Gardening for the soul and good health

The new iPhone 6 is coming out this week, along with a must-have Apple Watch the company is releasing. Phones, tablets and gadgets have become the tools of the 21st century, but it wasn’t that long ago that shovels, trowels and wheelbarrows were the the tools of desire. And a plot of ground and a selection of seeds were the things that dreams were made of, where you could provide for your family. It kept you fit and healthy and it was recession proof. 

Gardening for food and enjoyment was as much a part of life as watching TV is today.

Who’s better off? Us with our new phones and anti-social devices that entertain us from our finger tips, or the generations before us that didn’t have them?

We have all heard the stories about how old fruit and veggies could actually be after they’re transported and put into cold storage – a lot of the goodness has faded and we don’t know what we’re actually eating. Organic markets and shops have grown in popularity from these concerns, but this can add a significant amount to your grocery bill. So why don’t you grow your own? Start with planting rosemary, maybe some lettuce and now is the perfect time to put in your tomatoes.

Now, I’m no health freak but I do know we have to move it or lose it. I don’t like gyms. They’re just not for me. But going for a walk around in amazing parks and gardens is, so I do that and they’re great places to get motivated to garden. I get inspired, see new things and want to implement them at home.

Gardening is good for strength and conditioning. An hour in the garden pulling weeds, pruning and raking up leaves is more productive than any mind-numbing treadmill, and at the end you actually have achieved something. Old or young, if you know your limits and work at a moderate pace, gardening would be all you need on a daily basis to keep fit and healthy.

I have never seen my little Heidi frown at a flower. A beautiful garden can change your outlook on life. My house needs a lot of work, but the garden gives the impression that it’s fully renovated. A nice garden gives your house street appeal. It puts a smile on my face when I leave for work at some stupid hour and it welcomes me home after a long day. This is all good for my mental well-being.

My garden is bigger than my house and  that’s the way I like it, but even a wine barrel or a balcony garden can be your Eden. 

Gardening is a great way to keep your mind sharp and working as you get older, the more you know the more you want to learn. It’s a game between you, nature and the insects and pests, with ongoing new challenges.

Gardening isn’t a chore or a burden when you get into it, it’s a choice and a lifestyle. 

Now, I am no greeny tree hugger or a hippie but I do find a connection with Mother Earth when I work in the garden. It’s good for my soul, my brain and my back and if that’s not enough to convince you, it’s also good for my back-pocket. A lovely garden with a nice green lawn is worth much more in our over-priced cities and suburbs, than one that’s neglected. Weather you garden to feed the family, for fun or just to keep up with the latest trends, keep doing it because it’s good for you, good for your family and good for your bottom line. And yes, I want a new iPhone.

Have you got a gardening question that you would like Jason to answer in his column? Email hodgeslandscapes@gmail.com