It’s a great time to stop and smell the roses, especially in your backyard. And what is tastier than fresh fruit or fruit that you have grown yourself?
Planting a garden may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.
Kathy Doisy, 67, president of the Community Garden Coalition, believes gardening can benefit everyone. He is a 46-year-old florist and gardener and started volunteering with the club 15 years ago.
“I think it’s enriching one’s life, not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally, nutritionally,” said Doisy. “And then you make all these friends. If there’s anything that makes people understand each other, it’s farming.”
In the beginning, Doisy had to make an initial decision: “Do you just want to get your hands dirty and go out in nature, or do you want to actually work with plants?”
If you don’t want to start your own garden, Doisy suggests checking out community gardens or the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, a non-profit organization that connects people to agriculture and donates its resources to food aid organizations.
If you want to plant your own garden, start small, says Doisy. It’s easy to get carried away, but it’s better to know if you like it before spending time and money on a big wall.
Gardeners need to check the amount of sun, the condition of the soil and the tools they need.
Plants need good, full sun for growth. Plants need six to eight hours of full sun a day, Doisy said.
A good educational environment is also important. Developers around Columbia often destroy soil before building homes, so new gardens need to replace the soil in order for plants to thrive.
“If you’re in a new neighborhood, your soil is more dangerous,” Doisy said.
Work around buying potting soil and fertilizer, swapping container gardens or sharing a community garden. Not all plants grow well in pots; more water, but it’s a way to avoid contact with the Missouri clay soil.
Wearing protective clothing is important, Doisy said. “Nothing needs a day.”
In his 30s, Doisy was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and he saw a woman in her 40s who had a fever followed by deafness from cultivating the during lunch.
Wearing light, but protective, clothing and shoes with full coverage are safety measures.
“You don’t have to swing the paddle around in your flip-flops,” Doisy said. “That’s a good way to really hurt yourself.”
Using sunscreen, cleaning properly and wearing gloves are some preventative measures to take. In hot weather, it’s also a good idea to do it early in the morning or in the evening, says Doisy, when there’s enough light but less heat.
Finally, the plant needs the right tools. For older people, Doisy says from experience that she recommends lighter, longer and lighter tools. Red colors can be seen among plants. It is easier to use light and durable tools.
Scooters that move on the ground on wheels and knee pads are also a new way of doing things for Doisy and joining community gardens.
Raised beds are another boon for older gardens. Doisy’s husband started building waist-high beds a few years ago, and now Doisy has planted her own low-growing plants in them.
Instead of bending over for hours on end, he picks his strawberries and green beans from a standing position.
With these tips, farming is an accessible, fulfilling hobby, he said.
“It’s never boring when you’re gardening,” Doisy said. “Growing your own food, even in bad weather, just puts you in touch with nature.”
For more information about the Community Garden Coalition, visit comogardens.org. It is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and has many educational opportunities planned for the occasion.