{"id":28378,"date":"2020-03-27T10:25:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T14:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/garden-goddess\/?p=28378"},"modified":"2020-03-27T10:25:30","modified_gmt":"2020-03-27T14:25:30","slug":"gardens-keep-us-in-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/garden-goddess\/2020\/03\/gardens-keep-us-in-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"Gardens Keep Us in Balance"},"content":{"rendered":"
These past few weeks have upended our lives in unimaginable ways.\u00a0 Things like social distancing, shelter in and massive job loses have brought life as we know it to a screeching halt.\u00a0 My old Occupational Therapy training and 20 plus years of gardening experience tell me meaningful daily activities will help me manage these times.\u00a0 My old OT colleague from Alaska, who is incredibly wise about mind and body balancing, calls these activities “anchors”.\u00a0 She recommends you ramp up activities that enhance your emotional and physical well-being. \u00a0\u00a0 She explains these as small routines that make you feel emotionally balanced and grounded. Check out her inspiring newsletters. \u00a0 http:\/\/www.wiseatwork.net<\/a><\/p>\n So in addition to helping out others, spending time with family (board games are making a comeback), daily exercise and meditation, may I suggest you get outdoors and start planning for a new garden season?\u00a0 Make this a new “anchor” to balance your mind and body during this trying time.\u00a0 Being outdoors can help you get the sunlight and fresh air that will clear the lungs and absorb the vitamin D we lack during the dreary winter months.\u00a0 Lifting, carrying, digging and raking stimulate the joints and nervous system to send out chemicals that will help us both stimulate our alertness and calm our anxiety or emotional upheaval.\u00a0 Been thinking about digging and dividing plants?\u00a0 Now is a great time of year to do so.\u00a0 The physical and emotional benefits are rewarding.\u00a0 Pay it forward!\u00a0 Share plants with family and friends!\u00a0 Caring and giving is good for mental health!<\/p>\n Planning out your garden is a great mind activity.\u00a0 Measuring, applying basic design, selecting plants and colors that are pleasing to you provide goal oriented activity during down time and isolation.\u00a0\u00a0 If you want to attract more pollinators this year, plan and plant it!\u00a0 Plenty of plant companies are offering bare root deliveries this time of year.\u00a0 Visiting pollinators will give you hours of garden joy this year. \u00a0 You will be rewarded knowing you have made a backyard contribution to the sustainability of our ecosystem.<\/p>\n Looking for a kid friendly activity at home?\u00a0 There are many seeds that can be started indoors.\u00a0 Kids can get their hands dirty and monitor growth.\u00a0 Read the seed package and have the kids mark the calendar for germination days.\u00a0 Give the kids the responsibility for care.\u00a0 Post an outline of “weekly seed chores” to keep your seeds viable.\u00a0 It is a great learning experience to measure plant size as growth begins, transplant to larger containers and research frost free dates for planting in our area.\u00a0 Once outdoors the kids can watch the growth and production.\u00a0 The bounty of the harvest is incredibly rewarding for kids! \u00a0 I have had great success with Renee’s Garden seeds. \u00a0http:\/\/www.reneesgarden.com<\/a> \u00a0 Their success rate is tremendous and they have varieties for large and small space gardening.\u00a0 My granddaughter loved the tricolor beans last year.\u00a0 It provided opportunities for learning new motor skills and visual discrimination as a prerequisite for reading.\u00a0 And yes, tasting along the way was a real treat!<\/p>\n Balance these trying times with gardening.\u00a0 Your mind and body will be grateful!\u00a0 Check out my previous blog how-to on seed starting, planting for pollinators and planning\/planting your garden!\u00a0 As always “keeping common sense and sustainability at the core of all my garden practices”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n