It’s Almost Time for Gardening – Four Reasons to Get Your Parents Involved This Year
It may not feel like it where you are, but spring is on the way. It’s a good time to start thinking about gardening. Are your parents hesitant? Give them four reasons to start gardening.
Gardens Feed the Bees
The National Agricultural Statistics Service is a division of the USDA that tracks honey bee activity. Establishments with five or more honey bee colonies reported hive declines of 16 percent in the first quarter of 2018 and 10 percent in the second quarter.
While mites are a leading cause of honey bee decline, pesticides used on commercial crops can harm bees. Fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides may help bees find safe sources of pollen.
When you plant a backyard garden, you’re providing food for the bees within two miles. In areas where food supplies are low, bees have been known to fly two or three times farther to find pollen.
They Save Money
In 2013, the USDA reported that adults could eat fresh fruits and vegetables for $14.70 to $18.20 per person, per week. For elderly men and women on limited budgets, this puts a couple’s grocery bill at as much as $36 per week on just produce.
Growing your own fruits and vegetables saves money. A pack of seeds can cost less than $2 and have enough seeds to grow dozens of plants. If you think about how many tomatoes, squashes, or bell peppers each plant provides, you get a lot of vegetables for a matter of pennies.
They Enjoy Fresh Vegetables Without Leaving the House
When transportation is a problem, it may be hard for your parent to go out regularly to shop for fresh produce. With a backyard full of fresh vegetables, it doesn’t matter. Your parents will have a variety of homegrown produce nearby.
It’s Good Exercise
Walking around the yard, bending over to pull weeds, and digging with a shovel are all forms of exercise. If your parents need ways to bend and stretch, gardening does it. In addition, moving around a wheelbarrow full of mulch or manure works out the arms.
Do you worry about your parents being outside for too long? Caregivers offer more than help with housework and meals. Caregivers can keep track of the time your parents are outside and have them move to the shade or go inside. They can make sure your parents stay hydrated. Talk to a home care agency to discuss the many services caregivers offer.
Sources:
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/fruit-and-vegetable-prices/
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME CAREGIVERS IN NORWALK, IA, FOR AN ELDERLY LOVED ONE, CONTACT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF DES MOINES, IA AT 515-631-5033. OUR CARING STAFF CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!