by Tina Martin
If you’re looking for new ways to improve your physical and mental health, you might want to consider gardening. Getting into the yard is a great way to exercise, soak up the vitamin D, eat healthier and recover your mental health. And today, Capitol Wholesale Nursery is here to help you get started.
Physical Benefits
Whether you’re planting, picking, or pruning, time spent in nature is time spent physically and can help you to develop hand strength and dexterity. It can also double up as a form of light cardio, especially when you’re trimming bushes, carrying mulch, or lawn mowing - in fact, the CDC considers gardening as an official form of exercise, as just 30-45 minute sessions are believed to burn up to 300 calories. Just make sure to take breaks from repetitive exercises as it can be easy to pick up stress injuries, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel.
The physical benefits extend beyond just exercise - a 2013 study found that DIY gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30% prolonging life for those over 60. Not only are you moving your body in a healthy way but you’re also soaking up valuable Vitamin D, which can help you fight off cold and flu, increase bone strength, and feel more positive throughout the week.
Mental Benefits
Speaking of feeling positive, gardening has also been shown to provide major benefits for mental health, relieving stress, releasing endorphins, and even reducing the chance of Alzheimer’s. Getting hands-on is a surefire way to feel better about yourself and make yourself more pleasant to be around for others.
It can also be an excellent way to get closer to others in your household. If you have a partner, kids, or friends you live with, dedicating some time to gardening vegetables can become quality time as well as giving you food to prepare, cook and eat together later. You can benefit mentally from the healthy diet provided by a well-cultivated diet, as well. In fact, studies show fewer symptoms of depression, stress, and overall negativity in those who regularly eat fruit and vegetables.
Beginner Tips
Getting started with gardening is a lot more straightforward than you might think. All you need is a few key components:
● A garden patch (at least 3 by 4 feet across) with exposure to 6-8 hours of full sun every day
● A plan that corresponds with your regional climate
● Basic garden tools, including garden & shuffle hoe, dirt & leaf rake, garden shovel, and hand tools
● Good soil with basic nutrients and a PH of around 7 (neutral) benefits most common garden crops
Once you’ve created the conditions for growing, it’s then a question of picking vegetables or plants that you like the taste of or that are easy to grow. Recommendations include beetroot, bush tomatoes, salad leaves, potatoes, and peas but there are plenty of other options if you want to get experimental.
You should also pay close attention to the surrounding environment. High winds can make it difficult for crops to grow, as can pollution or contamination from nearby sources. Animals are another factor, especially in areas with large populations of groundhogs, rabbits, or deer and you may need to take measures to protect your produce or else lose them to a hungry herbivore.
Gardening can have extraordinary benefits for mental and physical health, it’s also a lot of fun (especially with a partner). And who knows? You might even decide to turn this into a side business! To get started, all you need to do is grab a shovel and head out into the yard with the right knowledge. I promise you won’t regret it.
Capitol Wholesale Nursery has been servicing the Bay Area for over 40 years as a premier grower, plant broker, and re-wholesaler. Need landscaping or wholesaling services? Call (408) 239-0589.
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