Saturday night, my husband and I enjoyed a rare and delightful night out at a neighbor’s home. Laughter filled the air while we caught up on each other’s lives. During the evening I noticed a folded newspaper on the coffee table in their living room. I was filled with nostalgia. Reading a newspaper is one of my true pleasures in life. About 7 years ago, I made the decision to stop paying for a large city-based newspaper. Over the years, I witnessed the paper change; beloved sections of the newspaper were eliminated, favorite comic strips were no longer included and a daily ritual that usually lasted for 20-30 minutes could easily be accomplished in under 15. I still miss reading the newspaper. While I admired my neighbor’s sparkling clean kitchen floors and delicious upside-down apple pie, it was that folded newspaper that really made me question my decision so long ago.
I offer a huge warm welcome to the new readers of this column. This edition represents a welcome expansion and the creation of the My Huntley News newspaper. A local newspaper has the potential to foster community, educate its readers and initiate conversations. I am confident this is what you will find with the My Huntley News. This column is meant to act as a forum for readers to assist them in maintaining the areas around the outside of their home. Gardening and landscaping can be a great equalizer. Whether you have decades of experience or just a few months, we are all in this together. There are always new plants to learn about, techniques that can be improved or problems to be solved. Novice and experienced gardeners alike, please consider this your go to column for information, advice and perhaps a bit of inspiration.
A recent poll indicated that Americans spend on average 14 hours per week outdoors. Seven out of 10 respondents indicated that improving the outside of their home was a hobby. Vegetable gardening captures the interest of 1 in 3 Americans. Not only are landscaping and gardening activities popular but they are also have numerous health and social benefits.
A good night’s sleep evades us all at times. Researchers have proven that people who garden are more likely to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Often times, working outside in fresh air and sunshine leads to a reduction in anxiety levels and an improvement in self-esteem. At a time when strengthening our immune systems is more important than ever, a dose of Vitamin D may be just what the doctor ordered. It is estimated that 30 minutes in the sun can generate 8000-50000 international units of Vitamin D. Gardening certainly has the potential to engage all muscle groups, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified gardening as exercise. Not up for heading to the gym? Consider working outside.
Mutli-generational gardening has tremendous social ramifications. Children are often able to learn responsibility while gardening. Caring for a plant or series of plants gives them the opportunity to take ownership while nurturing their plants. As food prices continue to rise, a few plants cared for properly throughout the growing season, can result in savings at the grocery store.
Loneliness is a very real problem for millions of us during the pandemic. Working in your yard can lead to more interactions with neighbors and help to build that sense of community.
Community is also what this newspaper and in particular this column is all about. The Dairy Mart, Deicke Park and now a community newspaper are to me, what makes Huntley the ‘Friendly Village with Country Charm.’
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
