Everybody loves a garden and, having experienced the pleasures of gardening for the first time in my life over recent months, I can truly say that I am well and truly hooked! The health benefits associated with gardening have been well documented for years, so whilst I have happily engaged in creating a lovely space of indulgence, I am also helping to keep myself fit and healthy.
Health benefits associated with gardening include:
- Cuts stroke and heart attack risk
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Strengthens bones, muscles and joints
- Prevent falls among older adults by improving balance
- Improves brain health
- Improves hand strength and dexterity.
In addition, by staying active outdoors you can really burn some calories as well as build strength. On average, this what you can expect to burn per hour while gardening:
- Heavy garden work (landscaping, moving rocks, hauling dirt): 400-600 calories per hour
- Raking and bagging leaves: 350-450 calories per hour
- Gardening: pulling weeds, planting flowers, etc: 200-400 calories per hour
- Mowing the lawn: 250-350 calories per hour
I’m learning that gardening is a very flexible hobby, adapting to time, space, budget and mobility constraints. It can be successfully done from something as small as a window box. Help and expertise abounds, with information and advice being available from a myriad of books, on-line reference, garden centres, classes, friends and family – all of which are ready to help with any garden project.
For those who choose to grow their own vegetables then the benefits here are also numerous.
- Research proves that fruit and veg protect us from a range of illnesses. For this to work well, we need to consume at least five a day. The pleasure and convenience of growing your own will make this an easier target to reach.
- Growing your own vegetables puts you in control. You have the opportunity to reduce the amount of pesticides that you use in your garden, making them healthier.
- Nothing beats fresh-picked fruits and vegetables. Produce begin to lose nutrients from the minute they’re picked, so when you grow them, you know exactly how fresh they are.
- A big advantage to growing your own food is that it can save you money.
- Eating home grown produce socially gives you an immense feeling of satisfaction.
I have been totally surprised by the amount of pleasure I’ve got from this diverse activity in such a short time. I have spent more time outside, enjoying the fresh air than I can ever remember. Growing a garden also gives you a new appreciation for nature. You have the opportunity to see how things grow – from the excited anticipation of seeing the first tiny shoots, followed by the daily growth of plants right through to maturity, and culminating in harvesting vegetables for cooking, eating and sharing. Gardening gives you a real sense of appreciation when you can see the bounty of your efforts – the rewards have been great.
My garden is a peaceful haven – a place to watch bees busy themselves and butterflies flutter by. I listen to bird song and have watched the frantic to-ing and fro-ing as a family of house martens grow and flourish in a nest under the eaves of the roof.
My peaceful haven is also a wonderful space to share with friends and family. On a warm summer’s day, nothing is more relaxing than spending time in the garden, enjoying a glass of wine and dining alfresco with those you enjoy spending time with. If you have used garden produce in the dish, it is all the better!
I am looking forward to visiting gardens open to the public, small or large for pleasure and inspiration. I eagerly await the shows and fayres with demonstrations and the opportunity to share best practice.
I would never have imagined six months ago that I would become one of Monty Don’s biggest fans, or that I would have read about Lancelot Brown, the gardening legend more commonly known as Capability Brown, who during the 18th century designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure. He was nicknamed “Capability” because he would tell his clients that their property had “capability” for improvement.
My own garden certainly had the capability for improvement. I watch and listen and learn. Learning and building knowledge is important to me, but gardening teaches us so much more… as Gertrude Jekyll, an influential British horticulturist would attest: ‘A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.’
My plot is quite small and consists of flower and shrub borders, a lawn and a long narrow raised bed for growing vegetables and fruit. The raised bed has been wonderful to work with as this has substantially reduced the need for repetitive bending. I have a quickly filling compost bin, as some of my neighbours have kindly joined in my enthusiasm by donating their compostable waste. Everything now is experimental as I try different things for the first time. But I am going to continue to be bold and brave. I have a determination to succeed that doubtless comes from learning from many mistakes, and that is all part of the process.
So, am I green fingered and is there such a thing as beginner’s luck? Who knows… All I know is that, magically, things are growing. I will therefore continue to keep the faith as I eagerly await the arrival of the next ripe surprise and remember that, in the words of Audrey Hepburn, ‘To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow’.