Early on Saturday spring mornings, I carry a pot of good strong coffee out to the front porch and start planning my garden. By the time that pot is empty, I have a good idea where and how things will grow this year.
I know this season is going to challenge all of my skills, because with just a teensy bit of neglect on my part and a whole lot of rain on Mother Nature’s part, the side yard now looks a lot like the Brazilian rain forest, and not in a good way!
Not too many years ago, making all this right again would have been a short day’s project. Now that job will take me a whole weekend, and maybe even part of the next one.
I’ve accepted the fact that I’m just not as young as I used to be, and that to continue going at the former pace just might kill me, or at the very least, send me hobbling to the hospital. But I refuse to stop doing what I love, especially when the health benefits are so great.
The Healthy Benefits of Gardening
Gardening can lower stress and cortisol levels. Stabbing the dirt with a shovel, or yanking weeds, roots and all, provides the perfect outlet for pent up frustration we all carry. The economic and dietary benefits of growing and eating your own food certainly don’t hurt, either!
The Vitamin D we get from being outdoors increases calcium levels, which strengthens bones, helps with serotonin levels, and boosts the immune system.
Comfortable gloves will keep your hands from getting cut, bruised and blistered. Beware of heat. Start gardening early in the cool of the morning, take breaks, and avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water. Coffee and other caffeinated drinks are good while you are planning, but they actually dehydrate your body while you are working.
Gardening strengthens muscles, increases stamina and flexibility, and can help us manage chronic pain. The bending, stretching, tugging and balancing has an aerobic effect on our bodies. The gripping and pulling increases hand strength, and can help with arthritis.
Additionally, the more active we are, the less we notice everyday aches and pains. But don’t overexert. Don’t be like me and go at it like Edward Scissorhands. I can assure you, the bad weeds will be there tomorrow. Take your time, breathe in the fresh aromas of the flora, set small goals, and reward yourself as you reach them!
There’s something to be said for getting your hands in the dirt. The bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, found in soil has been known to help with digestion, and reduce the symptoms of allergies, asthma, and psoriasis. Some studies show the bacteria can also make us feel happier by reducing anxiety! Seeing a pattern yet?
Gardening Tips for Beginners
Okay, so you’re convinced you want to garden, but how do you do that safely with limited mobility? Thankfully, there are wonderful alternatives to traditional gardens!
Raised plant beds are a great option. They are easy on the knees and back, providing a comfortable ledge on which to sit, plant or weed. They can be purchased as a kit, built from your own design, as small raised carts that hold just what you need, but not more than a wagon full. When choosing your plant beds, make sure to design them high enough that you can comfortably sit on the edge on both sides and reach the middle. Leave enough room for canes, walkers or wheel chairs, and place benches where possible for even greater ease. Don’t forget your fencing. Pesky critters shouldn’t get to enjoy the fruits of your labor before you do!
Seeds and seed tape are inexpensive alternatives to starter plants, too. However, if hand mobility is a challenge, larger plant starts may be easier to manipulate.
Container gardens and upward planting such as trellises are easy on the back, knees, and hips, as well.
There are gardening tools designed just for those with mobility issues! Consult your local garden supply store nursery to browse the various aids and ergonomic designs. There are garden carts that have places to sit, but also hold tools. Stools with wheels or without; stools that swivel for those who like to lean while they garden; aprons that hold everything from cell phones and tools, to eggs! There are tools with long handles, curved handles, long — curved handles, grabbers, and knee pads of all varieties, some even with bars that you can use to push yourself back to a standing positon! If vision is a challenge, buy tools with bright handled grips that can be seen easily in grass or soil. If you have tools you like, wrap colorful tape around the handles. You can even use old pool noodles with tape and soften the grip of your favorite tools if necessary.
Gardening improves overall health. We invest in nutritional supplements, gym memberships, and workout equipment; if you love gardening, why not invest in it, and ultimately, yourself?
I’m sure this Saturday, I’ll sit on the porch sipping my coffee and see weeds that need pulling, a plant that should probably be moved, a bush that needs pruning, or something that needs picking. I’ll breathe in that wonderful earth smell, whisper “thank you” to Mother Nature, and plan the next project.
