Spring in to Gardening

With spring just around the corner, I find myself looking forward to all outdoor activities. Maybe it is a long walk or feeding the ducks at the park, or just watching all the flowers and trees come to life after a long winter.  The one activity I truly enjoy is planting a garden!  I usually end up with a variety of fruits and vegetables – enough to share with family and friends, which brings me even more joy!

Believe it or not… gardening can have many benefits. It can actually provide a source of exercise, relaxation, and stimulation! It can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.

Gardening is considered moderate-intensity exercise! Gardening can keep you limber and improves blood circulation!According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can actually burn about 330 calories doing one hour of light gardening and yard work — that’s more than walking at a moderate pace for the same amount of time!  

Just thirty minutes of moderate-level physical activity most days of the week may prevent and help control high blood pressure.

It helps with bone health too! When you are outdoors and your skin is exposed to the sun, it prompts your body to make vitamin D.  (Of course, You should still apply sunscreen and wear hats if you’re planning on spending more than a few minutes in the sun.) Limit time outside to early morning and evening hours when the sun is not so hot.

Did you know…

Gardening prompts us to eat healthier. A productive garden can also promote a better diet by having fresh produce at hand. See our yummy recipe at the end of the article for some inspiration.

Gardening helps build self-esteem… if you can grow a garden, what can’t you do?!

Gardening is good way to relax and it can help reduce stress too!

Gardening helps lower cortisol levels.  Cortisol is a hormone, which is mainly released at times of stress. Studies show that as little as thirty minutes in the garden can help lower cortisol levels.

Gardening shared in the community, or with a few friends and family, can create more confidence, social skills, and a chance to learn more about nature. Let’s face it… Who doesn’t want to brag about “how their garden is growing” and share their gardening secrets?!

People with physical limitations can benefit in so many ways from gardening too.

By providing adaptive equipment, people with physical limitations can be involved in gardening. Such items as raised platforms and tables that are wheelchair accessible can add endless opportunities for people with a range of physical limitations to participate in all gardening activities.

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We can also use raised pots, containers with wheels, wheelbarrows, or wagons to make gardening more fun and accessible.

For people who struggle with arthritis, tools can be adapted with foam padding or PVC pipe to improve grip on tools.  There are also Ergonomic and enabling tools that may benefit people with poor grip or medical conditions such as arthritis. Theseare designed to reduce discomfort and can be found at some hardware stores or online.

You can also choose light weight tools that are easier to handle and grip

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Another idea is to get garden gloves with gripper dot designs for easy handling of garden tools and small pots.

Gardening can be an adventure with little to no limitations. We just have to make some adaptions along the way so everyone can benefit from the fruits of their labor!

Cucumber Tomato Salad

 2 cucumbers, ends trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
 3 small tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
 1/2 whole red onion, halved, sliced thin (optional)
 2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or parsley 

 Place tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and feta in medium serving bowl.

Combine for Salad Dressing  

 1/3 cup water
 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar or 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Pour mixture over tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and feta. Mix and Enjoy!