Social Distance Gardening by Robert Weaver
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et’s face it, the news hasn’t exactly been lollipops and rainbows lately. And with many people laid off. furloughed or working out of their homes, not only is the news bad, but we have more time to sit and watch or read it. Well, maybe it’s time to put down the devices, fold up the newspaper, grab the kids, and go out and start a garden!
Then there’s the practical side to growing edible plants. You can stock up on all the canned goods and frozen meat your storage capacity will allow, but fresh fruit and vegetables just don’t keep very long. What could be better than walking out to your garden, and snipping off a few lettuce leaves for a quick, fresh salad?
Why Garden?
Getting Started 123rf.com
First of all, it’s a great stress reliever! Studies have shown that gardening can distract us from problems (well, except for those pesky rabbits) and improve our outlook. Just being outdoors has been shown to reduce cortisol levels (the hormone released in the body as a stress response).
It’s also a great activity for kids. Most kids love to get their hands dirty, and gardening is a great way for them to do that in a constructive way, while
10tH annuaL! St. LouiS Region-Wide
Sustainable Backyard tour Sunday, June 14, 2020 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CaLL FoR SuStainaBLe YaRdS! if your St. Louis City or County backyard is organic and low-impact, and has something interesting and educational to share, consider being a BaCkYaRd HoSt.
learning about where food comes from and other important lessons about nature. And there are countless educational opportunities that gardening provides. Use math to determine how many plants are needed if spaced a certain distance apart in a prescribed area. Use science to observe how plants are pollinated, how they need certain nutrients in the ground, how they take the sun’s energy and make it available to us (or other animals) when we eat them. Write a story about your garden, draw a picture of your favorite flowers. The possibilities are endless, and suggestions can easily be found
We realize that, because of stay-at-home restrictions being observed by many people, including young families, there are a lot of you out there who may be coming to gardening for the first time. If you’re ready to start gardening, the most important thing you can do is keep it simple. There’s nothing worse than planning out a huge garden, then having it overwhelm you to the point that it’s adding to, not reducing, your stress! The easiest way to start is with container gardening, and that’s something even apartment-dwellers can accomplish. You can grow lots of veggies in pots, including lettuce, spinach and other leafy vegetables, tomatoes, peppers and beans, and even small fruit
Showcasing green living practices such as low-impact lawn care, composting, using recycled materials, organic gardening, chicken and beekeeping, native plants, water conservation, renewable energy and more, the Tour is an annual FREE, self-guided tour.
the deadline to register to share your backyard as a tour Host is May 1, 2020. FoR detaiLS ViSit
www.sustainablebackyard.org or get involved: l Volunteer l Suggest a Yard l Be a Sponsor
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The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2020
