garden practice of leaving the leaves is exactly how it sounds. Literally, leave the leaves. Did you know leaving the leaves is one of the most beneficial, economical and easiest garden practices you’ll ever do? I stopped raking my fallen leaves years ago and I am glad I did. I’m sure the neighborhood thought I was crazy or neglecting a necessary city seasonal chore, but today I have the healthiest soil in town and you can, too!
Fallen leaves play a vital role in our ecosystem, they provide:
Want another reason to leave the leaves? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says: “[L]eaves and other yard debris account for more than 13 percent of the nation’s solid waste – a whopping 33 million tons a year.” Need one more reason to leave the leaves? National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski says, “The less time you spend raking leaves, the more time you’ll have to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather and the wildlife that visits your garden.”
The simple practice of “leave the leaves” contributes significantly to the reduction of waste in landfills, and the health and wellbeing of our wildlife and ecosystem.
Warning: turning in your rake and breaking the habit may be easier said than done. But after a season of no raking, you and Mother Nature will be glad you did!
TWO
GARDENING WITH COMFORT AND EASE
taking care of you
There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.
~ MIRABEL OSLER
I love playing in the soil and getting dirty. Gone are the days of glamorous, well-manicured fingernails (and toenails) – the tradeoff is minuscule in comparison. Not only do I love the rewards of a beautiful garden, I love the idea of being active.
Gardening is a practical and beneficial way to stay healthy physically and mentally. In fact, research has found that the “friendly” Mycobacterium vaccae bacteria found in soil may affect the brain like anti-depressant drugs. Apparently the bacterium stimulates the portion of the brain that produces serotonin. Perhaps that explains the reasons for the strong sense of calmness and satisfaction we feel while gardening. I am not surprised.
The three most important components in continuing our passion to garden in the second half of life:
Tip: Do your chores that require standing first, then hit the ground. I think getting up and down constantly adds undo stress to the body. When I am kneeling on the ground, I like to stay there until I am finished.
Staying Healthy: Garden Yoga
You may know the saying: If I woke up in the morning and nothing hurt, I would think I was dead. We gardeners can certainly attest to that. To alleviate sore muscles, I highly recommend stretching before and after gardening. One way I remain flexible and resilient is practicing yoga while gardening. I stretch my body before, during and after to avoid injury, gain strength, and continue doing what I love. If you already practice yoga, you’ll recognize my three favorite and very simple poses: Forward Fold, Cat-Cow and Squat. If you’re new to yoga, check out these poses online. You’ll find lots of illustrations and videos.
Listening to my body while gardening and knowing when to start and stop is important to staying healthy. Yoga also helps build strength, endurance, balance and flexibility, and it’s easy to practice while gardening. Namaste!
Did you know? The development of yoga can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago, but some researchers think that yoga may be up to 10,000 years old. The earliest writings on yoga were transcribed on fragile palm leaves that were easily damaged, destroyed or lost. (Yoga.com)
Tools to Make Things Easier
A gardener’s work can be so much easier using proper tools. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money. In fact, I purchased two favorite garden tools at a local flea market several years ago for less than ten dollars. Through the years, my bargain-find steel leaf rake and pitchfork have lasted longer than the more expensive ones I have purchased. Plus, they are lighter in weight, another important factor to keep in mind when selecting tools.
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