Gardening is an activity that benefits people of all ages. There are many opportunities including vegetable, herb or flower gardening. Gardening can be done in small plots or larger plots such as community gardens.
One of the benefits of gardening is that it provides physical exercise. Digging, hoeing, weeding, planting, harvesting, and removing the crop residue to make compost will burn calories and help strengthen muscles. Even using a tiller will provide some physical exercise. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of disease and it helps with endurance, flexibility, and strength. However, doing too much can cause muscle soreness so take it easy and don't do too much. I like to say that gardening is a labor of love, but exercise is just labor.
Gardening also provides mental exercise. Gardening is a stress buster and it helps to relieve anxiety. Gardening provides a sense of purpose. Working with plants also provides a therapeutic effect. Believe it or not, there is even an American Horticulture Therapy Association.
The garden is an excellent place for spiritual exercise. Some people meditate, recite scripture, and pray in the garden. In the song, In the Garden, some of the words are, "I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses."
One of the primary benefits of gardening is that it can provide local, fresh vegetables. The Five a Day campaign promotes eating five servings a day of bright colored fruits and vegetables. Locally grown vegetables can be picked at its peak freshness and eaten. There is nothing like the taste of a fresh tomato that ripens on the vine.
Nutritious vegetables are a very strong component of plant-based diets and all scientifically based diets. The Mediterranean diet, Weightwatchers, and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet recommend large quantities of vegetables. In addition to low fat and low calories, vegetables have minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Vegetables contain phytochemicals related to plant pigments -- Yellow, orange, red, green, and purple contain the most of these healthy chemicals. There are more than 900 of these healthy chemicals and scientists are determining more of how they protect our bodies.
One of the greatest benefits is economic. The National Gardening Association estimates that a well-maintained food garden can yield about a half-pound of fresh produce per square foot, worth about $2 per pound at in-season market rates. The NGA estimates that American food gardeners grow more than $21.6 billion in produce each year.
A variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers can be grown in a garden. There is a book written by Rosalind Creasy entitled, "Edible Landscaping." This classic has been updated with more pictures and methods to grow plants in a landscape setting.
Basil, lemon balm, mints, cilantro, parsley, oregano, sage, pineapple sage, thyme are common herbs used in cooking and teas. In addition to providing great taste, they also provide chemicals that aid digestion and other benefits.
As I mentioned in the introduction of this article, people from all ages benefit from the garden. The University of Missouri FNEP (Food Nutrition Education Program0 has a curriculum for children's gardens. Currently, we have a children's garden at the Kennett Community Garden. The children and youth have planted seed and set out plants. I have been present when both groups were involved and they were asking, "When can we come back?"
In my own experiences with my children and grandchildren, I have seen their enthusiasm when working in the garden. Our family has planted the sugar snap peas and they were eating them as they harvested. We planted them for salads and cooking in stir fries. Very few actually made it into the house. But that's all right because they ate a very nutritious and tasty vegetable.
In the Eating from the Garden program at Camdenton last year, four 4 by 8 feet raised beds produced about $845 worth of vegetables. The kids ate some of the vegetables in class, and some they took home to share with their families. Eating radishes, snow peas, and loose leaf lettuces really stirred up the excitement. It is hoped that after kids learn more about proper nutrition and eating healthier, they will ask their parents to purchase some of their favorite vegetables.
Being elderly is no excuse not to be involved in gardening. Raised beds and container gardening can prevent the stooping over that is required for a regular garden. There are also enabling and ergonomic tools that can help assist those with limited function.
There are a wide variety of vegetables that can be grown. For example, early season vegetables such as English peas, potatoes, onions, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower .These same plants can be grown in the fall. Summer vegetables include tomatoes, squash, eggplant, peppers, green beans, sweet corn, and cucumbers.
Just don't be afraid to try different varieties. Heirloom vegetables may not yield as much as hybrid varieties, but they make up for the difference with taste and quality.
Now that the weather will be warming, there is still plenty of time to plant a summer garden. Enjoy your garden for all of its benefits.
University of Missouri Extension programs are open to all.