The Benefits of Gardening

'To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow' - Audrey Hepburn

We've almost always had a garden, as long as I can remember. When I was little, like most kids I think, I didn't like the garden because I wasn't given the most glorious job. Along with my siblings, I often had to pull the weeds from around the plants. But, after it was all said and done, we had fresh veggies all summer long, whenever we wanted! That was so worth it!

Now that I am a bit older, I enjoy gardening a lot more! I like to till the ground and plant the seeds, water them, and days later, see the tiny green plants begin to grow! Weeding still isn't my favorite, but as long as we stay on top of them, they never get too bad!

Gardening isn't just great to have fresh veggies during the summer, but it has so many other benefits!

Gardening Workout:
You probably will work up a sweat if you stay out in the garden long enough! There is a lot of moving around in gardening, and you better believe you can burns some serious calories! I found a great website, Fitness Blender , that gives a rough idea of the calories burned per hour of garden work!

Weight in lbs --------> Calories burnt gardening
90 ---------------------------------------> 195
100 --------------------------------------> 217
110 --------------------------------------> 240
120 --------------------------------------> 257
130 --------------------------------------> 284
140 --------------------------------------> 305
150 --------------------------------------> 326
160 --------------------------------------> 347
170 --------------------------------------> 364
180 --------------------------------------> 393
190 --------------------------------------> 412
200 --------------------------------------> 437
210 --------------------------------------> 453
220 --------------------------------------> 478
240 --------------------------------------> 519
260 --------------------------------------> 568
280 --------------------------------------> 611

So, yeah, gardening totally counts as a workout in my opinion!

Work Those Muscles!
So, if gardening can be your workout, how do you know which muscles you are working? Is gardening an arm workout, legs, abs, chest...? Well, actually, it can be a full body workout! Using a hoe or hand plow to till the earth works your arms and chest area, bending over or squatting to plant seeds or pull the weeds works your thighs, calves, and hips, and carrying garden equipment, pulling tough weeds, and picking veggies works your back and arms! So, not only are you burning calories while gardening, you are working your muscles as well!

Soak up the Sun!:
Gardening is mostly done outside, in the sunshine! This gives your body a great chance to soak up some Vitamin D! Why do you need Vitamin D? Well, there is a long list of the many benefits of Vitamin D, and I can't fit them all in a post, but here are a few of them! Vitamin D helps to fight infection, boost the immune system, and reduce high blood pressure. Also, it can help to improve bone health, increase energy levels and aid in relieving depression! Being out in the sun is beneficial to your body's health, but all in moderation! You don't want to spend too much time outside in the sun, especially if you aren't wearing sunscreen. Make sure to apply sunscreen several times if you are outside for a long time or swimming!
Gardening is a great way to get the necessary amount of Vitamin D, plus, you can get a great tan!

Gardening is the new Yoga:
Maybe the idea of spending hours toiling in the dirt under the hot sun doesn't sound relaxing to you. But there is just something about planting and caring for the little seeds that can be so calming and relaxing! Going out to the garden to find your plants have grown, veggies to pick, or to water your plants can, and will, become your favorite part of the day! Spending time in your garden is a great time to just think, breath, calm down, and have a little time to chill! I know for myself that, after a hour or so out in the garden, watering, soaking up the sun, or picking herbs or veggies, I am much calmer and my thoughts are clearer! I encourage anyone and everyone to take plant a garden, because after all, "Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes!"

Garden to Table:
So the obvious benefit of a garden is the fresh veggies you can have anytime during the growing months. That's mainly why people garden, to have vegetables in their back yard! Its so nice to go outside and pick lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers and so on, to make that night's supper! As a self-proclaimed budding chef, this is even more exciting! Fresh vegetables and herbs yield so much more flavors and freshness to a dish! Homegrown fruit, herbs and vegetables taste and often look so much better than store bought! You won't want to go back to store bought!

Decorations and Gifts:
Gardening doesn't have to involve tomatoes, cucumbers and squash! You can grow flowers and herbs to use in home decorations or gifts! And, if you dry the flowers and herbs, you can keep them into the winter months! I love to have flowers planted in the garden because they look so beautiful and herbs aren't just great to cook or bake with, but they can be added to flower bouquets as well! My little sisters often take flower bouquets from our garden to our friends or family when we visit them! It makes for a lovely, thoughtful, gift!

Gardening is beneficial on so many levels! From staying active and getting exercise, having calm 'me time', getting nutrients and having fresh veggies, there is something in gardening for just about every one! If you have never grown a garden before, I encourage you to plant a few plants and discover the wonders of gardening for yourself!

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Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana