QUITE a few people regard gardening as an activity to be engaged in only when a person is middle-aged or retired; but regardless of age, gardening is an activity that can provide a lifetime of benefits.

I grew up in a rural setting, and can vividly recall a great-aunt planting fruit trees in the yard and saying that the fruits would be her gifts to visitors and relatives when the trees mature. She is long deceased, but, to this day, people who never knew her are enjoying the fruits of her labour of love.
Here are some good reasons to give the smart phones, Internet and video games a rest, and reconnect with nature, satisfy your emotional needs and reinforce spiritual connections.
Expert Janis Kieft says that gardens play an important part in our wellbeing. A garden might serve as a tranquil retreat or private escape from the demands of everyday life.
The beauty of flowers can lift spirits, while pulling weeds can provide great release from stress and excess energy.
A harvest of colourful flowers or tasty vegetables provides a sense of achievement and a feeling of success, while the yard space can become a source of congratulations and appreciation from visitors and neighbours. On a higher level, gardening provides a spiritual connection to life. Many people say it’s a miracle to take a tiny seed, nurture it, and watch it grow into a beautiful flower or delicious food for your table.
Tending a garden also contributes to improving your living space, the environment, and the planet.
Get very safe and healthy food.
Are you concerned about the use of pesticides in the cultivation of vegetables? An easy solution is to grow your own vegetables. Start your own garden and know the food you’re eating is fresh and safe, with fantastic flavour not always found in a market.

Get great exercise!
Gardening activities provide both cardio and aerobic exercises. Weeding the grass is like taking a vigorous walk, bending and stretching to plant a garden compares to an exercise class, while hauling plants and soil is similar to weightlifting. And after you’re finished, you see immediate results in your garden, even as your physical health improves —without being bored.

Add beauty to your surroundings!
A house with a nice yard is a pleasure to look at and satisfying to live in. Your home can be made more inviting simply by adding a container of colorful flowers near the front door. Trees and shrubs not only provide colour and shade, but shelter for birds and butterflies. The garden can be just like another room to be enjoyed, whether you are inside or outside the house.

Make money!
For some people, gardening is a lifelong hobby. For others, the love of plants can lead to owning their own business. A garden can be a source of flowers, vegetables, herbs, and other crops that can be sold at local farmer’s markets and roadside stands.

Explore your creativity!
Gardening provides an outlet for creative and artistic expressions. A garden’s design can reflect a personal sense of style as well as provide a showcase for art and sculpture. Like to try something new with landscaping or plantscaping? It’s easy to experiment with new plants or change a garden’s colour scheme every year.

Create lasting memories
The fruit trees on family lands in Berbice always evoke fond memories of my dear departed Great Aunt Beatrice Stanley, aka Auntie B. So gardening can be a fun activity that can be shared with children and grandchildren, even if the garden is a single container or small spot in the yard.
A garden or a stand of fruit trees provides a beautiful way to remember a special person or time of life.