Jackpine Radical Gardening

[alcina]

Gardening could be the hobby that helps you live to 100

Dan Buettner has studied five places around the world where residents are famed for their longevity: Okinawa in Japan, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Icaria in Greece, and Loma Linda in California and Sardinia in Italy.

People living in these so-called “blue zones” have certain factors in common – social support networks, daily exercise habits and a plant-based diet, for starters. But they share another unexpected commonality. In each community, people are gardening well into old age – their 80s, 90s and beyond.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20181210-gardening-could-be-the-hobby-that-helps-you-live-to-100

"The United States is also a one-party state but, with typical American extravagance, they have two of them." -Julius Nyerere, First President of Tanzania

[Land of Enchantment]

Microbes!

There are studies that report the microbes in the dirt are very beneficial to our overall health. I usually absorb them via my butt, knees, thighs, elbows and hands. Raised beds would be nice, lol. I wonder if it’s mostly the plant based diet plus maybe some vitamin D from the sunlight. 

“Hope is the feathered thing that perches in your heart.” ~ Emily Dickinson

[alcina]

Definitely

There’s a form of mental health counseling called horticultural therapy, which has been found to greatly relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. And studies have shown that spending time in the forest is as useful as taking antidepressants. I recently read an article about “forest bathing,” which states, among other things:

… research shows that trees really do have healing powers. For one thing, they release antimicrobial essential oils, called phytoncides, that protect trees from germs and have a host of health benefits for people. The oils boost mood and immune system function; reduce blood pressure, heart rate, stress, anxiety, and confusion; improve sleep and creativity; and may even help fight cancer and depression. 

https://qz.com/1208959/japanese-forest-medicine-is-the-art-of-using-nature-to-heal-yourself-wherever-you-are/

Of course, to get the benefits of gardening, I imagine you’d have to be working in a healthy environment. The soil in my neighbourhood — and many urban and suburban areas — is not very healthy. In fact, when I ran a soil test on my property upon moving in 3 years ago, the results showed that the soil was pretty much dead. Close to nothing left of anything beneficial. It’s much better now, but most of my neighbours do nothing to improve their soil. Instead, I see them using huge amounts of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and frequently replacing sick plants. If the plants are sick, chances are your soil is too.

 

"The United States is also a one-party state but, with typical American extravagance, they have two of them." -Julius Nyerere, First President of Tanzania

[NV Wino]

Reply To: Gardening could be the hobby that helps you live to 100

Good. Can I hire them to do my gardening?

“As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore.” Barbara Lee
“Politicians and pro athletes: The only people who still get paid when they lose.” William Rivers Pitt

[alcina]

And cuz they're old…

Like Walmart, you wouldn’t have to give them benefits. 

"The United States is also a one-party state but, with typical American extravagance, they have two of them." -Julius Nyerere, First President of Tanzania

[Author]

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