Spring is upon us and many of us are thinking about getting our hands dirty, enjoying being outside and starting gardens. There are many health benefits to gardening:
- Getting exercise, fresh air, sunshine (vitamin D)
- Improves hand dexterity tending to plants and weeding
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Gardening reduces the risk of dementia
- Immune system boost, with eating fresh food and exposure to beneficial bacteria in the soil
- Increases feelings of happiness and improved mental health
- Gardening provides stress relief by reducing the level of cortisol in the body
- Improves sleep
- Provides overall feeling of well being
Our town has a Community Garden, giving those with no space for a home garden an opportunity to rent a plot and benefit from gardening. This amazing space is nestled in between the Lumby OAP Hall and the Lumby Lions’s Campground. The Community Garden is run by the Lumby Community Garden Committee and boxes can be rented from the Whitevalley Community Resource Centre. The rental includes a garden plot, access to water, access to gardening tools, organic waste bin to name a few. There are currently a few plots available for this year’s gardening season. This beneficial project came to be through donations, government funding, local organizations and many volunteers with the love of gardening.
Whitevalley Community Resource Centre has fruit and vegetable exchange table during the spring and summer season. It is where garden abundance can be shared with others in the community by leaving seedlings, fruit and vegetables which are extra to share with others. It is located at the side of our building.
Sharing the cost with a friend by sharing packages of seeds, plants that have more then one in a package, or sharing a garden space.
No matter how big or small your garden is, from a few potted plants to a large back yard gardens there are benefits. There is great opportunity to learn new skills and try new plants while doing good for your overall well-being. If you are interested in the Community Garden or the exchange table, please contact the Whitevalley Community Resource Centre at (250) 547-8866 and get growing.
Whitevalley Resource Center would like to thank our sponsors, The United Way, and Interior Health.
