| Gardening is one of those hobbies which can be | | | | sell by date and a consume by date but, when it |
| enjoyed by almost anybody. From the very young to | | | | comes to fruit and vegetables they are best |
| the very old, from the very healthy to those with poor | | | | consumed as soon after harvesting as possible. Food |
| health or some form of disability, all types of person | | | | should not be too processed, it should not be cooked |
| can enjoy various types of gardening. For those adults | | | | for too long, as this further degrades the vitamins |
| who are strong and healthy virtually any aspect of the | | | | (steaming of fresh vegetables is increasing in popularity |
| hobby can be thoroughly enjoyed as often as they like | | | | because it helps retain vitamins). Freezing the produce |
| but for those less fortunate strenuous gardening tasks, | | | | as soon after harvesting as possible can help greatly |
| such as those involved in landscaping and building a | | | | but nothing beats food which is picked and eaten on |
| new garden, may be beyond their capabilities. Such | | | | the same day. |
| folk can still enjoy some of the lighter tasks, such as | | | | By indulging in a little gardening you can ensure that at |
| pruning and weeding, and they can certainly enjoy all | | | | least some of your diet includes food which can be |
| of the many benefits. | | | | picked and eaten on the same day. Furthermore you |
| One of the most obvious benefits of gardening are | | | | can ensure that it is even healthier by avoiding the use |
| related to the elements of exercise. One of the | | | | of artificial chemicals. Organic fruit and vegetables are |
| beautiful things about gardening is that the hobby | | | | considered far healthier and organic gardening is not |
| offers many different levels of exercise from the | | | | really that difficult. You will be amazed at how |
| vigorous and strenuous to the light and easy going. At | | | | gorgeous a fresh organic new potato can taste and |
| different ages we require different levels and different | | | | as for tomatoes, have you tasted a tomato recently? |
| types of exercise. It is often a joke that when | | | | They are disgusting, they are often orange and rather |
| somebody is about to retire from full time employment | | | | tasteless. Compare the cheaper tomatoes with |
| they are likely to take up gardening in their spare time. | | | | organic vine tomatoes and you can really taste the |
| It is true that a great many of us choose to take up | | | | difference, and I really do mean that you will taste a |
| the hobby late in life when we have much more spare | | | | massive difference. Sadly there is just a massive |
| time to enjoy such things but, for the elderly, regular | | | | increase in the price but, happily, tomatoes are one of |
| and gentle exercise can help ensure that joints remain | | | | the most commonly grow vegetables or fruit grown in |
| supple. For some elderly gardeners a simple task such | | | | indoor gardening. I have often grown tomatoes on my |
| as bending over to remove a weed can prove to be | | | | kitchen window where they receive most sunlight and |
| nearly impossible, or could lead to injury if done | | | | where they can be watched closely (as they do |
| incorrectly. For this reason there are a number of | | | | require a fair bit of attention). Homegrown tomatoes |
| garden implements available to help older folk. These | | | | are simply the best and they remind me of my great |
| include long handled tools which reduce the need for | | | | grandfather who always grew a great many in his |
| bending or a small platform with tall poles at each side | | | | small greenhouse alongside one or two pot plants, a |
| to help the person lower themselves to a seated or | | | | cacti or two and some seed trays full of annuals for |
| kneeling position and then aide them in returning to the | | | | his beautifully kept flower garden. He was an avid |
| standing position. | | | | gardener all of his long life and credited his good health |
| Of course regular exercise is important to us all. | | | | to his love of gardening. |
| Unfortunately it is often said that the increase in child | | | | There are numerous other health benefits to gardening, |
| obesity is due to lack of regular exercise and bad diet. | | | | far to many to comprehensively list here, but, with a |
| Well gardening can cater for both these needs | | | | little research you will find sufficient ways in which to |
| because as well as providing all sorts of opportunity | | | | benefit from gardening to encourage almost anybody |
| for exercise we can also grow fresh fruit and | | | | to take up the hobby. Even the disabled can benefit |
| vegetables in even the smallest of spaces. Young | | | | and can have a garden designed to compensate for |
| children, more often than not, find the whole process | | | | their disabilities, such as raised beds which can enable |
| from planting the seeds to harvesting the produce, | | | | them to weed, prune and plant. However the greatest |
| highly fascinating. Many schools now try to incorporate | | | | benefit has to be the enjoyment of the garden itself. |
| simple gardening into their science lessons and more | | | | Time spent relaxing in a garden it truly priceless, |
| and more are developing their own gardens, both | | | | especially if you have a hectic modern lifestyle. Just an |
| flower and vegetable, for both educational and | | | | hour or two a week spent taking in the sun surrounded |
| recreational use. | | | | by the sounds of birds and other wildlife can prove |
| From the moment a fruit or vegetable is picked it | | | | highly restorative. It is therefore little surprise that nearly |
| begins to lose it's nutritional benefits most noticeable is | | | | every hospital, hospice, health spa or other such |
| the reduction in vitamin content. All produce now has a | | | | places, all have well kept gardens. |