By thinking creatively and making some simple changes, organizations can boost health and wellness benefits for their constituents.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s latest housing facility in East Kensington offers senior-friendly apartments designed by Cecil Baker + Partners.
It is true – trees add value to our gardens and yards. This can be measured in the value of a property as well as in our health and well-being. To read more – check out the article in the Wall Street Journal, “When money grows on trees.” Click to access WSJ_-M001-20141128.pdf
Now that it is spring – it’s time to take a look at your garden to see all that is growing and blooming. What needs to be pruned, are there any areas in need of attention, how does everything look after the winter months? Regular maintenance of the garden and landscape is vital to the health and well-being of the garden – and the people who enjoy them. Any areas around the residence should be inspected frequently. As a landscape matures, it needs attention to keep it looking as good or better than the first day it was installed. Walking through the garden will reveal problems. Litter, injured and/or dead plants, broken furniture, and other garden elements in need attention should be taken care of – immediately. If the garden appears neglected, it reflects on the community as a whole. There are also health and safety issues. A few of the areas to consider include the following: Pruning shrubs – Electric hedge trimming must be banned from all gardens! Only hand pruners are to be used. Plants should be allowed to grow in their natural state and not turned into unnatural shapes such as tabletops, hockey pucks and bowling balls. Also, knowing when to prune is important so you don’t cut off all of the flowers. Find a person who knows how to prune correctly! Tree care (Arboriculture) – Visual inspection of mature trees is very important. This will tell you if you have broken limbs or branches that need to be removed. Look for die back on branches. Low branches should be trimmed so people are not hit when walking under the trees. A certified tree arborist needs to be consulted for regular maintenance of shade and evergreen trees. Irrigation – If you have an automatic irrigation system – you need to check to make sure all of the heads are functioning and hitting the intended areas. Make sure you have rain sensors to turn off the system when it is not needed. Check the watering schedule so you are not overwatering or watering too frequently. Leaking pipes and spray heads also waste water. Walks – Power wash the hard surface walking paths regularly. Some communities with high traffic power wash sidewalks daily. Food stains, gum and other unwanted elements ruin the appearance of a walking path. Lighting – Low voltage lights should be checked regularly to replace dead bulbs and reposition light fixtures. Regular 110 voltage lights on buildings should also be inspected and cleaned also. Furniture – Are tables, chairs, benches, umbrellas and other furniture all in excellent condition? Any broken furniture should either be repaired immediately or removed to be repaired off-site and then returned. Mulching – You may not need to mulch every year. If you have added mulch on a regular basis, you may only need to scratch up the existing mulch to make it look fresh, or, at most, add a thin top dressing. A common practice today is to create ‘volcanoes’ around trees and other plants. Most important is to create a maintenance schedule with weekly checklists of the above mentioned items. More detailed gardens may require additional inspections, for example, ponds, water features and other garden items. Maintaining the garden and landscape insures that the gardens look their best and that they are safe for everyone to use. We need to help them look their best for everyone to enjoy.
On the first day of spring, our thoughts turn to the garden and what we will be growing this year. Researchers at Texas A&M University suggest growing more fruit and vegetables. Over half of the older adults in the U.S. do not consume the recommended five daily servings of fruit and vegetables. The research study, “Growing Minds: Evaluating the Relationship between Gardening and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Older Adults”, shows that gardening can encourage elders to eat more of the good foods. The study has shown that gardeners are more likely to eat more fruit and vegetables as compared to non-gardeners. In addition to improved eating habits, 80 percent of the older adults participating in the research study indicated that they feel better because of their gardening activities. Gardening programs have a positive effect for the health and quality of life for older adults. To view an abstract of the research study, visit: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/711
We are social beings. We like to be around other people. It is good for our health and it is known that people who socialize live longer. There are many places in which we interact with out friends and family and one of the best places is in the great outdoors. The article in the Dec. 28 issue of the Wall Street Journal, “Making 2011 The Year of Great Relationships” by Elizabeth Bernstein indicates that being outdoors relieves stress. We know that access to nature helps us heal sooner, so, why not enjoy that next conversation outside. Combining the healing powers of nature with a walk in the park, a bike ride or even a sleigh ride in the snow will make us feel better overall. Roger Ulrich, Ph.D. has defined nature as a ‘positive distraction’. Nature has the ability to help us focus and can improve our concentration. We can help reduce the distractions by turning off the cell phone, i-pod and other electronic devices. The sounds of nature will produce the soundtrack for the social break. Spending more time outdoors with others in 2011 will be one the best things we can do to begin the new year. A link to the article can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203731004576045721718177728.html?KEYWORDS=making+2011+the+year+of+great+relationships
An article in today’s USA Today by Craig Wilson reminds me how important the porch is for all of us. Craig reminisces on growing up and spending time on his parents front porch. His stories remind me of spending my own childhood on the back porch of my parents home. All our summer meals took place on the porch. In fact, most all activities were moved to the porch during the summer months. There were many summer nights spent sleeping outside on the porch. The porch is one of those iconic architectural elements that we all can relate to and have fond memories of spending time on. It works so well because it offers us protection from the elements. The porch shelters us from the hot summer sun and it is a place where we can sit outside to listen to the rain. It acts as a stage where we can entertain our friends. And it is an observation area where we can check out what is happening in the neighborhood. The porch makes us feel safe because we are close to the house and do not have to venture too far into nature. I am reminded of how important an architectural element the porch is for all of us. A porch was included in the garden design at Medford Leas Continuing Care Retirement Community. The porch was constructed off of the recreation room and it has been an essential component of this courtyard garden. It is host is daily activities, including cookouts, holiday parties, concerts, garden classes, reading groups, etc. etc. I am thinking about a comfortable chair, something to eat and maybe a good book to read on my porch. You can include a ceiling fan, maybe some music and a cooler filled with drinks and you may never have to leave! Who could ask for anything more! Enjoy!
An article in the Wall Street Journal (1-5-10-WSJ) focuses on the importance of exercise in our lives everyday. ‘The Hidden Benefits of Exercise‘ by Laura Landro highlights why we need to refocus attention on creating a variety of forms of exercise. ‘Just do it’ takes on special meaning when we realize how spending 30 to 60 minutes a day can protect us against a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to cancer. The federal government issued guidelines in 2008 and is developing a national plan to encourage following the guidelines. Moderate forms of activity include “ballroom and line dancing; biking on level ground or with a few hills; canoeing; gardening (raking, trimming shrubs); tennis (doubles); brisk walking; water aerobics.” More vigorous exercise includes “biking faster than 10 miles an hour; ‘heavy’ gardening (digging and hoeing); tennis (singles); hiking uphill; jogging or running.” Incorporating gardening as part of a regular exercise regime will accomplish our need for exercise in a creative and stress-reducing manner. We might as well have fun while we are exercising. The fruits of our labor might just be some special vegetables for the table. Exercise programs also offer benefits at any age and can be especially important for people over 40. The WSJ article references the publication “Fit to Live” by Pamela Peeke, MD. Dr. Peeke discusses how, as we age, ‘physical strength, endurance, flexibility and balance begin to decline.’ Including regular exercise as a part of our daily routine can help to slow the aging process. The complete WSJ article can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704350304574638331243027174.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read
A warm early fall evening is the perfect time to experience the garden. In fact, this can be one of the best times to spend time outside re-connecting with nature. The sound of the crickets, a cool breeze, the fragrance of the herbs, a dew settling on the leaves of the plants are just a few of the pleasure that await. St. Francis Country House celebrated the opening of their garden this week. The garden was completed on Monday and dedicated on Tuesday. In just three days, they have held six events in the garden, including a marketing meeting, luncheon for the residents and a garden party this evening. They are wasting little time taking full advantage of all the garden has to offer. There was music playing in the background. Refreshments and appetizers made it more special. The temperatures was in the low 70’s. There were a few clouds in the sky and the moon was beginning to shine. The landscape lighting along the walking paths added a mystical quality to the garden. Families were visiting with the grand children. It was the perfect evening. This is an excellent example of how the garden is used to its full potential. The Therapeutic Garden has been programmed throughout the day for a variety of activities. People would rather spend time outside and if you provide the appropriate setting – “they will come.”
Spring is here and it is great to start spending more time outside. There are many reasons why being outside is good for us, be it relaxation, exercise, time to recharge or time to unwind. We all know that being outside in nature is healthy, whether that involves taking a walk, flying a kite or working in the garden (my choice for the way to spend ‘quality time’). What ever the reason why we we enjoy being outside, the sunshine offers us a way to absorb Vitamin D naturally. In fact, Dr. Andrew Weil’s web site (www.drweil.com) describes Vitamin D as the “sunshine vitamin” because our bodies synthesize this vitamin by exposure to sunlight. Dr. Weil lists five reasons how this important hormone is used throughout the body: Helps to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Assists in the absorption of calcium and promotes bone mineralization, which may prevent or slow the progression of osteoporosis. Strengthens the immune system and protects against a number of serious diseases, including rickets and osteomalacia. May provide protection from hypertension, psoriasis and several autoimmune diseases (including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis). Plays a role in defending against cancer (studies link a deficiency of vitamin D to as many as 18 different cancers). It is recommended to get 20 to 30 minutes of exposure to the sun’s light each day (depending upon your skin pigmentation). Take care to wear the proper clothing to avoid over exposure. Additional information on Vitamin D and to see if you are getting your share, check out Dr. Weil’s web site at: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP03255/5-Reasons-You-Need-Vitamin-D.html So, the next time someone asks you why you are spending so much time in your garden, remind them that you are getting your daily dose of Vitamin D. Enjoy!
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Design For Generations, LLC
Jack Carman F.A.S.L.A.
92 Tallowood Drive
Medford NJ 08055
Voice – 609-953-5881
Fax – 609-953-1625
jack@designforgenerations.com
www.designforgenerations.com
