Health Beat
The image of first lady Michelle Obama bending over a hoe on the White House lawn is an encouraging one for gardening enthusiasts nationwide.
"It's a pleasant change, that's for sure," said Mike Metallo, president of the National Gardening Association. "It's heartening to see the Obamas are beginning to shed light on the importance that gardening has on children and the connection between fresh vegetables and eating healthy."
"We have a nation that's has become disconnected to where food comes from," Metallo said. "Through urbanization, we've taken to just grabbing food off the shelves, or worse, going to the convenience store and picking up pork rinds. But there's a new community garden focus now and a real, real need for kids and adults to get back to an industry where food comes from."
The National Gardening Association, headquartered in South Burlington, Vt., promotes gardening by offering information and curricula and grants for teachers. It believes gardening is "the solution to a lot of the nation's health problems, especially with children," Metallo said. Gardening, he continued, brings children outside and encourages movement, cooperation and social skills, something that video games don't do. "Kids are often led down the technology path only," he said.
A modest 600 square foot plot and $70 in seeds will yield $530 of produce after harvest, Metallo said. Even those without a lawn can grow crops, since "almost any vegetable can be grown in a container," said Siobhan O'Donoghue of Wolf Hill Home and Garden Center on Eastern Avenue.
Dwarf or climbing varieties of tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers and peppers will grow well in deep pots (12-inch or more) if they have something to cling to, such as a porch post or trellis, she said. Herbs are a nice addition in outdoor containers or on bright windowsills inside. Bay trees, parsley and mints can serve as houseplants and flavorings in the winter, and then be placed outside for the summer.
Soil, of course, is the foundation of any good garden, and this should be tested before planting. Testing can reveal high lead levels, and missing nutrients so amendments can be made. Lead levels are highest near old buildings.
Wolf Hill offers soil testing for pH as well as phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, magnesium and calcium, all essential for plant health. The University of Massachusetts will test for these nutrients and heavy metals. In addition, most gardens will need infusions of compost (rotted organic material) or natural fertilizers such as Neptune's Harvest, a fish-based concoction made in Gloucester to nourish plants and increase disease resistance.
Compost can be made at home, by discarding organic waste in a container so it can decay. Compost is also available from the Department of Public Works at the Dogtown Road site. Call them at 978-281-9785.
O'Donoghue says it may be easier for a first-time gardener to buy plants, however, growing from seed is "very rewarding." Cucumbers and squash are easy to start. Keep seed pots moist and set plants outside for a few days before putting them in the ground, she said.
For even better results, O'Donoghue recommends building raised beds about 4 feet wide, which are easier on the back (less bending), and filling them fresh, weed-free soil. Corn, watermelons and pumpkins require a lot of space and nutrients, so are not the best small garden plants, but zucchini, cucumbers, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and radishes will produce abundantly.
There are a million tips and guidelines about gardening, but make sure it's an inventive, fun activity for kids — for example, Metallo said kids love to grow potatoes in a bag of potting soil.
"Gardening is fun for the whole family," O'Donoghue said. "Kids love watching seeds grow."
Then there's community supported agriculture. Farms sells shares of the produce its expects to grow at the beginning of the season. As the season progresses, subscribers receive a regular distribution of the bounty. By purchasing the produce up-front and distributing it at the farm or nearby, farmers can concentrate on growing, and not marketing or transporting their wars.
Heidi Stucker, the community supported agriculture (CSA) coordinator for Farmer Dave's, believes "this seems to be a solution to so many imbalances." She believes CSAs offer "local solutions, and a model that encompasses so much of what is good, what is working and what is sustainable." In fact, Indian Line Farm in Western Massachusetts is considered the first CSA in the country.
Buying a CSA share is a green investment, Stucker said, because it supports a local business, keeps land in agriculture, and requires less fossil fuel to bring to market.
Established in the early 1900s by the Brox family, Dumaresq Farm, also known as Farmer Dave's, grows a variety of fruits and vegetables on 50 acres in Dracut. Farm shares are brought to Gloucester weekly and dispersed from the Lanesville Community Center. "I like the intangible community aspect of the distribution," Stucker said. Those on a budget can receive a reduced share rate if they help with the distribution.
"This model is doing well," Stucker said. "People are valuing where their food is coming from and feel they can trust a local farmer."
"You can visit these farms and be assured that the food is being grown well," she said.
For more information, go to www.nationalgardenmonth.org. You may also call Farmer Dave at 978-349-1952, Wolf Hill at 978-281-4480 or the University of Massachusetts at 413-545-2311.
This article is part of a regular health education series provided by the Gloucester Health Department and Addison Gilbert Hospital.
