WHAT TO DO AROUND MY NEW COUNTRY HOME: A GARDEN
Country home property sales have gone through the roof. Folks tired of what’s been going on in the cities are flocking to the country. If you’ve never lived in the country before, here are a few suggestions for what to do on your property.
GARDENING
Image by Sven Hilker from Pixabay
Gardening is an excellent family recreation. There is something in connecting with the earth and nature that nothing else can fill. Gardens take work, but the rewards go beyond the table.
According to Seth J. Gillihan Ph. D, in his article “10 Mental Health Benefits of Gardening“, gardening offers you great opportunities to be outside and enjoy nature. Here are just a few additional thoughts from Seth’s article:
- Gardening helps us practice acceptance: We all have stress to deal with and gardening helps us to stop and be mindful. There are many things in our life we cannot control- gardening allows the gardener to practice accepting that “nature” is random and to deal with issues as they come.
- Gardening offers an opportunity/mindset: Planning out your garden gives you room to explore planting new vegetables, new flowers, and perhaps new ways to garden (raised beds vs. ground gardening) It expands your mind in learning and cultivating a different practice. It teaches you that even though things may not turn out as you planned to see it as wisdom gained and not a failure.
- Gardening helps us connect with others: Involving others with help in maintaining the garden and eating the bounty can be a great way to connect through conversation and shared work. It also offers us the opportunity to share our harvest with friends and neighbors in the area, creating additional personal connections.
ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL BENEFITS
In addition to the mental health benefits listed above, gardening offers you the physical benefits. While gardening you get the “soil version” of CrossFit. Gardening involves lots of bending, kneeling, crawling, pulling, and walking. Maybe you don’t need that gym membership anymore?
Another benefit of gardening is the possibility of it lowering your blood pressure. Stress takes a toll on your heart. As you dig, weed, and hoe your engaging your body in physical exercise which reduces stress and anxiety. As you mentally relax so does your body, thereby taking stress off your heart and lowering your blood pressure.
HEALTHY HARVEST
Growing a variety of vegetables offers you great health benefits. Research has shown that eating fresh fruits and vegetables may protect you from cancer, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables may help slow the effects of aging, give you more energy, and aid in weight loss. Below are four health benefits of eating fresh:
- More fiber in your diet without trying- 10 to 20 percent increase.
- Intake of the nutrients in their natural form.
- Consume less sodium, as well as less blood sugar spikes.
- Feeling full quicker.
CHILDREN AND GARDENING
Children and gardening are ripe with considerable opportunity. Gardening gets kids off the couch and outdoors- positive physical movement. Helps develop critical thinking skills, as well as fine motor skills for “littles”. Increase family bonding, cultivating responsibility, and becomes an instant science lab!
If you have started homeschooling, gardening will offer you year-round opportunities to have science projects going; blending life, and school.
In a techno advanced society, we have lost the fine art of patience. Gardening is a slow-paced activity, teaching us all patience and care of fragile things. An appreciation for life and the seasons will develop with each year. Our connection to the earth and the care of what we have been blessed with is important as well.
PERHAPS A SMALL FAMILY PRODUCE BUSINESS?
If you find yourself with extra produce you and your family may consider setting up a roadside stand. Think of the goal setting and math skills that you can employ with this opportunity! Check your local county and state laws. Some may require a cottage industry license.
Planting a garden will have you and your family enjoying the many benefits of healthy exercise, healthy eating, and great mental health. Involving your children increases the value as you teach them about nature and patient mindful living.
RESOURCES:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/201906/10-mental-health-benefits-gardening
- https://www.gardeningchannel.com/garden-your-way-to-lower-blood-pressure/
- https://www.headtohealth.com/7-benefits-of-eating-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables/
- https://www.farmflavor.com/lifestyle/health-benefits-garden-vegetables/
- https://mommyuniversitynj.com/2015/05/04/10-benefits-of-gardening-with-kids/
