Gardening for seniors is a way to keep active. Many of this generation grew up with a home garden, and a return to the soil is a joy. Following a few suggestions can help the return to the garden for the older generation:
- Herbs grow anywhere and are great for seasoning. Kitchen herb gardens are wonderful for seniors. The more you pinch and pick the herbs, such as basil, parsley and chives, the more they grow.
- When you’re creating flowerpots, consider height, filler and spiller. Plant a variety that will grow at least two times as tall as the container, fill in with plants that will grow to no more than half of the height of the taller plants, and then plant a variety that will cascade down.
- When it comes to annuals, pack them in. When creating flowerpots, pack your annuals in because they will become root-bound and grow up and over the pots. You’ll get drama and a beautiful arrangement.
- Look for equipment that can make the job easier. There are many wonderful tools available that can make gardening easier for anyone, including seniors. Bud-Eze tools, which can be found on the internet, are a good option, as are bionic gloves (see www.bionicgloves.com). In addition, the Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org). has a products and services directory for senior gardeners and others with mobility problems. Log on to
- Garden right outside the front or back door. Container gardening allows seniors access to flowers or vegetables in one pot and also allows the plants to be placed at a height that makes gardening easier for them.
- Garden with others. Teaming up with others to garden also gives seniors needed companionship.
- If a senior can’t garden anymore, enlist the help of others. Find someone who might enjoy sharing the work and any produce or flowers form the garden. Contact Home Instead Senior Care (www.homeinstead.com) to find a caregiver who might enjoy sharing the work and any produce or flowers from the garden. Home Instead Senior Care (www.homeinstead.com) to find a care giver who would enjoy gardening with that person.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
