Designforgenerations’s Blog

“Spending more time in nature might have some surprising health benefits.”  This and other information can be found in the recent New York Times article “The Claim: Exposure to Plants and Parks Can Boost immunity” by Anahad O’Connor (July 5, 2010).  Stress reduction, increased immune function, lower concentration of cortisol, lower pulse rate and lower blood pressure are just a few of the many health benefits associated with our interaction with nature.

As the article describes, “Exposure to plants and trees seems to benefit health.”  It is good to see that articles like this are reaching main stream America and beyond.  We have know for years that contact with nature helps us recover from illness.  Now the studies are proving that daily contact will make us healthier – and save healthcare dollars, too!  The article can be found at

A walk in nature

Everyone has a garden story to tell.  Start to mention an interest in gardening and it seems that people will share their adventures in nature.   For example, I was on a flight back from San Diego and had the pleasure of sitting next to a woman who had several garden stories to tell.   She and her husband live outside of Houston on a one acre parcel and have a passion for growing fruit trees.  The winter was not very kind because a frost threatened their grapefruit trees.  They had to pick all of the fruit, before it ripened, or it ruined by the frost.

I relate this story mainly because this gardener was even more concerned with how she and her husband will be able to maintain their fruit trees as they get older.  They are currently in the 50’s and want to continue to live in their home for the rest of their lives.  One of their concerns is how they will be able to work in their garden and care for their fruit trees and vegetable garden.  Watering, pruning, weeding and all of the things that they need to do to help the garden thrive.

There is a lot to consider when we talk about aging-in-place, especially as it relates to the garden and yard in general.  There is a growing need to help people adapt their yards to become age friendly outdoor environments.  This will require an assessment of the yard to help people to continue to fully use their yard.  In the case of the woman from Houston, installing a drip irrigation system; applying mulch to control weeds and retain moisture;  planting disease resistant varieties of fruit trees; are a few of the ways people can help make it easier to create age appropriate gardens.  It may also be possible to share the work with neighbors in exchange for a share of some of the produce when it ripens.  Gardeners want to keep working in their garden and we need to find ways to help make it easier for everyone.

Gardening

Therapeutic Gardens and Exercise

We lose muscle as we age.  This is a fact.  As we get older, our muscles shrink.  However, we do not have to sit back and think that there is nothing we can do about it.  Exercise can reverse this trend.  The old adage, ‘use it or lose it’ takes on even more significance.  A story on NPR’s Morning Edition today talks about the studies that are being conducted to show how exercise can help people build new muscle at any age.  People in their 80’s who exercise with weights, as an example, increase muscle and get stronger.  (A link to the story is below).

So, how does this translate to the garden?  When we are outside moving a wheel barrow that is filled with tools or soil, we are in fact weight training.  Digging holes for new plants, trimming shrubs, cutting branches, sweeping the walk, moving garden furniture, raking the lawn incorporate bending, stretching, reaching, and other movements that are good for us.  The tools we are using act as weights and we are doing two things at the same time.  We are working in our garden and simultaneously exercising in a very soothing gym.  The result is that we are all rebuilding muscle that has been lost to a natural occurrence called aging. We are also creating a beautiful environment that we can all enjoy.

The garden is therapeutic.  We can classify this aspect of gardening as good for our health.  The activities listed above, and so many more, can be performed by people at any age.  This is the active part of using the garden.   We are creating gardens that we can look at and feel good about.  We are also creating gardens in which we can exercise and improve our health. The link to the NPR 2-22-10 story can be found at:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123887823