Why do we love to garden? Let’s count. Gardens have played an important role since the beginning of time.
Ever heard of the Garden of Eden? Didn’t Voltaire’s “Candide” tell us that we need to work our gardens? Throughout history and to this day, gardens provide nourishment for both the body and the soul.
Think of our own country’s Victory Gardens, which provided fresh, healthy food during World War II. Consider the history of medicine based on plants, especially herbs. And of course every culture prides itself on the beauty of its gardens. Artists around the world continue to immortalize gardens. So why wouldn’t we love to cultivate our own?
Let’s talk about the personal benefits. The fact is: gardening is movement and a mood enhancer. The physical activity of turning the soil, planting, weeding, and harvesting is estimated at 300 calories per hour. We train important muscle groups, increase our heart rate and help tone the body. Lifting, carrying, digging, bending and stooping help keep our joints flexible and prevent osteoporosis.
It has been said that we do our best to pull weeds. Sunlight provides vitamin D, which is essential for good health. Remember that you can avoid excessive sun exposure by applying sunscreen, wearing a hat and other protective clothing, and avoiding the hottest hours of the day when the sun is most intense.
It pays to work so close to nature and to be creative with your garden. The end result of your work is fresh vegetables, herbs, beautiful flowers, shrubs and trees. What an advantage to harvest and eat fresh fruits and vegetables without pesticides!
Remember that your efforts to create pollination-friendly gardens and avoid harmful chemicals will benefit the environment and our health.
The camaraderie among gardeners is another source of joy. Like-minded people can exchange their ideas and learn from each other. I encourage you to join a local gardening club or herbal association and do volunteer work in your community.
As Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Berks County, we’re committed to education and volunteering. Do you already know our many local programs? We maintain many gardens across the county, from the Blue Marsh Lake Sensory Garden to the Reading Public Museum Arboretum to the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, to name a few.
We offer educational opportunities for primary school children and residents in long-term care facilities. We offer presentations in area libraries and other group meetings. During the pandemic, we shared programs through Zoom.
Here is a link to zoom programs: https://tinyurl.com/b5autax9 (See All Home Gardening-Penn State Extension)
For information on how to become a Penn State Extension Master Gardener, call Dawn or Dee Dee at 610-378-1327.
