Gardening for Better Health
By Chris Edmunds and Erin Bailey, M.S. in Horticulture
With the uncertainty and cancellations of plans, it's a great time for a fun gardening staycation.
Looking for something in particular?
Search our article library:
Need some advice on how to start a beautiful garden? Sign up for our email newsletter, and receive free gardening articles, resources, and container designs to your inbox.
If you’re concerned about the recent news regarding novel coronavirus, or already working at home, then gardening may be the perfect hobby for you. Our regional garden centers are open-air, and our plants are locally grown in Manhattan, KS making them better suited for the conditions of your climate than others.
Gardening is a rewarding and reduced-risk hobby! Not only does it help you to create an outdoor oasis just in time for beautiful spring weather, but it is a healthy activity. Tending to plants can improve your health by keeping you moving, getting some sun, and reducing stress by interacting with nature. Did you know that getting your hands in the soil actually gives you a good feeling because of a serotonin response in your brain? Not to mention the joy flowers bring as they bloom throughout the season. Whether it’s a full landscape or a few containers, spending time with plants is a relaxing, inexpensive way to spend time at home. There are garden styles for every type of gardener, and many offer entertainment by attracting enchanting pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
Feed Yourself from Home
Historically, times of uncertainty have prompted more local food production, think of the victory gardens of war eras. Of course, we aren’t in the same boat as we were back then, but many people may be taking the proactive measures of planting a vegetable garden. If eating out becomes less of a possibility for you and your family, the advantage is you can be more in control of your diet by cooking at home.
A balanced diet is a preventative measure for avoiding many illnesses. Additionally, growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs means you are more likely to eat them, improving your diet. This works well for getting the little ones interested in eating them also! Whole foods, or those that haven’t been processed are the most nutritious way to eat. Whole fruits and veggies are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants making you feel better longer after eating them.
Many of the foods that support a healthy immune system can be grown at home with just a little effort. Red and green bell peppers actually contain more vitamin C per ounce than citrus. Broccoli and strawberries are also vitamin C powerhouses, and dark leafy greens like spinach and kale are good sources of carotenoids, an antioxidant that supports immune systems.
Herbs are also packed with nutritional value and many have been used for centuries to help treat infections. Of course herbs cannot replace modern medicine but incorporating them into your diet can’t hurt. Common culinary herbs that potentially have antiviral properties include oregano, sage, fennel, basil, garlic, peppermint, and rosemary. Purple coneflower or Echinacea purpurea is also common in immune system boosting tea and it grows easily in our area.
There are even folklore stories of the power of herbs during the 14th century while Europe faced the Black Death. As the legend goes, a band of thieves made a living stealing from those who passed away. Supposedly they were able to do this by protecting themselves with a blend of antimicrobial herbs diffused in vinegar. Today, this herb blend is marketed by essential oil companies as “thieves’ oil”. The combination is of rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus, cloves, and cinnamon. Some recipes also add thyme and lavender. An at-home version of this essential oil mix can be made with dry or fresh herbs by infusing them in vinegar or witch hazel. This mixture can also be used like a cleaner or hand spray. A mix of rubbing alcohol and Aloe Vera is also a quick recipe for a homemade hand sanitizer.
If you’re concerned about the excess of chemicals or other potential health risks, growing your own food is a way to control what you’re consuming. The old adage of “you are what you eat” reins true. Not only do the fruits, vegetables, and herbs we grow at home help feed us, but assisting in the garden can be a rewarding experience for youth who learn more about nature and the responsibility of caring for a living thing. Not to mention some excellent family bonding!
If you’re anticipating the need to stay home more this season, just starting out, or an expert wanting to try some new varieties, head on down to our nearest garden center location for flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits to get your outdoor escape growing.
Need some advice on how to start a beautiful garden? Sign up for our email newsletter, and receive free gardening articles, resources, and container designs to your inbox.