Gimps In The Garden

A recent study conducted by the Arthritis Foundation concluded that people enjoy gardening more than any other activity.
This is not surprising. Gardening gets people outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air. The smell of earth, flowers, and fresh vegetables is a strong lure.
The physical benefits of gardening are many. An active lifestyle helps keeps your weight down. Not to mention physical movement helps with range of motion, hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and overall strength. Many medical studies show physical activity will reduce the risk of premature death, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.
There are several psychological benefits to gardening as well. Being outdoors in the sunshine helps keep depression at bay. Tending a garden will take your mind off of physical problems and allow you to meditate, reduce stress, or just spend a few hours daydreaming. The end result is a more beautiful and cheerful environment to live in which will increase your self-esteem.
Many hospitals and care facilities have gardens because it's known that people recover faster if exposed to gardens. While science does not understand exactly how this works, it’s been seen over and over again. Nature can be very curative.
People who suffer from arthritis, or any condition that weakens the joints, can still garden with just slight modifications:
Make use of tools with adaptive handles. These are easier to grasp.
Use elevated planter boxes. You can use a step stool to sit on rather than getting on the ground.
Use both hands to weed. This will save the stress on small joints.
There is a social aspect to gardening as well. The beauty of blooming flowers and vegetables attracts attention. It’s not unusual for entire neighborhoods to catch the gardening bug. When your garden yields its first bushel of vegetables, you may find yourself donating to your neighbors. An admirer may want to know where you buy your seeds. Gardening is a catalyst to physical and mental well being.
© 2007, Clara Myers. Visit Able-Mart.com for great adaptive tools for gardening and information about disability and caregiving.
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