Bloom where you are planted.

The desire for humans to garden is eternal and ageless. The youngest child is caught up in the magic of planting a seed and watching it grow. The elderly, experienced home-grown horticulturist finds peace, renewal and hope as they carefully watch the weather, work the soil, and plant the heirloom seedlings sprouted from saved seeds handed down from generation to generation. They say gardening is like therapy, but cheaper – and you get tomatoes.

As we age, the desire to ‘plant and grow’ never fades, but many of us find the traditional ‘in-ground’ large-scale plot too challenging to maintain. Newer methods of growing are proving to be better for the environment, and the back. Raised surface beds, wide mound gardening, square-foot gardening, container gardens, and elevated beds provide creative ways to continue gardening, and achieve maximum harvest and enjoyment with minimal effort.

Good soil, seed, water, mulch and sunlight are the five simple key ingredients to a successful garden. Run your hands through your earth. Soil is alive. It should be easy to work, should smell rich and loamy, and drain well. You want the oxygen to reach the root systems, and the living organisms to thrive. Heirloom seeds saved and passed on from generation to generation provide a strong connection to the past and future, and perform well. These open-pollenating plants also sustain the necessary honeybee populations that are dying off at alarming rates from pesticide use. Many garden centers also now sell heirloom and organic seeds. Rainwater is free  – and free of chemicals and pollutants sometimes found in municipal and well water. In Michigan it can be easily collected in large buckets covered in cheesecloth to prevent mosquito infestations. Thick mulch around emerged plants provides protection, helps retain moisture and reduces water use, and nearly eliminates weeds. Use all-natural mulch that will compost easily and it can simply be worked into the soil for enrichment the following spring. And lastly, everything needs sunlight to thrive – even people. After a winter like we had, our bodies and our souls seek needed sunlight. It boosts our mood, strengthens our bones, and recent studies have found a strong correlation between reasonable sun exposure and cancer prevention.

At Ganton Senior Communities our campus gardens are a very important component to the physical and spiritual health of our residents. They are encouraged to participate in our many garden areas on whatever level they can. From painting creative plant markers, to planting and caring for tomatoes, to helping to water and weed – growing season is a favorite for our seniors. Even those who choose to simply sit and rock and admire a pot of petunias in bloom are important to a garden, as everyone needs a cheerleader. To watch how our gardens grow, ‘like’ us on Facebook – Reflections Memory Care, Heritage Assisted Living and Lakeview Senior Living. Now, get growing!