The weather certainly has a way of reminding us how we are hard wired to nature. Stopping at a food store on Friday to pick up loaf of French bread for dinner, I thought I had run into an unannounced special sale. There were literally no parking spaces. I had to wind my way to the outer reaches of this typically unused section of the parking lot to find the last parking space. Once inside the store, it finally dawned on me. There was a forecast of snow the next day and everyone was in the store to buy milk, eggs and bread! It was as if people were afraid that they may not have enough food to last 48 hours. This has to be another lesson from the work of Edward O. Wilson, who wrote about our connection with nature. The fear of being in our homes with nothing to eat scares people into running to the stores. The result is that we all seem to survive. We may even have to get creative and dig into the back of the pantry shelves for that mystery ingredient that we only seem to use in times of climatic despair. This reinforces the belief that we are affected by nature and that we react in ways that are similar to our ancestors, storing up for winter hibernation. And, on a related side note, be sure to check in on neighbors who may be in need of some T.L.C. Maybe they could use their walk shoveled or someone to visit when they cannot get outside. Maybe you can bring them some of the bread or eggs you purchased at the store. A home baked cake or cookies would gos long way, too! This is especially important for older adults. As the winter months tends to keep us indoors more and not out working in our garden, we lose contact with people. The snow should be a reminder to check on those neighbors who are in need. So, if you are out buying things before the next storm, remember to pick up a little extra for those who may be house bound. Time to make snow angels!
I know that the winter season is fast approaching. The days and nights are getting colder and Thanksgiving is upon us. However, I am already longing for the opportunity to get my hands back into the soil. Spring will not come soon enough. There are still opportunities for remaining active and keeping the garden tools in operation. We just have to be a little more creative. For example, I picked up some basil plants in the food store this past weekend. I have some unused pots in the garage that were looking for something to do and quickly filled two containers with lush basil plants. I had also taken coleus cuttings a few weeks back. I let them sit in a glass of water for a month to develop new roots. They were ready to be planted in pots this past weekend, also. So, be creative. Look around in stores for plants that need a good home. Some food stores have small herbs that need a good home. And garden centers have plants that you can adopt into your family. Look for ones that can produce addition plants for the next growing season, such as herbs and annuals. Your window sill or sunlit tables will do nicely. It is a way to keep our interests and passions alive during the winter months and a way to get plants started for next year. Hopefully, spring will be here soon!
We have just turned the clocks back and gained an extra hour. (Where does that extra hour go?) However, the day light is less and less every day. And it is darker earlier in the evenings now. This can mean that our bodies are not getting as much of the light that we need. WE may be spending more time inside, also because it is getting colder and we do not get to spend as much time outside. So, what do we do. If you’re on the hunt for fun and interesting “cbd stores” explore our website. Well, we need to make the extra effort to still spend time outside in the sunlight. Take a walk at lunch or make a few extra trips to the mail box. Park farther away from the entrance to the store so you will have to walk a little longer. Find a friend who will encourage you to walk on a regular basis. Listen to some tunes or pod casts on your MP3 player. (Car Talk always makes the walk more fun.) And – there are always things to do in the garden – fill the bird feeders, pick up branches, rake leaves, etc. The lack of sunlight can lead to depression, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and weight gain. One of the best ways to combat this is to go outside and do it often to fight off the ‘winter blues’. Do not take for granted that we can spend time outside tomorrow. Do it today! Get out and balance those circadian rythmns. Enjoy!
The article “Quick and Not So Dirty: No-Sweat Composters” by Gwendolyn Bounds in today’s Wall Street Journal offers a number of interesting options for composting. The articles author describes and ‘test drives’ a few of the various of indoor and outside composters currently available. The market place is catching up to public interest and creating models that appeal to a variety of needs. Ms. Bounds has a great video that accompanies the article (worth watching!) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574471330808326984.html?mod=djemLifeStyleh This growing interest in composting definitely applies to senior living communities. I have talked with the residents of a various senior communities who are taking up the charge and developing compost programs. Heron Point, a continue care retirement community in Chestertown, MD, has implemented a compost program and it is resident led. Compost bins have been set up in the independent living residential courts, so they are accessible and convenient. All of the compost that is created is used in the community vegetable garden. One of the other goals of the residents is to reduce the amount of compostable food waste collected from the dining service kitchen. So, the vegetable food scraps will be collected and added to a general compost bin for use in the community garden, also.
We keep reading more and more about how important sunshine is for our health. Low levels of vitamin D double the risk of a heart attack and stroke. Low levels of the sunshine vitamin can increase the chance of developing high blood pressure and chronic blood vessel inflammation. As many as 75% of Americans may not be getting enough vitamin D for optimal health. People who are 50 years or older are more susceptible to this deficiency. Vitamin D is found in foods, such as sardines, salmon, fortified milk and cereals. Another solution is to sit in the sun for a short time. Some doctors are recommending 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure a few times a week, depending upon a persons skin pigmentation. A Harvard study discovered that men with the highest level of vitamin D were least likely to have heart attacks. Another study has found that increasing Vitamin D reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, hip fractures, tooth loss and increases muscle strength. A good way to help increase levels of vitamin D is to spend time in the garden. A Therapeutic Garden that has been specifically designed to encourage people to spend time outside will help people increase their levels of vitamin D. These gardens can encourage socialization and people will want to be outside enjoying each others company and taking in the suns healing rays. This is especially important for older adults who may have lower levels of this important vitamin. Like your mother said – ‘Eat your vegetables and go play outside.’
We know that our interactions with nature can lead to positive results. And public gardens are often discussed as being healing spaces. This thinking has been validated in a recent research study at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, FL. Dr. Ruth G. McCaffrey at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University conducted the research project “The Effect of Public Garden Visitation on Mild Depression in the Elderly.” The results of the study led to the development of a booklet and program called “A Stroll for Well-Being: Garden Walks at the Morikami”. The booklet contains 12 themed guided imagery walks as well as blank pages for journaling. The booklet, in combination with the involvement of a trained therapist, can elevate the use of the healing garden to a higher level. Gardens in senior retirement communities, as well as public gardens, can make great use of this activity. The link to the study is at: http://www.morikami.org/index.php?submenu=gardens_IMLS&src=gendocs&ref=IMLS&category=Gardens
Little events can present us with strong messages. I was touring a community garden at Medford Leas, a continuing care retirement community in southern New Jersey, with a friend who is a nurse at a PA hospital. It was Saturday morning and the August heat was creeping towards the 90’s. There were a few people working in their gardens tending to their community garden plots. The month of August can be a tough time in the garden. We either have too little rain or too much. This is the year of a lot of rain, all through June and July. And, as a result, the weeds are out of control. Plugging away was one gentleman diligently pulling weeds that were threatening the health of the tomatoes, peppers and other plants in this 20′ x 20′ space. We struck up a conversation with this gentleman. It is always good to talk and share stories. You can learn something new. However, this time, it was not about how best to ‘naturally’ keep bugs from eating the vegetables or other gardening hints. It was, instead, a reminder why gardening is good for all of us. We were surprised to learn that this gardener was 90 years of age. He did not look a day over 80, for sure. His youthful appearance and activities were that of a person who is in very good shape. His working in the garden reinforces all of the things we have been talking about. Gardening is great exercise and keeps us in shape. We remain socially connected when we are involved in activities with other people. Natural absorption of vitamin D, balancing our circadian rhythms, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and many other positive aspects of gardening remind us that we need to get outside and play in the soil as often as possible. I could use the help of this young gardener in my own community garden!
Our bodies natural rhythms are connected to the cycles of night and day. For centuries people have been able to to balance these natural rhythms by spending time outside. With the advent of the light bulb, we have been able to spend more time indoors and staying up late into the night. However, for people who are not able to get outside this can be disruptive to the natural processes of the body, including the absorption of vitamin D. Sunlight is important for its ability to help the body create vitamin D. Vitamin D ‘works’ with the parathyroid hormone to balance calcium in the blood and in turn helps to build strong bones. The vitamin also helps regulate our immune system and maintain healthy cell growth. Residents of nursing homes and other senior residences, in many instances, do not have the ability to access the outdoor environment. Either it is too difficult for them to be able to get outside or there isn’t even a place where they can go outside. Creating safe accessible outdoor areas for older adults is very important for their health and well-being. The opportunity for older adults to be able to spend time in a garden is a natural way for the body to create vitamin D. Developing gardens that are fun and interesting is a way to encourage older adults to go outside. Gardens should be planned with activities and programs in mind. Activities such as gardening, bird watching, reading groups, bar-b-ques, and walking clubs are just a few of the elements of a garden that make people want to go outside. The goal is to get people to enjoy visiting the garden so that they will want to go outside often. This will help them get their daily dose of vitamin D – naturally!
Hospital Gardens are being used more and more for food for the patients and staff of the hospital. The garden at New Milford Hospital has a culinary healing garden. “The garden is especially healing, because it goes into the food that we feed people”, as indicated by Marydale DeBoer, New Milford Hospitals Vice President of External Affairs. The Dining Services Manager of the hospital, Kerry Gold, uses the fresh herbs and vegetables in the preparation of the meals. The chefs are able to walk out the kitchen doors and pick fresh sage, tarragon and other plants to use in making the dressings, sauces and other dishes. “You treat the whole person, it’s not just the technical piece” which is the concern of Brenda Warren, a member of the hospitals leadership team. The article on the hospitals healing gardens can be found at: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2303&dept_id=478843&newsid=20336300&PAG=461&rfi=9
Having talked about the need for a greater variety of ‘easy’ garden options for a number of years, it seems that new styles of container gardens are becoming more available. Businesses are beginning to realize that gardening should be easier and more accessible. This applies to people who are working and do not have a lot of time to spend in a garden. It also includes people who have only a balcony or patio to garden. It important for older adults who want to continue to garden and may not have the physical dexterity to work on the ground. And it is especially important for people with disabilities. An article in today’s Wall Street Journal, “For a Green Thumb, Just Add Water”, talks about the emerging products available for consumers. The author of the article, Gwendolyn Bounds, shows off her own gardening prowess with a variety of containers on her deck. The article talks about the container options that are available as well as how to get started. The more we can show people how easy it is to garden, the more we can get people to raise more of their own produce. To read the article, follow the attached link – http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124520179044721607.html Two of the raised containers that were mentioned in the article include: Earth Solutions – ‘Farm in a Box -http://www.earthsolutions.com/Farm-in-a-Box-Mini_p_597.html and also Laminations – “EarthBox” -http://www.earthbox.com/ Other types of containers include raised planters, such as the ones used at Medford Leas CCRC in Medford, NJ. The liners came from Lowe’s and the frame was constructed by Medford Cedar Products. The three planters are 18″, 24″ and 30″ in height and allow a range of users to access the raised gardens easily.
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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
