Gardening: infusion therapy for stress, anxiety, and disease

Infusion therapy:  the delivery of drugs directly into the bloodstream via a vein, usually located in the arm or hand

My infusion therapy tools are my HOE and my SHOVEL!

This has been the style of my garden for the past several years. It has been a great source of pride and produce for our family!

Though the kids hated to weed it, they couldn’t wait to plant it and eat the benefits! So weed, they did…

This year, we are trying something different. It feels so strange, but we are trying square foot gardening!  Huge change! It takes up SO much less space than we ever used before, and it seems SO crazy.  My husband is the least in favor of this new set up. Even though we have owned Mel’s book for YEARS and he has read it twice, he is still a quite skeptical about this whole thing! Honestly, I’m a little shaky, too.

This is a picture of the new set up:

But we are hoping for the best and having fun with the experimentation. I just hope the plants cooperate, because I have some BIG plans for canning and freezing and EATING our veggies! And yes, we have the same number of tomatoes this year as last year… and MORE than the previous year’s numbers of cukes AND peppers!  I swear!

Well, I certainly can’t talk about weight loss, since I battle (okay, IGNORE) my weight problem daily. However, I can talk about eating yummy foods that are good for you and finding a hobby that is, too!

• Did you know that increasing your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by 3 (just adding 3 to the fruit and veggies you already eat) can decrease your chance of stroke by 22 % ?

• Did you know that just being in a garden is so restorative that medical personal are experimenting with therapy gardens in nursing homes for patient’s with Alzheimer’s?

• Did you know that “leisure in green environments provides feelings of relaxation, autonomy and competition, and makes people open for reflection”? (source)

• Working together with your family (or friends) on a gardening project helps you to become closer group and helps people to communicate better (source, p48).

Happy Ho-ing!!  ;-)

The Lord will guide you always;
         he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land 
        and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, 
       like a spring whose waters never fail.

                                             Isaiah 58:11