Get Dirty
Rudyard Kipling: Gardens are not made by singing "Oh, how beautiful," and sitting in the shade.
Garden your way to healthy. Exercising and eating right are said to go together, but when you work in a garden, they actually do. Gardening is one way to maintain your health and enjoy time outside. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “gardening qualifies as exercise. In fact, out in the yard for just 30-45 minutes can burn up to 300 calories.” Yes, please, more fun than a treadmill or pumping iron any day!
Routine garden upkeep like planting, weeding, tilling, raking, trimming, and pruning, watering, deadheading, and harvesting (initially cultivating) all utilize multiple muscle groups. Think about it if you carry bags of dirt, mulch, or fertilizer you’re lifting weights. Bending and picking veggies can involve squats and bending. It might not be high intensity exercise, but it is exercise. No matter how you slice it, our bodies need consistent motion to function optimally. Gardening is just one way to promote activity when you otherwise might be sitting. After all, if the weeds are infiltrating your yard, you have built-in motivation to get in the dirt and work. Time passes quickly, and before you know it, you’ve racked up 60 minutes of exercise.
There’s a garden for everyone, that’s another great thing! If you cannot get down on the ground due to an injury, disability, or other reason, having raised beds like these can be a great way to get outdoors and reap the benefits physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially.
Homemade garden boxes.
If space is an issue and you cannot have a ground level garden or a raised bed, many communities have garden areas that can be rented for the spring-fall growing seasons. In my community the University of Wisconsin Fond du Lac Extension rents garden plots. A local church also has garden plots that parishioners can use. I know of another church that allows a local Hmong population to use a part of their property for gardens, and invites them to see produce, food and other hand made things after services on Sundays as a community outreach.
Think that having a plot is too much work or expense? Live in an apartment or town with very little space? Why not do container gardening. Instead of planting flowers, plant tomatoes, lettuce and spinach, herbs, and other veggies in containers. It will get you outside and improve the quality of your life. Eating what you personally grow is very satisfying and saves money. The practice of gardening can reduce what you buy in the store and be financially a win. You don’t need fancy containers, use buckets, throw away cups or thift store finds. UPCYCLE things you already have.
Physically gardening gets you outside to care for the plants getting functional exercise and engaging in a rewarding hobby/activity. Emotionally getting your hands dirty refreshes the soul and fulfills a deep need to be one with the earth and feel grounded and connected. Mentally it helps you look outside yourself and be part of something greater. The exercise also helps reduce anxiety, depression and promotes improved mental health due to physical activity. But what about spiritually? Yes, the great outdoors reminds us that God is creative, and His majesty is reflected in each plant, animal and eco system on earth.
Gardening is a great way to keep fruits and vegetables in your diet and get some exercise. Growing your own food is also healthy and sustainable for the environment. Gardening is a hobby that can easily and effectively increase your daily access to healthy foods. Nutritious snacks and delicious dinners are only a stone’s throw away when you regularly keep a garden. Whether you garden at home or with your community, regular access to fruits and vegetables improves your nutrition.
