredibly therapeutic. There's little wonder why so many people want to pass the time plucking weeds or digging soil.

The Social Media Reaction

Sam loves the mindset she's gained while spending her time so productively over the last few months. But it's not just a mental shift, because she's also seen physical improvements after eating fresh produce that she grew and preserved herself.

She continued: "It's so good being able to provide for yourself and your family. Knowing that if something went wrong like the loss of employment, the world shuts down again, or food supply shortages happen, I know that we have the skills to grow and preserve our own food in addition to all the canned food I already have stored on my shelves.

"These activities help save money because growing my own food and baking bread cuts down my grocery bill. Canning also helps cut costs because when something is on sale at the grocery store, I can stock up, can it for later, and enjoy it for months."

After sharing her slice of tranquillity with her social media followers, she has received a mixed response online.

"A lot of people agree with the message and relate to the statement about everything being so expensive. However, others were quick to complain that the hobbies themselves cost too much money and too much time to partake in to reap the benefits. People also complain by saying these aren't hobbies but a lifestyle that people have been living for years," she explained.

It may not be for everyone, but Sam couldn't imagine changing her routines now. She's looking forward to seeing her garden flourish once more with plenty of new produce to enjoy.

Among the 2,200 comments on her viral Instagram reel, one person wrote: "I started grandma hobbies like gardening, embroidery, and crochet because I am having digital burnout."

Another Instagram user said: "Actually started composting because it's better for the environment... learning food preservation, baking, etc are all basic life skills."

"We're supposed to be able to take care of ourselves without fully relying on consumerism. We're just returning to our roots," responded another person.

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