Gardening is a wonderful way to enjoy nature and get a little exercise.  Whether you prefer to garden a larger or small plot of earth, plant flowers in a row or grow herbs in pots, the benefits of being in the sunshine and tending to your plants are many.

The National Gardening Association offers a number of resources and ideas for pandemic gardening.  They have both beginner tips and things that are useful to people, like me, who have been in the fields and gardens since I was very young.

Gardening through Covid-19!

I realized a couple of weeks ago it was time to plant cool weather lettuce, spinach and sugar snap peas.  Reluctant to venture out to buy new seed packets, I remembered all the “left-over” seeds from years past.  Yup — they were forgotten, although snuggly stored in the garage.  I wondered if I could get those 2-, 3-, 4-year-old seeds to sprout.

Recalling a favorite childhood story, the Little Engine That Could, I started with the mantra “I think I can, I think I can!”. I gathered old plastic pots, previously used soil from stored planters and those sad little packages of old seeds. I planted the tomato and cucumber seeds in starter pots; the lettuce and early peas directly in the garden soil.

Thank You Mother Nature

Waiting, watching, wondering…I am happy to report mixed results:  no tomato or cucumber sprouts yet.  Perhaps they need more warmth and TLC.  But WOW just look at the lettuce, peas and strawberries forming right on time.

Thank you “mother nature” for reminding us we are never too old, forgotten or isolated to sprout and bloom!

Working in Dirt

Have you planted anything this spring?  On the AARP website, there is an article about the benefits of “working in dirt”.  They provide a list of the 5 secret health benefits of gardening.  And none of their 5  benefits includes the obvious benefit of one; that is, being able to harvest your own fresh, home-grown vegetables and fruits.

Vicky Sawyer, MS, LCPC

Wellness & Care Coordinator

Vicky Sawyer started with Friends Life Care in 2006.  As an educator and counselor, she has over 35 years experience assisting adults, young and less young, in transition.  Her educational foundation includes an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro in Home Economics Education and a Master’s Degree from East Carolina University in Human Development and Counseling.

She is a licensed professional counselor with a specialty in career development and served as a career educator counselor at Washington College in Chestertown, MD.  An avid gardener who loves sharing plants and stories, she especially enjoys getting to know Friends Life Care members and assisting in their transitions.