What Gardening Can Do For You

Frequently regarded as an old man’s hobby, gardening is making a big comeback. As fresh fruit and vegetables become more expensive and less tasty in shops, people are resorting to growing their own. What many people don’t realize is that gardening is also a very good form of exercise. So, not only does it save one money at the shops it keeps one fit by doing so.

Many people do not realize that until fairly recently flower gardens were not a part of most people’s lives. However as people began to get more leisure time they began to experiment with growing more in their gardens. Most cottage gardens were small, so flowers, fruit and vegetables would be crammed in, seemingly haphazardly, along with herbs for cooking and medicinal uses.

What may have looked haphazard though, was frequently not. People noticed that certain plants seemed to encourage each other to produce. Other plants seemed to discourage pests and diseases. Thus the planting of a cottage garden would have grouped these plants together – garlic amongst the roses to discourage greenfly; marigolds and basil amongst the tomatoes to encourage growth and discourage pests. Not only has one got better tomatoes, one also has the herb that goes best with them.

People wanting to garden organically are beginning to realize just what those early gardeners found out and are taking the lessons on board. This is a good thing, as it attracts a variety of helpful wildlife, who further discourage pests and diseases. Those old-timers also knew a thing or two when it came to fertilizer, too.

Everything organic went onto the compost heap, or midden, as it was known then and used to enrich the soil when it had all rotted down, while horse dung was eagerly collected and either rotted down on the midden, or added straight to the ground. Sometimes it was put in an old tin bath and covered with water. The resulting fluid would be drained and used to feed plants.

Nothing grown in an old cottage garden was wasted. Flowers would be grown to perfume rooms and make pot pourri and some flowers, such as nasturtiums, were eaten. Lavender plants attracted bees for honey, and pollinating flowers and were also useful when dried to make lavender bags which repel moths and added to pot pourri. The oil too was used for medicinal purposes – curing headaches and soothing burns.

With the emphasis today on greener ways of living, taking gardening and perhaps planting a cottage garden of one’s own is the way forward. Not only will it keep one fit, but the tasty fresh vegetables, beautifully scented flowers and wide range of herbs will enhance one’s meals, one’s home (and help to keep it insect and pest free) and one’s wellbeing. Gardening is good for everyone.

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