HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDENING

 

                                                                        


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         A garden is a representative of "paradise on earth” and it is our opportunity to own a little bit of heaven, here and now.  It has a restorative significance as a healer when we understand that gardens provide us with a place of sanctuary and well-being.

Daily moderate aerobic activity can have a big effect on our lives.  Unlike many everyday activities that only involve the arms, gardening uses the whole body as we move around digging, planting, weeding, and watering.  

If we choose an exercise we like and that is convenient for our lifestyle, we are more likely to do it.  We not only benefit from the physical activity but we can also eat what we grow.  If we are what we eat, growing our food can make us better.  

Gardening allows us to choose organic fertilizers and natural pesticides.  It also gives us the opportunity to harvest foods at their peak, allowing them to accumulate nutrients that might otherwise be lost when foods are picked unripe for easier shipping.  When we put the effort into choosing, growing, and harvesting our own fruits and vegetables, we are more likely to them.

                                                                          


The garden has the potential to provide a place of refuge from stress, especially in this pandemic.  The ability of the garden to provide this place of healing and peace, becomes crucial as more and more people succumb to diseases of modern day lifestyle.
It matters little whether garden is a few pots on a windowsill or a lush outdoor garden.  What does matter is that plants add a dimension to the home and/or workplace that literally changes the energy and adds life.  There is something about caring for plants and tending to them, whether watering, re-potting, or just touching them.  Plants create feelings of calm and well-being.  In addition to help us manage stress, growing herbs indoors facilitates our ability to cook with fresh herbs all year round.



Things to consider when creating your Indoor Garden

  1. Purpose – what do you want to achieve – healing, meditation, growing herbs for cooking, or a project with the children?
  2. Space – how much space is available – a closet, basement room, living room, corner of the bedroom, windowsill?
  3. Seating – is there room in your space for a seating area?
  4. Characteristics – create a specific type of garden such as a collection of Ficus, orchids, herbs, or ferns.
  5. Features – include water features such as fountains, art, sentimental objects, wind chimes, aroma and/or colour therapy, candles, and /or music.
  6. Location – is the location conducive to gardening indoors?Light – is the light adequate or will you need artificial lights?
  7. Plants – what plants will you grow?

Indoor gardens can include anything from a tabletop garden, herb garden, healing garden, meditation garden, container garden, or a water garden.  The indoor garden can provide a place of sanctuary where we can take a moment and re-connect with our own sacredness.


CLICK HERE TO GET A COPY



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ALL ABOUT THE 80/20 RULE DIET

Image
  The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) is an economic rule stating that 80% of consequences (or outputs) come from 20% of causes (or inputs).   Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto came up with the rule in 1896.   The rule has been applied to everything from business management to sports training to closets, and this principle is also applied to diet – the 80/20 diet. How it Works To follow the 80/20 rule, you eat a "clean" diet 80% of the time and allow yourself to indulge 20% of the time.  This means that some people eat well during the week and relax a bit on the weekend.   The plan allows you to indulge on a regular basis without making you feel guilty.  This can be a balanced approach to a healthy diet and lifestyle for many people.   The 80/20 rule diet is a healthy, less-restrictive eating option that does not feel like a diet.     Eating 80/20 is easier to follow than other diet plans because, it allows you to enjoy your favorite foods in moderation, while eating health
Read more

THE OKINAWA DIET AND ITS HEALTH BENEFITS

Image
The Okinawa diet describes the eating habits of the indigenous people of the Ryukyu islands, of which Okinawa is the largest.   The islands are located south of mainland Japan, and is better known as the source of the “Okinawa Diet”.  The Okinawa Diet is about eating plenty of plant-based foods, and is a simple, yet effective weight loss program.     This eating plan also includes the consumption of different varieties of fish, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, seaweed, and other organic products that are high in protein, rich in calcium, and low in fat.   People who live in this area live exceptionally long and healthy life compared to people in other parts of the world.     The lifespans enjoyed by Okinawans may be explained by several genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.  Experts believe that one of the strongest influences is the diet.   The incidence of heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer is still rare on the island. The growing problem of being overweight and obe
Read more

POWERFUL HEALTH BENEFITS OF HERBS AND SPICES

Image
  Spices play a significant role in the way we cook and consume our food. Every spice has its own flavoring and essence, and its addition or omission can make a big difference in the taste of our meals. There are many spices we use in our day to day cooking, such as garlic, ginger and turmeric.   The health benefits of spices are often overlooked, and only seen as flavor enhancers, but certain healthy spices may hold the key to disease prevention. Spices are concentrated sources of antioxidants, and known to have several health benefits. It is the addition of spices, that make traditional home-cooked food one of the healthiest meals. Spices come with notable nutritional values and provide some major health benefits.   Many were celebrated for their medicinal properties, long before culinary use.   Modern science has now shown that many of them do indeed carry remarkable health benefits. Some of the best spices can be found at our local market.   Cinnamon Cinnamon is a popular
Read more