from our upcoming book Our Secret Book of Benefits
We started growing vegetables in our backyard in 2018. Since then we have been growing a lots of vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices and medicinal plants. We don’t use any chemical inputs. Most of the times, our garden produces more food than we need – we just gift this excess food to whoever visits at that time.
We have succeeded in growing Tomato, Chilies, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Beetroots, Swiss Chard, Spinach, Coriander, Dill, Parsley, Backhoe, Turmeric, Ginger, Carrot, Mint, Pan, Papaya, Banana, Guvava, Drumstick, Agatha, Saunf, Mustard, Ajwain, Raddish, Lemons, Oranges, Curry Leaves, Bottlegourd, Cucumber, Bitterghourd, Ridgegourd, Spongegourd, Snakegourd, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Sunmelon, Jalapeno, Capsicum, Lady Finger, Brinjal, Winged beans, French beans, Rajmah beans, Lablab beans, Cluster beans, Sugarcane, Cape Gooseberry, Mulberry, Star Gooseberry, Candle fruit, Peanut Butter Fruit, variegated Orange, Malta Orange, Variagated Guava, Red & Green Amaranthus, Yellow Jowar, Raagi (finger millet), Mung beans, Peanut, Onion, Garlic, Jam Cherry, Apple Cherry, Barbados Sweet Cherry, Star Fruit, Singapore Cherry, Apple, Pear, Plum, Apricot, Peach, Avocado, Tamarind, Gongura, Tapioca, Jack fruit, Jamun, Lychee, Baraba, Longan, Coconut, Coral Berry, Akai Berry, Icecream Bean, Rose, Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Rambutan, Bamboo, Seemarouba, Castor, Swetha Kutaja, Champa, Peepal, Banyan, Ashoka, Cashew, Almond, Apple Ber, Pomegranate, Shankapushpi, Strawberry, Miracle Fruit, Mango, Tree Spinach, Sweet peas, grapes, chocolate tree, Passion Fruit, Tulsi, lemon grass, Lettuce, Falsa, Figs, Blackberry, Pattharchata, Oregano, Custard Apple, Gooseberry and so on goes the list…..
Gardening offers a wide range of benefits for both physical and mental well-being:
PHYSICAL HEALTH:
• Increased Physical Activity: Gardening involves various activities like digging, weeding, planting, and watering, which provide gentle exercise everyday and help improve flexibility, strength, and balance. No creative hobby can come close to gardening. Gardening connects us back to all the elements of the nature - sun, earth, air, space and water!
• Vitamin D Production: Spending time outdoors in the sun helps our body produce vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune function. We all can feel that our bones, joints & immunity is much stronger than before gardening.
• Improved Cardiovascular Health: Regular physical activity associated with gardening lowers blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Personally, my high cholesterol levels were reversed by gardening.
• Weight Management: Gardening burn calories and contribute to weight management goals. Our weight reduced due to gardening and proper diet. And we have not gained excess weight after that.
MENTAL HEALTH:
• Stress Reduction: The repetitive motions and focus required in gardening have a calming and meditative effect, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. When I am stressed - I garden more and stress is sweat-out!
• Improved Mood: Spending time in nature and connecting with the earth instantly boosts the mood and reduce feelings of depression. Whenever I feel sad, sullen, cranky or melancholic - my garden gets me out!
• Increased Self-Esteem: The satisfaction of nurturing plants and harvesting our own food significantly boost self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment. Who don't love and respect the fresh, tasty & nutritious home grown foods? This tremendously creative act builds self respect.
• Mindfulness: Gardening encourages mindfulness, as it requires us to be present in the moment and appreciate the natural world.
OTHER BENEFITS:
• Improved Diet: Growing our own fruits and vegetables encourages us to eat more fresh, nutritious produce.
• Reduced Pesticide Exposure: We control what goes on our plants, minimizing exposure to harmful chemicals. We just don't use any pesticides or chemicals to increase the yield.
• Peak Nutrition: We enjoy fruits and vegetables at their freshest, packed with the most vitamins and minerals. We just pick & eat or pick-cook-eat. There is no storage or transport involved. Storage & transport of the foods reduces the nutrients. That's why our foods are so tasty!
• Cost Savings: Growing our own food reduced grocery bills and tremendously improved our food security. We have not purchased vegetables and fruits from market from many years.
• Environmental Benefits: Gardening conserves the water, reduces pesticide use, and improve soil health.
• Community Building: Gardening has become a social activity, connecting us with other gardeners and fostering a sense of community. Visitors love to see our easy gardening ways.
LEARNING THROUGH DOING
Adhya & Anju acquired most of their knowledge of insects, birds, plants and animals through gardening. It's a tremendous way of learning for them.
Gardening helps children learn by providing a hands-on experience with nature, allowing them to develop important life skills like patience, responsibility, and observation, while also fostering cognitive development through science concepts like plant life cycles, math skills (counting, measuring), and vocabulary related to plants and gardening practices; essentially, it's a fun way to learn about the natural world through active engagement.
Key ways gardening aids in children's learning:
Science and Life Cycles: By planting seeds and watching them grow, children learn about the life cycle of plants, understanding concepts like germination, photosynthesis, and pollination.
Math Skills: Measuring plants, counting seeds, and spacing out plants in the garden provide practical math applications.
Vocabulary Development: Children learn new words related to gardening like "seed," "sprout," "blossom," "harvest," and different plant types.
Sensory Learning: Gardening engages multiple senses through touch, smell, sight, and sometimes taste, enhancing sensory experiences.
Motor Skills Development: Digging, planting, watering, and weeding help develop fine and gross motor skills.
Responsibility and Patience: Caring for plants teaches children the importance of consistent care and waiting for results, fostering patience and a sense of responsibility.
Environmental Awareness: Gardening has sparked curiosity about the environment, encouraging our children to learn about sustainability and the interconnectedness of nature.
Self-Esteem Boost: Seeing their own efforts result in a thriving garden has contributed to a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence in our children.
Overall, gardening is a rewarding activity that offers a wide range of physical, mental, and social benefits. Whether you have a small balcony garden or a large backyard, incorporating some gardening into your life can have a positive impact on your overall well-being.
ta-ta
Anju, Adhya, Savitri & Madhukar