Comments on: Gardening for the Long Haul http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/02/28/gardening-for-the-long-haul/ Hardy plants for hardy souls Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:58:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: My Summer in a Garden | Cold Climate Gardening http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/02/28/gardening-for-the-long-haul/comment-page-1/#comment-19743 My Summer in a Garden | Cold Climate Gardening Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:38:54 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=485#comment-19743 [...] more until we arrive. And when it comes to the care and feeding of a middle-aged woman, I have read the manual, and I’ve been trying to follow the [...] [...] more until we arrive. And when it comes to the care and feeding of a middle-aged woman, I have read the manual, and I’ve been trying to follow the [...]

]]> By: nelumbo http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/02/28/gardening-for-the-long-haul/comment-page-1/#comment-884 nelumbo Fri, 10 Mar 2006 03:10:51 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=485#comment-884 My granmother is well into her 80's and has appointed herself resident gardener of the retirement complex that she lives in. Of course her few beds are a step down from the massive gardens she had at the farmhouse, but in moderation gardening is definitely good for her mental and physical health. My granmother is well into her 80′s and has appointed herself resident gardener of the retirement complex that she lives in. Of course her few beds are a step down from the massive gardens she had at the farmhouse, but in moderation gardening is definitely good for her mental and physical health.

]]> By: Kasmira http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/02/28/gardening-for-the-long-haul/comment-page-1/#comment-872 Kasmira Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:30:40 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=485#comment-872 Good point on the inflexibility of the lower back. I think it comes from our American habit of sitting in chairs. In Japan, where they sit on the floor, the people are much more flexible. Here, even when we stretch, we tend to concentrate on the hamstrings. I always remind my group fitness participants to picture taking their "bellybutton to the floor (or thighs)" when stretching forward to encourage a flexibility in the lower back. Good point on the inflexibility of the lower back. I think it comes from our American habit of sitting in chairs. In Japan, where they sit on the floor, the people are much more flexible. Here, even when we stretch, we tend to concentrate on the hamstrings. I always remind my group fitness participants to picture taking their “bellybutton to the floor (or thighs)” when stretching forward to encourage a flexibility in the lower back.

]]> By: Judy Miller http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/02/28/gardening-for-the-long-haul/comment-page-1/#comment-862 Judy Miller Wed, 01 Mar 2006 02:13:13 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=485#comment-862 My paternal grandmother gardened into her 90's, same as my maternal great grandmother. Part of that is attitude, of course. Part of that, too, was the difference in how life was lived--hard to be a couch potato before your family owns a tv or a car or indoor plumbing. And while I've inherited the Scandinavian cream & butter absorbing genes which destroy cholesterol and give me low,low blood pressure along with the blue eyes--and excercise mightily here on the farm as a matter of course-- a simple unforseen accident can lay one low. I think perhaps a sort of 'belt & suspenders' approach might be wise, building in some accessibilty features now while you don't think you need them (a waist-high bed or two?), maybe a few garden beds near the house, and some good indoor possibilities like germinators, sun porch shelving & so on, so that when there's a patch of enforced quiet, or weeks of bad back weather, one can still brandish that trowel. It's a badge of honor, after all. My paternal grandmother gardened into her 90′s, same as my maternal great grandmother. Part of that is attitude, of course. Part of that, too, was the difference in how life was lived–hard to be a couch potato before your family owns a tv or a car or indoor plumbing.

And while I’ve inherited the Scandinavian cream & butter absorbing genes which destroy cholesterol and give me low,low blood pressure along with the blue eyes–and excercise mightily here on the farm as a matter of course– a simple unforseen accident can lay one low. I think perhaps a sort of ‘belt & suspenders’ approach might be wise, building in some accessibilty features now while you don’t think you need them (a waist-high bed or two?), maybe a few garden beds near the house, and some good indoor possibilities like germinators, sun porch shelving & so on, so that when there’s a patch of enforced quiet, or weeks of bad back weather, one can still brandish that trowel. It’s a badge of honor, after all.

]]> By: Alice Nelson http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/02/28/gardening-for-the-long-haul/comment-page-1/#comment-856 Alice Nelson Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:20:02 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=485#comment-856 My grandmother gardened until she was 87 until she fell and broke her hip - before the days of Fosomax. She lived with us then until she was died at 93. Perhaps with Fosomax and a few other meds that I have been found to be in need of, I'll be so lucky. As for now, I am almost 78 and have no trouble gardening and running a landscape gardening business. I am blessed to come from a family of longevity and good health! And that isn't my doing. My grandmother gardened until she was 87 until she fell and broke her hip – before the days of Fosomax. She lived with us then until she was died at 93. Perhaps with Fosomax and a few other meds that I have been found to be in need of, I’ll be so lucky. As for now, I am almost 78 and have no trouble gardening and running a landscape gardening business. I am blessed to come from a family of longevity and good health!
And that isn’t my doing.

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