YOUR PANDEMIC DIY: Gardening at Home

Getting

Started

Mars hfolly

soil

PROJECT: Potted Vege Hannah Emmerson table Garden

GARDEN TYPE:

The first thing I did when my job was laid off was to head to the nearest garden store and panic buy seeds to start a garden. I tried to only buy the seeds for plants that I couldn’t readily germinate from my weekly groceries. As long as you buy organic you can regrow things like tomato’s, squash, and even celery, spring onions, potatoes and garlic from your kitchen scraps. I even started a peanut plant from the raw peanuts I’ve been snacking on!

With that in mind I bought broccoli, carrots, cabbage, spinach and kale seeds to start my garden. Five weeks later I was getting my first beans and harvesting the best tasting spinach I’ve ever had.

What was t he hardest part ?

The hardest part of the journey has been finding soil. I bought some potting soil from the nursery and was even lucky enough to get a couple of buckets of free compost from Marshfolly. That needs a sifter to get the bigger bits out, but you can’t argue with free. To help this endeavor I decided to start my own compost.

What was The Easiest Part ?

Honestly this was the most rewarding part of my lockdown. I have always wanted a garden but my life before was so busy that I would forget to water, repot or care for plants until it was too late and then I would over love and drown them. Only the hardiest of succulents survived me. With the extra time on my hands gardening has given me purpose to my day and a lot more confidence in my skills to keep things alive. While I’m not ready to feed a whole family from the garden yet it’s rewarding to think that with time I could! And I encourage anyone out there to try. You might be impressed with what you can grow too!

HANNAH’s AMAZING DIY COMPOST!

The easiest way I found was to use a bucket with a secure lid. I cut the bottom out and drilled a few holes in the sides. Sprayed it brown so as to blend in better and buried it as far down as I could in the garden. All my coffee grinds, peanut shells, eggshells and veggie cuts all go into the bucket and here’s hoping I have some grade A soil.

Staying Healthy OUTDOORS

Expert Advice from Keelin Hankin BSc RD, Registered Dietitians at Island Nutrition

Now that we have entered the beginning of summer, nothing beats going to the beach and getting that daily dose of Vitamin D. When you are ready to pack up and head to the shore make sure you pack a few of these beach snacks (along with your sunscreen of course!). Trail M x – making your own trail mix with unsalted nuts, seeds and small amounts of dried fruit can provide you with a good

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source of protein as well as essential healthy fats. ¼ cup measure of this mix should be enough. The best thing about trail mix is that it’s customizable so you can add what you have available in the cupboard. Fres h f uit – wedges of watermelon, slices of orange or frozen grapes kept close to your cooler can be a refreshing and light snack before you carry on swimming! Apple and pean ut butter – Can’t decide between sweet and savory? Slices of apple along with 1tbsp peanut butter can be a great addition to your cooler. It is a great way to get a good source of protein, fibre and plenty of vitamins and minerals. A tip to prevent the apple slices from browning is by squeezing lemon juice over these just before you pack them away. Raw veggies / ultigrain cra ckers and hu us – Sliced veggies like cucumber, celery, carrots or peppers are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These can all be sliced and packed away beforehand. Combine with some humus, salsa, guacamole or a low-fat dressing/dip. P corn – popping your own plain kernels at home and packing these with your own choice of sodium free seasoning such as cinnamon or chili can be a low-calorie snack that can be filling as well as tasty. Beverages – it is important to make sure we are well hydrated when out in the hot sun. Adding citrus fruit, cucumber or mint to water helps to give it a refreshing twist. Try to keep sugary drinks or sodas to a minimum by choosing sugar free alternatives. If making iced tea try to stick to things like lemon and ginger to customize the taste rather than lots of added sugar or honey. Sandwi ches /wraps – Choosing wholegrain/whole-wheat bread over white bread can keep us fuller for longer as well as providing us with plenty of fibre. Choose a lean protein such as egg, beans, sliced turkey or chicken along with some lettuce, tomato or cucumber. Wrap in tin foil or pack in Tupperware to keep safe from the sand!

If you feel you would benefit from support from a Registered Dietitian please contact us at Island Nutrition on 295-4082 or at info@islandnutrition.bm.

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