Posted May 13, 2021 at 5:40 pm ET
SHUT DOWN
By gardening together, seeds, cuttings and stories can be exchanged. (Photo: Tyler Jones, UF / IFAS)
When thinking about the prospect of a new interest and activity, consider gardening. Gardening offers a variety of benefits. Being outdoors is a great way to increase your activity level and focus. Flowers bloom, vegetables provide food and there is constant change.
The planting and digging in the dirt focuses on something you can do rather than things you can’t do anything about. Moving dirt from one end of the yard to the other can make sense when building a new flower bed or planting a vegetable garden.
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Gardening is educational
A mysterious plant or colorful insect turns gardening into a learning experience. Simple plants are complicated. Take the time to really look at a flower, noting its various parts and how they are assembled.
There are thousands of books and websites devoted to training gardeners of all levels and interests – vegetable garden, wildflowers, grasses, perennials, insects, soil, lawns, and even weeds.
Gardening encourages curiosity, teaches patience and has a cross-generational appeal. A growing number of schools are engaged in community gardening projects to teach children about the sources of food and how to grow it.
Not as young as before?
People of all ages and of all physical fitness can work in the garden. Back and some ambulatory problems can be minimized with appropriate tools, sitting on a stool, or kneeling on the floor.
Difficulties in lifting and carrying can be compensated for by pulling a cart with tools and carrying smaller loads in handy buckets. Framed garden beds at table height are ideal for people with limited mobility. Move at your own pace by pulling weeds or planting seeds.
Gardening is social
When friends are gardening, you access their knowledge and learn from their past mistakes. Friends share cuttings, seeds, stories of successful techniques and home remedies for insects and fertilizers. Vegetable gardeners share their crop yields and recipes for the preparation.
There are local clubs and societies devoted to gardening, including the Garden Friends of the Big Bend, the Rose Society, the Orchid Society, the Tallahassee Garden Club, the Havana Garden Club, and the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, to name a few call.
Gardening can make your home more attractive without spending thousands of dollars on renovations. A colorful and planned garden not only elevates, but also enhances your home.
Real estate agents often emphasize the attractiveness of external curbs to increase the interest of a future buyer. Unattractive and neglected courtyards can hide a gem of a beautiful home and reduce its appeal.
Health factor
After all, gardening is good for your health; It provides exercise and can lower your blood pressure if you can keep the dog from keeping your flowers and uninvited wildlife at bay.
Yes, there are trials and difficulties, but gardening is a personal reward for the mind, body, and spirit.
Kathryn Voigt is a volunteer master gardener with UF / IFAS extension Leon County, an institution for equal opportunities. If you have any questions about gardening, send an email to the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.
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