Try Gardening for Mental Health While Quarantined by Carol Russell

Photo: Carol Russell

People react differently to stressful situations, and the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19, has caused feelings ranging from concern or worry to anxiety or anger. When we’re wounded in body, mind, or spirit, we’re often drawn to the natural world as a place to heal. For some, it’s a hike in the mountains or along the shore of a lake – both difficult to do if you are quarantined or are under a “stay at home order”.  It is much easier to have our home or community victory garden as our place of healing. Personally, I simply remember my favorite things in the garden and then I don’t feel so bad.

In addition, the recent COVID-19 stay-at-home requirement is providing more free time to pursue our interests. Gardening is a way for people to turn their feelings of helplessness into something nourishing – vegetables.  Garden plants and practices offer unique lessons and opportunities to clients in a horticultural-therapy program described in Horticulture-The Art and Science of Smart Gardening May/June 2020. A Supportive Nature.  The victory garden may actually save lives by helping to alleviate mental health issues resulting from the COVID – 19 Virus. 

Furthermore, a recent article in Psychology Today, titled ”10 Mental Health Benefits of Gardening” listed numerous activities that we practice while gardening that provide major health benefits such as: acceptance, overcoming perfectionism, a growth mindset, connecting with others and your world, being present, exercise, stress reduction, and heathy eating.  PsychologyToday  

Courtesy National Garden Bureau

  

Gardening is a way for people to turn their feelings of helplessness into something nourishing. This year, a vegetable garden may also provide one thing we seem to be lacking at the moment: control over our lives. It includes the satisfaction of raising nutritious and delicious food, exercising outdoors while socially distancing, relieving pressure on the nation’s food supply system, passing essential knowledge on to our children and growing extra to share with others. Where to begin to start your own garden? CSU-Grow&Give 

Tips for Senior Gardening 4 - Raised Beds, Trellises, and Container Gardens by Carol Russell and Nance Tucker

Raised bed, Clear Creek Path in Golden, photo by Carol Russell

Raised garden beds, trellises, and container gardening are easier ways to grow plants and flowers because it brings the garden to you, eliminating most stooping, squatting and kneeling. They are also adaptable for gardening in a small backyard, an apartment patio, or on the grounds of a retirement home.

Raised Beds

To eliminate bending and kneeling entirely, think about raising your garden a few feet above the ground. Raised garden beds are great for seniors as the garden planters have legs bringing the gardens up to your level. Table beds are elevated and offer a shallow bed of 6” - 12” at a raised height and can be tended while sitting down. These beds are especially good for the chair-bound individual who wants to be able to get his legs underneath the bench so that he can work comfortably. 

Tips for Senior Gardening 3 – Pathways, Don’t Fall this Fall by Carol Russell and Nance Tucker

Concrete pathway, photo by Donna Duffy

After being diagnosed with a degenerative disease that affects balance, my first question was “How will I be able to continue gardening without falling?”  I found that garden accessibility starts with paths. Accessible paths allow for increased mobility and safety of movement throughout the garden. I went to the garden and wandered down a path: my typical walkabout. Was the path easy to walk on or was I paying more attention to where I placed my feet rather than smelling the roses? Edges in the garden are hazardous. A flagstone pathway is much more treacherous than a flat cement path.  

Also, places to pause are an integral part of pathways.  Did I need to sit down to appreciate a beautiful flower or a combination of great perennials? I should consider this location for a bench. Is the pathway cool as a result of shading? 

Tips for Senior Gardening 2 - How to Design and Modify Your Garden by Carol Russell and Nance Tucker

Benches provide places to rest, photo by Donna Duffy

When I found out I had a degenerative disease I also learned I was part of a large group:  nearly 20% of Americans have disabilities. Although not everyone is handicapped, we all age. We need gardens that can take care of themselves as we mature.  My garden, like yours, needs to be easy to access, reasonably low maintenance but still beautiful. Following are a few design elements I learned, with advice from some experts, on transforming your gardening from a daunting list of chores into a rewarding, joy-filled activity. 

Tips for Senior Gardening 1 – Maturing Gracefully with Your Garden by Carol Russell and Nance Tucker

Nance Tucker in the Jeffco PlantSelect Garden,  photo by Carol Russell

Many of us from the baby boom era are approaching retirement thrilled to finally have time to play in the garden but also with angst because our bodies just don’t function as they once did. After I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, I thought my gardening days were over - not so. I continue to garden and continue to learn. However, I needed some inspirational tips and science-based knowledge to improve my long-term, quality-of-life in the garden.