Gardening adds meaningful physical activity without requiring formal exercise, helping support strength, balance, and endurance through everyday movement.
Outdoor activities, like gardening, are a perfect way to soak up the sun while bringing nature to life, and by growing our own food, we're also protecting our health. Gardening is a great form of aerobic exercise. Pulling weeds, picking up various plants and tools, twisting, and bending while planting will work new muscles in your body and help with strength, endurance, and flexibility. Activities like raking and mowing could fall into the category of light or moderate exercise, while shoveling, digging, and chopping wood could be considered vigorous exercise. In any case, working in a garden uses all the major muscle groups in the body. Early exposure to soil has been linked to numerous health benefits, from reducing allergies to autoimmune diseases.
Let's plant health in the garden. I'm currently drinking an infusion of hibiscus and rosehip flowers, which are characterized by their intense reddish color, as well as a rather strong aroma and flavor. Hibiscus flowers are native to Africa, but their cultivation has spread throughout the world. They are rich in antioxidants and are used medicinally for their antioxidant properties.
Lavender has an intense aroma and violet color, ideal for creating striking and beautifully decorated dishes. It can be consumed as an infusion to relax the nervous system. It can also be enjoyed with fruits and cheeses to enhance their flavor. Jasmine is yellow and has a very sweet and distinctive flavor. It is used in infusions for its intense aroma and as a garnish for hearty dishes such as meats and fish. Rosemary is used in infusions because it is a good antioxidant and bactericide. Its most common use is as a cooking spice in the preparation of meats, fish, broths, pastries, and salads. Mint, spearmint, stevia, artichoke, dandelion, etc., are a delight for the senses and for health. In addition to exercise, vitamin D increases your calcium levels, which benefits your bones and immune system. One study explains that exposure to sunlight helps older adults achieve adequate vitamin D levels. Gardening could reduce the risk of dementia by 36%. Researchers followed more than 2,800 people over the age of 60 for years and concluded that physical activity, particularly gardening, could reduce the incidence of dementia later in life.
According to one study, participants performed a stressful task and were then told to either read indoors or go outside and garden for 30 minutes. The group that gardened reported an improved mood afterward, and their blood tests showed lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Gardening is positively associated with a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to meta-analysis in Preventive Medicine Reports that analyzed 22 different case studies. In fact, some hospitals even use gardening and flower arranging as a form of rehabilitation for people recovering from injuries, strokes, surgeries, and other conditions. There are well-established horticultural therapy programs that help patients rebuild their physical and mental health. The act of growing plants can also help improve your mood. This is one of the great health benefits of gardening because it is linked to increases in quality of life and reductions in mood disorders.
My wife is a big fan of fenugreek and turmeric+pepper. Early this year she had a hard sciatica/back issue (L4/L5 bulging disk; I may be giving the wrong spine numbers, it's been a while). Her Doctor wanted to, of course, send her to surgery. We did a lot of research, rediscovered the use of Ginger pumices, and a lot of physio/integrative medicine (which I think was the key: a physio guy that knew what he was doing), and the issue is basically resolved, Back pain is gone, sciatica is gone, we are waiting for a second MRI result, but not at all phased by it. There are tons of naturally available remedies out there. I lived half of my professional life making synthetic drugs (or trying to). Nature has done most of the work for us. I know it may sound ridiculous,,, but try to go natural as much as you can. Even chicken soup is better than the crap I one day tried to sell you.
Agree 100%! I have cured myself of terminal T-Cell Lymphoma (2000) by simply going organic, avoiding sugar. Diagnosed with 3 months, go home and plan my funeral following 4 unsuccessful chemos, my chiropractor, holistic started with prayer for healing and going organic, no sugar. By the end of 2001, I was in remission, still in remission at 85. Living in the woods, close to nature, gardening helped me a lot, amazing what being close to nature, wildlife can do to calm your mind! Instead of worry about my illness,money for treatments, I began to appreciate the calm, rhythem of all nature, growing my garden, finding organic sources of food and to relearn how to cook from scratch! The feeling of achievement when the garden produces is something money cannot buy! At first it was hard, kicking the addiction to sugar, Oreo cookies called to me when I entered the grocery store, Come get us, you know you want us! Now I am free of the sugar addiction! Then, I lost weight, from 295 to 137, diabetes discoverd same time as cancer, now under control with Berberine and cinnamon. The only problem now is my back, 3 vertabrae fractured when I got in a hurry, did not look where I put my feet and fell! I am hoping to correct that with stem cell injections, no expensive surgery, pills, just my own stem cells, blood. I did that for my bone on bone knees almost 8 years ago, now they are still better than the rest of me. Chicken soup actually helps my sinuses! High barometric pressure affects them. Chicken soup, chewing something, hot compresses and Tigar Balm Neck and Shoulder which is menthol/camphor opens them so I can breathe. All a lot cheaper than pills with less side effects that can kill you 6 different ways! I am still alone in the woods, driving my 2002 Astro, rescuing animals from cats, dogs to my new friend, Clyde, a cougar. Astro is still on her original engine, all wheel drive transmission at 200,000!
My wife and I have gone seriously into gardening about 10 years ago. The word “seriously” is doing some heavy lifting here, as the whole thing has been a great learning experience. The one thing about “gardening” that presented itself was: Oh, look we have pounds and pounds of tomatoes! and, Oh, look we have pounds and pounds of potatoes. Yeah, they rhyme. So we had to learn pressure canning and industrial grade dehydrating. Tomato sauce preserves real good, we pack it with ground beef and herbs from the garden. We make jam, but we’re also creating stable foodstuff from our small hobby farm. We cannot raise livestock in our small backyard, but there’s COSTCO with its vats of pork, chicken and beef. We’ve canned them all, and have consumed our canned meet three to four years after processing. It was not easy, the first time I opened a jar of our canned chicken I was apprehensive, one year in. Nothing. Smelled like, well, canned processed chicken! We dry potatoes on the dehydrator, and still do the traditional boil-them-up jams. Take advantage of summer. We’ve asked city to not obliterate our wild blackberries so we can forage them in August. And that’s all!!
And you can forage for wild greens, things others call weeds. I learned from my grandparents how to identify plants not only for food but for medicine. Grandfather learned from an Indian medicine man who lived nearby to use many plants for medicine, like Mullein for congestion. Only problem with foraging today is contamination from chemicals. I solved that by gathering seed and planting in my yard which is chemical free!
Outdoor activities, like gardening, are a perfect way to soak up the sun while bringing nature to life, and by growing our own food, we're also protecting our health. Gardening is a great form of aerobic exercise. Pulling weeds, picking up various plants and tools, twisting, and bending while planting will work new muscles in your body and help with strength, endurance, and flexibility. Activities like raking and mowing could fall into the category of light or moderate exercise, while shoveling, digging, and chopping wood could be considered vigorous exercise. In any case, working in a garden uses all the major muscle groups in the body. Early exposure to soil has been linked to numerous health benefits, from reducing allergies to autoimmune diseases.
Let's plant health in the garden. I'm currently drinking an infusion of hibiscus and rosehip flowers, which are characterized by their intense reddish color, as well as a rather strong aroma and flavor. Hibiscus flowers are native to Africa, but their cultivation has spread throughout the world. They are rich in antioxidants and are used medicinally for their antioxidant properties.
Lavender has an intense aroma and violet color, ideal for creating striking and beautifully decorated dishes. It can be consumed as an infusion to relax the nervous system. It can also be enjoyed with fruits and cheeses to enhance their flavor. Jasmine is yellow and has a very sweet and distinctive flavor. It is used in infusions for its intense aroma and as a garnish for hearty dishes such as meats and fish. Rosemary is used in infusions because it is a good antioxidant and bactericide. Its most common use is as a cooking spice in the preparation of meats, fish, broths, pastries, and salads. Mint, spearmint, stevia, artichoke, dandelion, etc., are a delight for the senses and for health. In addition to exercise, vitamin D increases your calcium levels, which benefits your bones and immune system. One study explains that exposure to sunlight helps older adults achieve adequate vitamin D levels. Gardening could reduce the risk of dementia by 36%. Researchers followed more than 2,800 people over the age of 60 for years and concluded that physical activity, particularly gardening, could reduce the incidence of dementia later in life.
According to one study, participants performed a stressful task and were then told to either read indoors or go outside and garden for 30 minutes. The group that gardened reported an improved mood afterward, and their blood tests showed lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Gardening is positively associated with a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to meta-analysis in Preventive Medicine Reports that analyzed 22 different case studies. In fact, some hospitals even use gardening and flower arranging as a form of rehabilitation for people recovering from injuries, strokes, surgeries, and other conditions. There are well-established horticultural therapy programs that help patients rebuild their physical and mental health. The act of growing plants can also help improve your mood. This is one of the great health benefits of gardening because it is linked to increases in quality of life and reductions in mood disorders.
My wife is a big fan of fenugreek and turmeric+pepper. Early this year she had a hard sciatica/back issue (L4/L5 bulging disk; I may be giving the wrong spine numbers, it's been a while). Her Doctor wanted to, of course, send her to surgery. We did a lot of research, rediscovered the use of Ginger pumices, and a lot of physio/integrative medicine (which I think was the key: a physio guy that knew what he was doing), and the issue is basically resolved, Back pain is gone, sciatica is gone, we are waiting for a second MRI result, but not at all phased by it. There are tons of naturally available remedies out there. I lived half of my professional life making synthetic drugs (or trying to). Nature has done most of the work for us. I know it may sound ridiculous,,, but try to go natural as much as you can. Even chicken soup is better than the crap I one day tried to sell you.
Agree 100%! I have cured myself of terminal T-Cell Lymphoma (2000) by simply going organic, avoiding sugar. Diagnosed with 3 months, go home and plan my funeral following 4 unsuccessful chemos, my chiropractor, holistic started with prayer for healing and going organic, no sugar. By the end of 2001, I was in remission, still in remission at 85. Living in the woods, close to nature, gardening helped me a lot, amazing what being close to nature, wildlife can do to calm your mind! Instead of worry about my illness,money for treatments, I began to appreciate the calm, rhythem of all nature, growing my garden, finding organic sources of food and to relearn how to cook from scratch! The feeling of achievement when the garden produces is something money cannot buy! At first it was hard, kicking the addiction to sugar, Oreo cookies called to me when I entered the grocery store, Come get us, you know you want us! Now I am free of the sugar addiction! Then, I lost weight, from 295 to 137, diabetes discoverd same time as cancer, now under control with Berberine and cinnamon. The only problem now is my back, 3 vertabrae fractured when I got in a hurry, did not look where I put my feet and fell! I am hoping to correct that with stem cell injections, no expensive surgery, pills, just my own stem cells, blood. I did that for my bone on bone knees almost 8 years ago, now they are still better than the rest of me. Chicken soup actually helps my sinuses! High barometric pressure affects them. Chicken soup, chewing something, hot compresses and Tigar Balm Neck and Shoulder which is menthol/camphor opens them so I can breathe. All a lot cheaper than pills with less side effects that can kill you 6 different ways! I am still alone in the woods, driving my 2002 Astro, rescuing animals from cats, dogs to my new friend, Clyde, a cougar. Astro is still on her original engine, all wheel drive transmission at 200,000!
I used to garden all the time. Had huge garden. Now I live in an apt that only allows me to have one potted plant. 🪴
We can consider ourselves fortunate if we have our health and cherish our memories. 🌹🧡
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It gave me two bright eyes, which when I open them
Perfectly distinguish black from white
And in the high sky, its starry background
And in the multitudes, the man I love
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me hearing, which in all its breadth
Records night and day, crickets and canaries
Hammers, turbines, barking dogs, downpours
And the tender voice of my beloved
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me sound and the alphabet
With it, the words I think and declare
Mother, friend, brother, and light illuminating
The path of the soul of the one I love
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me the gait of my tired feet
With them, I walked through cities and puddles
Beaches and deserts, mountains and plains
And your house, your street, and your patio
Thanks to life, which has given me Life has given me so much
It gave me a heart that stirs within its frame
When I gaze upon the fruit of the human mind
When I see the good so far from the bad
When I gaze into the depths of your clear eyes
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me laughter and it has given me tears
Thus I distinguish joy from sorrow
The two elements that form my song
And your song, which is the same song
And everyone's song, which is my own song
Thanks to life
So very true!
🌞👍👌😊❤️🌹
My wife and I have gone seriously into gardening about 10 years ago. The word “seriously” is doing some heavy lifting here, as the whole thing has been a great learning experience. The one thing about “gardening” that presented itself was: Oh, look we have pounds and pounds of tomatoes! and, Oh, look we have pounds and pounds of potatoes. Yeah, they rhyme. So we had to learn pressure canning and industrial grade dehydrating. Tomato sauce preserves real good, we pack it with ground beef and herbs from the garden. We make jam, but we’re also creating stable foodstuff from our small hobby farm. We cannot raise livestock in our small backyard, but there’s COSTCO with its vats of pork, chicken and beef. We’ve canned them all, and have consumed our canned meet three to four years after processing. It was not easy, the first time I opened a jar of our canned chicken I was apprehensive, one year in. Nothing. Smelled like, well, canned processed chicken! We dry potatoes on the dehydrator, and still do the traditional boil-them-up jams. Take advantage of summer. We’ve asked city to not obliterate our wild blackberries so we can forage them in August. And that’s all!!
A pleasure to read the wonderful dedication to extracting the fruits of the earth. And there is also beauty in the garden:
THE GARDENER'S ROSE🌹🧡
It was a smiling garden;
it was a tranquil fountain
of crystal;
it was peeking out from its edge,
an immaculate rose
from a rosebush.
There was an old gardener
who lovingly tended
the garden,
and the rose was a treasure
more precious than gold
to him.
A gentleman passed by the fountain's edge,
and gently
detached the rose from its stem.
And when the gardener noticed
that it was missing from the rosebush,
he sang thus, plaintively,
suspecting of his misfortune:
—Rose, the most delicate
that was ever cultivated
for my love;
rose, the most vibrant,
the most fragrant and polished
that I cared for;
white star that, curious to see the earth,
slipped from the sky;
to which a butterfly,
fearful of staining it,
did not reach.
Who loves you? Who calls you
for your good or your ill?
Who took you from the branch
so that you are no longer on your rosebush?
Don't you know that the world is rude?
That love is treacherous?
That the pure honey hidden
in the flower is not appreciated in life?
Under what sky did you fall?
To whom did you give your virginal treasure?
Into whose hands do you wither?
What breath burns your leaves, infernal?
Who cares for you with such tenderness
as the old gardener
cared for you?
Who sighs only for you?
Who loves you? Who looks at you
as I do?
Who lies to you, saying they love you
with equal faith and tenderness?
Who took you from the branch,
so that you are no longer on your rosebush?
Why did you leave so pure,
from another life to fortune
or to sorrow?
What was lacking in your recreation?
What in your innocent, dreamy desire?
In the clean and clear fountain,
did I not give you a mirror to reflect you?
Did the hidden birds not sing in their nests for you?
When the air was fiery, did I not cool your heat with my watering?
Did my friendly treatment not give you protective shelter in the frosts?
Who claims you for themselves?
Will they do you good or harm?
Who took you from the branch so that you are no longer on your rosebush?
Thus, day after day,
among thorns and flowers,
the gardener wept, imagining sorrows,
from the day a knight arrived at the fountain and gently
separated the rose from its stem.
And you can forage for wild greens, things others call weeds. I learned from my grandparents how to identify plants not only for food but for medicine. Grandfather learned from an Indian medicine man who lived nearby to use many plants for medicine, like Mullein for congestion. Only problem with foraging today is contamination from chemicals. I solved that by gathering seed and planting in my yard which is chemical free!