Mental Benefits of Gardening
Most people are aware of the physical benefits of gardening but they don’t always think about the mental benefits of gardening. Gardening can provide some very significant and much needed mental benefits in addition to physical exercise.
1) Stress Relief – Stress is one of the most common health complaints that people have. Stress from work, from family, from just daily living can build up and lead to all sorts of serious health problems. Many people who suffer from chronic health conditions are advised by doctors and experts to reduce their stress levels in order to stay healthy and fight off more chronic problems. High stress levels can also lead to insomnia and other problems that bleed over into daily life, making it hard to function.
Gardening is a proven stress reliever. There is just something about being outside, in nature, digging in the dirt and helping plants to grow that is soothing and relieves stress. Gardening is a great excuse to get out into the fresh air and sunshine and relax.
2) Anxiety Relief – People who suffer from chronic anxiety and even some people who are being treated for severe anxiety find comfort in gardening. The relaxation of gardening can be a very effective way to combat anxiety. When you’re outside gardening, it’s easy to sit and meditate, or sit and daydream, or just enjoy being outside in the fresh air, all of which can help you relax and calm down.
In fact, there is a particular form of therapy that is being developed that uses gardening as a therapeutic tool to combat depression and anxiety. For people who don’t respond well to the drugs that are usually prescribed to combat those disorders, gardening can be a safe and very effective treatment. Participating in gardening clubs or other gardening social activities can also be a good way to combat social anxiety disorders and other fears associated with being around people.
Participants in gardening therapy also feel a sense of accomplishment, increased self-esteem, and a feeling of purpose because they are creating something special for others to enjoy and use. Researchers still don’t know all of the benefits associated with gardening therapy, but the ones that have already been documented are enough to make gardening a highly worthwhile activity for both physical and mental health.
Gardening in the Desert
Here’s a bit of recent history that’s hard to fathom today. In March 1999 Israel was in the midst of such a severe drought that it sought to reduce the amount of water that it was then supplying to Jordan. It is difficult to comprehend that there have been times when Israel was brown and barren. It wasn’t always this way. In ancient times, the land of Israel was covered with forest. During the years the Jews spent in exile, the forests were cut down to build railways. Herds of goats followed behind the railroad builders and ate whatever was left. The neglected soil eventually became dry and unproductive.
Fortunately, Israel’s history is full of people who came to the desert with the dream of turning it green.
Towards the end of the 19th century Zionism was gaining momentum in Europe and Jews began returning to the land. The early Zionists considered reforestation a priority which represented the arrival of the new era. Without thoroughly considering the effort it would ultimately require, they cleared the hills of stones and planted forests. And in the mosquito-infested swamps they planted eucalyptus trees. Today, there are more than 200 million trees in Israel.
Wildflowers and medicinal plants also grow in abundance here. As do landscape plants. In fact, modern Israel is a horticultural success story unparalleled in the world. And Hannah Wende and her horticulturist husband Les, who arrived from Australia 25 years ago to do their part for the Zionist dream, have been active participants in that process.
Les had owned a nursery in Perth so they knew the business. In 1979, they opened their own nursery, east of Netanya, that specialized in plants that required little water – perfect for Israel where water is precious. During the 15 years they operated their nursery, they introduced approximately 600 new plants to the country. They focused on drought-tolerant plants which are not readily found in Israel. Then, 10 years ago, they retired. It must have seemed like a good idea at the time.
But when you are a person with a vision, it’s impossible to relax until you’ve reached your goal. “I retired against my better judgment,” says Hannah, with a knowing smile in her eyes. She goes on to explain that she was frustrated that she hadn’t finished what she set out to do. “I still hadn’t convinced Israelis that they could have beautiful gardens without using a lot of water. I still had energy so I approached the English Speakers’ Resident Association and found a way to continue my work, without being bogged down by the business and paperwork that I did not enjoy.”
ESRA thought Hannah’s “backyard nursery” was a great opportunity to generate money for its many community services. And so the ESRA nursery was born, right across the road from Hannah’s original nursery. The ESRA nursery focuses on water-wise plants and Hannah is constantly searching the world for new plants that aren’t already available here. “This is a nursery for people building gardens,” says Hannah.
“Originally my dream was to establish salt-tolerant plants along the coast and we did have some success with the beach-side hotels in Herzlia Petuach and Netanya. But we soon realized that while Arab-style gardens with their courtyards, potted plants, fruit-bearing trees, and no lawns use much less water and are more suited to the area, Israelis wanted European and English style gardens, so we changed our focus.”
The nursery grows a large variety of plants, suitable for any type of gardening or landscaping. It also grows some items specifically for kibbutz communities. “They have vast gardens that have to look pleasant and be pleasant to walk through,” she explains. “They need plants that are water-wise and cost effective, but not readily available in other nurseries. So I grow the kibbutz the plants they want.”
“This is the best time to plant,” she adds. “Winters here are manageable. Spring is also a good time to plant, but by that point, gardeners have missed the winter rains and must water their gardens themselves.” This brings Hannah to her water waste philosophy. “You still have to convince people that water is a precious commodity here.”
But there is hope. Hannah says that after all these years she is starting to see a trend toward more water-conscious gardening in Israel. “People are beginning to realize that there is more than one way for their lawns to look green. There are plants available here that provide excellent coverage and don’t require so much care.”
In fact, if the trend continues, Hannah may have finally achieved her goal and next time she retires, she may really mean it.
For those people who want to grow water-conserving plants in their gardens, here are a few suggestions from Hannah:
o Trees:
- Eucalyptus – there are many species available, each suited to different regions of the country
- Callistemon – four species are most commonly used here. “King’s Park, Harkness and Dawson River” succeed all over the country, while “Salignus” is very successful in the Sharon Region
- Grevilleas – particularly suited to the Sharon Region
- Melaleuca – “Revolution Gold and Styphelloides” are beautiful specimens
- Hakea – an underrated small tree
- Pararchidendron – offers lovely small and unusual trees
- Markhamia – a good medium sized tree
- Bolusanthus – excellent small trees
o Shurbs:
- Callistemon, Grevillea, Melaleuca have several species. Most are suitable all over the country.
- Eremophila – many species suitable for Israel
o Ground cover:
- Grevilleas, Myoporum, Scaevola, Eremophilia – each has many species which grow best in the dry heat of Jerusalem, the Golan, the Arava and the Negev
o Climbers:
- Pandorea, Podranea, Solanum, Hibbertia – these attractive climbers perform well throughout Israel, except for Hibbertia, which does not do well in the very cold regions
And for those gardeners who, once they have their water-conscious plants, need some tips on how to make their gardens thrive, Hannah has some thoughts on that as well:
o Remember, even water-wise gardens do need water. However, after the plants are established, which usually takes two to three years, they need to be watered less frequently than European-style gardens
o Most people water their gardens too frequently, preventing the roots from reaching deep into the soil in search for water. Consequently, the plants are shallow-rooted and susceptible to hot, dry spells, or strong winds.
o A new garden should be watered well, with drippers once every 7-10 days
o More established gardens can be watered less
o Plants should not be watered from above with sprinklers as droplets on the leaves raise the humidity, and act as a magnifying glass which can cause the leaves to ultimately burn
o Gardens do not need to use clean water from the Kinnert. Grey water from household activity is good enough and more economical.
Electrical work in MA Homes
No matter how one person puts it, a house would still be a house no matter how big or how small it is. A house couldn’t be more important because of its size and also its tag price. There are more than a few things that a homeowner would have to be thankful fore when having a house. A house is more than just a material that is named after a homeowner. Of course, a house is more than that. There are houses that take a lifetime to build. Though a house could be of better quality than others, in sentimental value; all houses are the same. Before a house is actually built, there are a lot of things that people need to worry about. Some of them even work multiple jobs just for them to cover for the needed payment for the house.
The most unfortunate thing to hear about a house would have to be the misfortunes that families actually experience in owning a house.
For one, a house may be taken away by none other than the bank when the families never really managed to check their financial capacities to pay for the bill of the house. Then there are those who have neglected a house that a house eventually fell into the ground and became ruins.
In these types of occasion, there should be a reality check. A house is a property made of different materials. With their materials, it is given that a house will eventually fall and be brought to the ground especially without any focused professional to do the job of maintenance. Without professionals, homeowners are meant to do the work by themselves or else suffer the consequences. Take a look at the internet nowadays, a lot of do it yourself tutorials are actually flocking in You tube but the problem would have to be the fact that homes are in need of professionals who don’t make houses as their experiment.
With the homeowners doing what they can to make their house better, there are times that they fail miserably. The worse part would have to be, which part of the house did the homeowner participated in. If its about electrical work, you can never be too sure. Today, there are a lot of houses that ended up in ashes because of poor electrical work. This type of work is in need of professionals to be able to ensure a family’s safety.
In the US, Massachusetts (MA) is among the places where electricians from all over the world transfer. There is a great number of Massachusetts based electricians who managed to adapt to the culture of the state. With this, there are a great number of electrical contractors in MA. With the best electricians in MA; there are no more ugly looking homes in the future since everything will be organized on the way their electrical lines have been fixed. Since when it comes to electricians, MA is the number one state; the contractors make sure that they only hire MA licensed electricians to improve and ensure competency to every clients. So when it comes to electrical in MA homes; do not even attempt to raise a finger. Just ask for help and be safe.