Written by: Patricia O’Brien, Colorado Master Gardener, 2018

During the human lifetime, people “spring leaks, heal, grow, get sick, and age,” as Emmeline Clein once wrote. “Living in a body is an exercise in enduring surprise and accepting change.” I have loved gardening for all my adult life and want to continue being surprised by what I learn as long as is possible. I’m sure that many reading this feel similarly. I discuss the many health benefits of gardening in your elder years as well as recognize some challenges, and offer options for continuing accessibility and ease.

First, gardening is good for us homo sapiens physically, mentally, and socially.

According to some studies, exposure to green spaces itself has positive benefits.  The activities involved in gardening have also been shown to be good for physical health because gardening lowers blood pressure, decreases stress, improves motor skills and balance, and increases energy levels. Some of those activities, if too strenuous, may also contribute to aches and strains in the back or other muscles and therefore discourage active gardening. How then to build more ease in the garden so you can sustain your annual blooms and harvest?

Because gardening can help relieve stress, boost serotonin levels, and improve mood, it may foster a sense of purpose and engagement and therefore boost emotional health.  On the other hand, too many weeds and tasks may lead to discouragement and feeling overwhelmed, so it’s important to manage your gardening tasks as you go along.

Finally, in a time that finds an increasing number of people expressing isolation and loneliness, gardening can contribute to social health and well-being. How best then to find those connections in community beyond your individual garden beds?

Starting with managing the physical load, obvious solutions include breaking the garden tasks into chunks of short-term work that can be spread over several time allotments. This idea of making the work more manageable may also include being more realistic about both time and energy. In our heating climate, staying hydrated is another obvious but sometimes overlooked necessity. Just as water is essential for plants to perform their normal physiological processes, so it is essential for humans to drink water regularly to sustain many basic functions of life. An additional thing to say here is that, regardless of to-do lists, the gardener decides how much time they give to their activities. There are an increasing number of ergonomic tools to assist people with physical challenges. The following lightweight kneeling bench is helpful for getting close to weeding patches and provides bars to hold on to for standing assistance (and can be found on Amazon).

Because I also have mobility and balance challenges due to MS, I use the “Drive” rollator in the yard for support. There are multiple sizes at several price points, therefore talking to a health professional may be useful in considering the options. The major difference between a standard walker and a rollator is that a rollator has wheels attached that assist in movement over rough ground, and they include a seat for taking breaks and for carrying items. The rollator with wheels and a braking mechanism has been a gardening gamechanger for me! Available at Lowe’s and Home Depot in Pueblo.

Emotional and social health often go together. As Master Gardeners, we have so many ways to connect with others about our passions. As an older and somewhat disabled gardener, I have found that asking friends (in a limited way) to work with me (and adding a treat to sweeten the ask) has helped me with dividing perennials and planting tubers. I have learned that, though it may challenge my sense of independence to not be able (or want to) do it all, that social time with my friends is much more fun when we’re both doing something we enjoy. Happy Gardening!