土つちいじり

noun

playing with dirt; messing around in the soil

Often refers to children playing with dirt or mud, or casually digging in the soil without a productive goal.

See also: 土遊び

• 子こ供どもの頃ころ、よく庭にわで土つちいじりをしたものだ。

  When I was a child, I used to play in the dirt in the garden.

noun

gardening; hobby farming

Used for light gardening or small-scale farming done as a hobby, often with a sense of relaxation or pleasure. Compare 土遊び, which is more about playing with soil.