Gardening: There’s More to It Than Digging in the Dirt
Rod Lowry | Wellness Committee Member, ARTA
I like to be alone. The peace and quiet is a great departure from most of my daily experiences. Whether that was the hubbub of a productive classroom or the chaos of a large family, solitude was often at a premium. Thus, I often sought time away to be by myself. That's when I found gardening.
My dad was a farmer. Being part of a farm family meant helping in all aspects of the operation, including a large family garden. I spent many hours planting, weeding, and harvesting vegetables and other produce. Helping to process it all occupied many hours throughout my youth. As I started and began to raise my family, I continued gardening. I've continued to garden throughout my life and still have a large garden today.
Some of my children ask why I bother with gardening. “It takes so much time, and you can just go to the store and buy anything you want!”
Great question. Why have I made gardening an ever-present part of my life? My first motivation was probably monetary. I saved a lot of money growing my own fruits and vegetables, making jams and jellies, and even raising our own livestock. This has become even more noticeable with recent inflation.
There is also something comforting about knowing exactly what is in the food you eat. It only takes a few minutes of reading food labels to know there’s a lot more than food included with your store-bought dishes. When I eat produce fresh from my garden, I know exactly what went on them and is in them.
They also just taste better! Strawberries or raspberries straight from the patch are far superior to store-bought berries. Fresh peas, carrots, beans, beets, or squash plucked directly from the garden are marvelous. Each year, I can hardly wait to make a fresh summer vegetable stew. Peas, carrots, and new potatoes stewed together until done, with butter and a touch of vinegar added. It's so good.
As we age, it’s important to stay active and mobile. I believe garden work keeps me young and flexible. Whether it is hoeing, bending, lifting, moving down rows, or picking veggies, you always seem to be moving in the garden.
Gardening helps my mental outlook as well. There is something inspiring about growing things; watching the seed germinate, burst out of the dirt, and grow to maturity and bear fruit helps me reflect on my own life and the stages I've passed through. I've spent many peaceful hours watching things grow. It calms my troubles and refreshes my outlook on everything.
Lastly, though I often work alone, gardening can help build a community. I see this when my family gets together at harvest times. When all the kids help shell peas, or husk corn, they joke and laugh together and share remembrances and stories. There is a kind peace in the chaos as ties are built and we get to know one another better.
Gardens come in all sizes. They vary from a window herb garden to ones with many acres. The benefits you receive from gardening will vary as much as the garden you have. Whether it's solitude, a daily work out, peace of mind, or tasty fruits and vegetables, you can find it all as you garden your way to a healthier you.
References:
10 Mental Health Benefits of Gardening
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/think-act-be/201906/10-mental-health-benefits-of-gardening
The Benefits of Gardening for Seniors in Senior Living
Rod Lowry
Wellness Committee Member, ARTA