Gardening. It’s good for you.
What’s that? You don’t want to become a master gardener, or a landscaper, or whatever? You’re intimidated by the thought of tilling the soil and toiling over the beans? No problem!
Start small. Recently, I talked about building healthy habits. Some of you know I work part-time for a garden center, and this is the season of preparing the greenhouse for spring. So we’ve been filling pots, and planting, and planting, and planting some more. It’s fabulous, particularly because I love getting dirt under my fingernails and seeing the potential in those tiny, tiny plants, knowing they’ll grow up into beautiful things. It’s also relaxing for me, and encourages me to start thinking creatively about my own garden and what I want to do this season.
All of this, naturally, started me thinking about whether gardening could be good for overall health, not just as exercise. Yes!! Relaxation, creative thinking, exercise, and, if you’re growing vegetables, better food! (If someone in your household doesn’t love vegetables, gardening at home may even give you ways to encourage picky eaters to try something they’ve grown themselves!)
Start small. Get a small flowerpot with drainage holes and a tray to catch any excess water. Get some good potting soil. Several plants that are relatively easy to start from seed are green beans or sunflowers. Follow the instructions on the seed packet. Set the pot in a sunny spot and watch magic happen. (Don’t forget to water it occasionally!) Depending on what you planted, when the danger of frost is over and if you have yard space, take it outside and transplant it! It’s that simple. And it can be very rewarding.
Get your hands dirty with gardening this summer. :) It’s good for you!
Cheers! Here’s to your health!