A cat behaviorist I follow on Instagram recently explained why she doesn’t like laser pointers as cat toys. (Hey, I thought this was about gardening! Bear with me!)
She says that chasing the laser light doesn’t complete the search-hunt-catch cycle for the cat. It’s based on the way a cat would hunt for prey. They search, then hunt, but they never “catch” the light, and that, she says, leaves them stressed.
I thought about this when information was published last week regarding humans and gardening. The plant-tend-pick cycle must be part of why some of us find gardening so soothing. I don’t do a lot of it; two raised garden beds, some perennials, and a few annuals in planters. But it’s satisfying to see things grow and flourish. And it’s even sweeter to eat what you grow.
The Science of Gardening
A common trait among 100-year-olds is a love for getting out into a garden. (The ones who say they take a shot of whiskey every day are less common!) A neurosurgeon from the Cleveland Clinic says there are lots of reasons why gardening can help you live a longer life.
First, Dr. Deborah Benzil tells TheHealthy.com that it gets you outside. I could easily live my life like a mushroom, buried in the darkness of my basement recording studio. Seriously. Sometimes, I have to force myself to go out. Having a skin condition that’s made worse by even a bit of sunlight is my real reason. But I also have sunscreen, hats, and shades. Making sure the plants are watered and picked is a responsibility that requires stepping outside of the house.
The doctor also says gardening is good exercise with lots of bending and squatting. Getting up and down repeatedly can help strengthen the core and guard against falls. And a third benefit is reaping a tangible result from all that work. Seeing flowers bloom and eating food you’ve grown yourself offers a tremendous level of satisfaction. There’s a huge difference in taste between the cherry tomatoes at grocery stores and the ones from the back yard. By comparison, my own make the store-bought ones taste like cardboard.
Hurrah for the Houseplant
A medical doctor told me that if you can’t get outside, there are other ways to get the outdoor benefit. Even having a houseplant or looking at a poster of a nature scene is beneficial. The human brain doesn’t know whether or not you’re actually in that scene. So, it does your brain and body good. And if you don’t like to garden, you can walk, cycle, or sit and enjoy the leafiness outside. It all counts.
This year, I’ve planted cherry tomatoes again, plus some lemon thyme. Then it’s all flowers and a few more perennials. Derek moved one of the raised garden boxes (no easy feat) and I hope for a better tomato crop this year with more sunshine on them. And like the cat that gets to catch its prey, clutching those little red tomatoes completes the cycle for me. Maybe it will even help me live longer.
Nice to get dirt under your finger nails once in a while.
Anyone in my family knew better than to try to use a laser pointer around any of my cats. I always felt sorry for the kitty who would be running around in circles, feeling confused and frustrated.
I have a love/hate relationship with gardening. I plant quite a bit of everything each year for the purpose of canning and preserving for the winter. I love to plant the stuff, I love to take care of it, but man, do I ever start to curse when it’s time to slice, dice, boil, freeze, sterilize jars, etc. My kitchen looks like the Mason jar company set up shop here, lol.
My mom was an avid gardener. She lived to be 92. She was rarely sick, and always had a smile on her face.
Up until her mid 80’s, she would climb up the fruit trees so as not to miss a single pear or plum. She would plant and tend to the small gardens of her neighbours if they were too busy with little kids or working full time jobs. When she lived in Italy, she grew olives and used to make her own olive oil. I saw first hand the benefits of gardening where she was concerned.
Thanks for an interesting read, Lisa. You brought some good memories to mind for me today.
Your mother sounds like an amazing woman. Made her own olive oil?! My mom had a huge vegetable garden and a big, gorgeous rock garden. I keep mine small because I don’t love it like she did. Plus she had 50+ acres and I have 50+ feet! 🙂
I dislike gardening a lot. However, I have lots of perennials, including a rose bush that was here when we moved in 40 years ago. It seems to have taken a beating from this lousy winter, but buds are starting. Now I will have to make time to get rid of the Japanese beetles that love to eat those roses. Grrr. I have lily of the valley & peonies that were already here as well, but I transplanted some irises from my parents garden. Love those. My veggies consist of Sungold cherry tomatoes & various beefsteak. I sure hope the summer is much gentler than the last winter. By our hospital there is a communal garden for anyone to plant or to help themselves. I love that idea. Good luck with the harvests everyone. Be kind to us Mother Nature. Please!
Perennials are the best! Do you have one of those beetle traps? I’ve seen them in yards throughout our neighbourhood and I’ve never seen a beetle in my garden. So, thank you neighbours.
I tried one last year, but didn’t have much luck. I will try 2 or 3 to see if that works better. It’s such a lovely rose bush & I hate to see the flowers eaten up. Thanks for reminding me!