We are slowly but surely moving into Spring and Summer! Outdoor activities and nice weather are usually quite relaxing and fun this time of year. One wonderful outdoor activity that you may try your hand at this spring season is gardening! Gardening is a great continuous activity for all ages, but there are many benefits for seniors specifically.
The sensory part of gardening, working with your hands with different textures, different smells, and unique colors and shapes of plants are all beneficial to cognitive engagement. Being outdoors, or maybe a sunroom indoors, has always been a positive for physical and mental health as well. Some people will also attest to the accomplishment of a continuous project that requires time and attention. Having maybe a routine that involves some type of gardening or plant care can really improve your quality of life. The National Library of Medicine published a study on these benefits and more.
And of course, there are ways to garden as a community as well! Whether it be a club to meet with other gardeners, or a local service project, there are ways to find other local gardeners and horticulturalists. The National Garden Club lets you input your zip code and choose a radius to see what recognized garden clubs are in your area! From there you can do a web search on what you find to learn more, or there is a contact option on the NGC search result page. In Ann Arbor’s 10-mile radius there are five garden clubs!
When looking into gardening with seniors specifically, the topic arises of adaptive gardening. As we age and grow, it may be harder to get down in the dirt. Adaptive gardening is a method supported by tools and planters that are easier to use for seniors or those with disabilities, if applicable. For example, a raised gardening bed, which looks like a big box with legs! It allows your garden to be higher up, to avoid bending of the back, or knees. A well-known speaker on adaptive gardening, Toni Gattone, has a webpage with tools she recommends, her book on lifelong gardening, and much more helpful information.
Lastly, checking back in on community opportunities, check out Ann Arbor’s Project Grow. This is a nonprofit organization and an ongoing project throughout the community. They offer multiple sites throughout the city, gardening classes, and an annual plant sale (coming up on May 20th!). Project Grow offers education and community in one, all through the wonderful act of gardening together.
