So, forget the whole stigma that millennials are nothing like past generations when it comes to home care. Forget that. Put it out of your head. This is not a sociological thing; this is a personal insight.

I can never garden.

Not to save my life, not to save anyone’s life.

Fact of the matter is, I can neither keep a plant alive nor can I stand to be close to certain plants.

What doesn’t give me migraines gives me terrible rashes all over my arms for just brushing past them. What doesn’t give me rashes makes me sneeze and my eyes water.

Flowers are not my thing, live spice plants aren’t my thing, weeds aren’t my thing. Even grass does terrible things to me.

My relatives can garden and have no problem. One of my grandparents grew her own very large garden and grew her own plants.

But me? Not a chance.

I try weeding and my arms almost fall off from the pain of the rash.

I try picking strawberries and the same thing happens.

My family tried growing vegetables when I was a kid. Our tomatoes did fairly well, but if I tried growing okra or zucchini, it died. Blame it on the not-so-rich soil in my backyard if you will, but I blame my gardening skills (or lack thereof).

How does this affect me outside gardening? (pun intended)

I must stay away from certain fragrances (especially lavender), certain teas (lemongrass or lavender or roses in tea bags are, well, not so great), and I have to bring a towel if there is an event on the grass.

Do I go out of my way to make sure I don’t have an allergic or other reaction? Yes.

Is it difficult? No.

Do I want to overcome this in order to take up the nature way and grow my own food? Of course, it sounds awesome.

Will I, though? Never.