Written by Mary Lowther
I try as hard as I can (and I do!) but my winter fitness plan doesn't prepare me for the reality of spring. All winter I train with calisthenics, isometrics, aerobics, and of course shovel snow and dig for firewood, but the spring equinox somehow gives me a wake-up call and rediscovers my dormant muscles. I realize that I do.
Digging, hoeing, and bending over to plant are not for the faint of heart or the weak of backs, but the results are worth the effort. Eating home-grown, organic food helps us stay healthy while also making us healthier. That's an obvious difference between the two, and we haven't even mentioned the benefits of fresh air and sunshine.
I've read countless suggestions explaining how to do various gardening chores more easily, such as raising a bed on supports for wheelchair access, but gardening itself still requires physical work. Masu. Fortunately, we can reap the rewards of observing our tended crops and forget about the physical aches and pains associated with the process.
Smart people treat gardening as exercise. Stretching afterwards forces the lactic acid buildup that causes pain out. As temperatures rise this summer, we “retired” people can use the heat of the day as an excuse to rest until the evening. Siesta was invented for hot summer days. We must never forget the hard-won wisdom of our elders.
Don't forget to stay hydrated. You also need to water. When I previously had a day job, I did most of my gardening in the early mornings and on weekends, but now I find gardening more enjoyable when I take regular water breaks. they are finished.
I have been keeping weather records for the past six years and the last frost of 2019 was April 23rd. Although the climate is warming, we find that current temperatures reflect what we experienced earlier in the year. according to the same schedule. For example, the first batch of peas in 2019 wasn't harvested until mid-April, and this year is no different. If I remember correctly, the first peas I made two years ago were burnt in the heatwave. Perhaps you may need to take precautions that may be related to water. I want to hang a shade cloth over it, but how do I convince David that he wants to hang a 40 foot shelf on top of a 6 foot tall bean shelf?
Summers are always dry, so I gathered a lot of soaker hoses that draw water directly into the roots and save water. This method results in very little evaporation and falls within CVRD drought guidelines. We are also budgeting for the development of rainwater collection facilities. Perhaps we can train our bodies with monotonous spring routines, and at the same time train our minds about the upcoming summer and how all these aches and pains will definitely be deliciously rewarded.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us at mary_lowther@yahoo.ca as we need all the help we can get.
