Why are we doing all this?

[digitS']

I can't think of a more compelling reason: a healthier diet.

A gardener just can't help but be focused on including more fruits and vegetables in his or her diet. "What am I going to do with all this?" must be a more common question than the title of this thread. And then there's, "What do you suppose this tastes like?"

First-time gardeners - it takes time. Once you've got some production skills going for you, abundance becomes a reality. Throughout the season and seasons stay focused on that healthier diet. Along with all the activity, it is an investment in life!

The Nutrition Source, the Harvard School of Public Health

Steve
:tools

 

[vfem]

Thanks Steve... I love you pointing this out. This year since I started gardening (which I have a HIGH veggie and fruit diet anyways) I have decided to add to my healthy living. I have joined a gym... I do yoga once a week and weight training once a week... and I cycle 2-3 miles twice a week. However, with all this ABUNDANCE of veggies and fruit, I have gained 5lbs! LOL

Its a good way of life living truely healthy... plus the work out to your body just gardening itself is amazing. I hope I'm still doing this when I'm 70!

 

[HiDelight]

for your brain ..the most neglected organ in the body ...the garden feeds the brain with not only nutrition..lots of badly needed vit D..exercise ... but good thoughts a very safe healthy outlet for creativity and frustration ...

the brain is our control center gardening keeps it running smoothly

that's what I think anyway

my Rx do your brain a favor and garden

 

[digitS']

Amazing Vfem, you are one very active person!

HiDelight, I thought of you when I thought to start this thread . . . a nurse, right?

The study of the lifesyles of nurses that is referenced in that link I posted will tell us more about what is and is not healthy for years to come. So far, it is 14 years and counting.

I'm not sure what gardening is doing for my brain. I've got all these things I'm trying out there . . . trying and forgetting ! I lose more information than I gain each year.

Steve :/

 

[digitS']

I should have referenced this report on the "Mediterranean diet" but I dis-remembered .

I like to think about the Mediterranean diet because I so like the ingredients. Now, if I just lived upstairs from an Italian restaurant . . .

Steve

 

[HiDelight]

Amazing Vfem, you are one very active person!

HiDelight, I thought of you when I thought to start this thread . . . a nurse, right?

The study of the lifesyles of nurses that is referenced in that link I posted will tell us more about what is and is not healthy for years to come. So far, it is 14 years and counting.

I'm not sure what gardening is doing for my brain. I've got all these things I'm trying out there . . . trying and forgetting ! I lose more information than I gain each year.

Steve :/

Yes I am a nurse and both for myself and my patients I highly rec gardening for feeding your mind with solace and nutritious foods ....it is as important as taking care of yourself in any other way...even if you are only growing an avocado in a glass..grow something!!!! ...eating well to prevent heart disease and diabetes ect ect is always important..excercise is the best thing you can do to avoid injury as you age......I think our brains are neglected both in nutrition and stimulation ....it needs food ..both visual and edible! and where better a place to get it but in the garden

I think that your brain can stay so healthy from the planning...hard work ..pleasure...struggles and joys of gardening ...then ultimately the good nutrition you recieve from growing your own healthy things to eat ..eating in season when foods are at their best flavor and nutrition wise

I am not sure if I am rambling off topic but it feels like i am ok so tell me if I have wandered please?

I have never in my life realized how important an organ and body system your brain controls and is ...until these past couple of years when mine has struggled so hard to accept a tragedy ..and I noticed the physical impact of letting your brain becomes overwhelmed and suffers from neglect ...

thank goodness there is gardening is all I can say ..because it is has helped so much to feed my brain during this time with all the bounty physically, emotionally and nutritionally that the garden gives...

you know our local psych hospital (Western State) used to have brilliant gardens that the people who were admitted there grew and then sold in farmers type markets ..people actually thrived during that period ..until it was stopped because I guess it was considered indenturement (did I spell that right?) ..anyway that was the saddest thing when I read the history of the place ..saw what was created and how people thrived ...then it was all taken away and people were again just imprisoned ...

so yes good nutrition is the core to gardening I think ...but also we should never underestimate the most important organ we have ..the brain..both nutrition and hard work ..a safe place to vent frustrations and exercise your mind ...all the thoughts that go into it ..the mental pleasure ....vit D from the sunshine ..

sometimes I feel the brain is such a neglected organ I just want to say things about it!

so I hope it was ok to say it here? and I hope I am not rambling and wandering too much?

thank you for the thread I hope I made some sense
(also I am getting used to bifocals so excuse grammer spelling ect )

 

[digitS']

rambling? . . . bifocals . . . ?

I remember being prescribed bifocals. I wasn't driving because of the eye test and had to walk a fair distance in the blinding glare and blowing dust of a very windy day. I went home to a sinus infection and then the ears became involved. Lost a few more decibels of hearing that day in that double whammy. Still had to spend a couple weeks not knowing whether to peer over the glasses while driving or not; getting used to the ground being about knee height; having homely, dirty little kids appearing suddenly in my face; and with dogs leaping seemingly at my throat . . .

The mentally ill . . . ? We seem to either imprison them or throw them out on the street these days. I grew up in the country and in small towns. There were a couple bums that slept under a downtown bridge but everyone knew them by sight. I bet many normal people had personal relationships with the bums. Now, there is an entire population of people on the streets, many of them in complete distress.

Should I mention potassium? . . . rambling?

Steve

 

[Texan]

I was thinking that I would save money. Wrong. I bought a tiller (walk behind). I have bought 4 sprinklers, 5 water hoses, a new hoe and a mulching mower for the grass clippings. I then had to buy a 3 point dirt bucket for the tractor to haul horse manure from down the street for my compost piles. To top it all off I am about to let go of almost $2000 for a 3 point tiller for my tractor.

To be fair, I think I will probably have enough work around here in the neighborhood tilling up other peoples gardens for them once they see the 3 point tiller takes all the work out of it. It may pay for itself. Lets hope so.

In the long run, I think we will wind up saving money. We had an exceptionaly dry (drought actually) year so far and that has driven the cost of watering up a great deal.

I have had fun though, learned a whole bunch and am eating some good veggies I am getting ready now to plant some more stuff.

 

[HiDelight]

LOL I have spent a LOT of money in my quest to save money

 

[seedcorn]

Do it for several reasons.

1) after dealing w/people all day, go home relax w/garden. If I'm not happy w/something, pull it out and start over. (Frowned upon doing this w/people)

2) Flavor--can't beat fresh tomatoes, okra, green beans, corn.....etc.

3) Overflow goes to people that can't garden at Church.

4) Gave some chores to my 2 kids. Both of whom will garden when they get older, they've caught the bug altho not to the extent that I have it. (They aren't as old as I am so the bug may intensify).

5) Love the looks of gardens, especially if mix of flowers and vegetables.