By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The other day I was in the home improvement center and noticed how many different gardening books there were on the shelf.

I then took my purchases home and turned the television on, to my surprise, a gardening show.

I channeled surfed my choices and found a show that showcased not only gardening but also cooking. What more could one ask for as far as entertainment.

Gardening in recent time is viewed more as a hobby instead of a necessity of survival.

This fact can be found in the community garden movement, recession gardens, and the overwhelming number of programs on television that demonstrate gardening skills. And in some areas there does exist cable channels that solely deal with gardening.

Reality shows on gardening can also be found and range from floral design to landscaping. But I am an old fashion girl and believe that gardening’s popularity goes deeper than soil deep.

Below are my top 10 reasons to garden and combine not only a personal perspective as to why I garden but also some scientific facts that make gardening the new health plan.

1. Gardening provides exercise that seems to be lacking in the American lifestyle. This comes from picking up pots, hoeing, raking, and chores related to tending the garden.
2. Gardening creates an opportunity by which vitamin D can be absorbed. It only takes 15 minutes out in the sun without sunscreen to absorb a daily dose of this vitamin.
3. Gardening provides more control over an individual’s food supply especially for those who are concern with food security. Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

This time of year my mind starts wondering around the planting table and my garden elbow begins to ache with an uncontrollable desire to start planting my seeds.

I have dealt with this ailment for many years not only in my professional life but also in personal life.

The only cure for this “gardener’s disease” is to get one’s hands into soil immediately.

But in the calendar on the wall says it’s too soon so what to do.

The solution that gives me some relief from my gardening elbow and planting itch is to start making the soil I plan to use for to start my seeds in. This soil is easy to make and provides the most delicate seeds with a good growing medium to take their first breath on and lay down their first roots.

This soil medium is considered a soilless mix and requires the ingredients below. It keeps well in a sealed container until needed.

Soilless Mix for Seeds

• 2 bushels horticultural perlite vermiculite, calcined clay or humus
• 2 bushels of coarse sphagnum peat moss or shredded pine bark Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Every gardener knows what it means when the winter wind blows and the ground freezes over.

The dreaded gardening blues.

I have tried many different things to over come this gardening depression but nothing really treats this little known disease.

I have tried watching movies but when I see land I dream of gardening. I have tried to review my gardening journal but as I look at the pictures I dream of gardening.

And the gardening blues really play loud when the dark days of winter go on and on and I am waiting for the gardening catalog. So this year I am going to try a new treatment to my gardening blues that is windowsill gardening.

Windowsill gardening is as simple as Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Whether the “garden” is in the ground or in a container watering plants when away can be a challenge.

Many companies sell decorative watering globes that are placed inside houseplant containers but a homemade version can be made for the garden.

The supplies are simple and can easily be gathered with not much trouble.

For each watering globe you will need one 2-liter bottle washed out, an ice pick, and a pair of scissors or sharp knife.

The first step to this process is simply making sure the container is clean. Then cut across the bottle 2-inches from the bottom and recycle that part of the plastic bottle. Unscrew the lid and remove the plastic lining from the lid and Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The other day I was looking through my garden catalogs and dreaming about all the new gadgets I would like to buy.

One that I came upon was so simple and yet tied directly into the modern day movement of sustainability.

This item was gardening bags.

Studying these bags gave me some ideas. First I came up with reusing empty potting soil bags as my container. These would work but would eventually end up as trash. The next idea I had was using the reusable bags one gets at stores to carry home groceries.

These bags had everything I required for garden bags. They were reusable, had natural drainage, inexpensive, and could be found everywhere. So the journey of the garden bags began.

I started my experiment by Read the rest of this entry »