July 3, 2025 • 19 mins
Samantha has started a garden. She delves into the benefits and rewards.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. Welcome to stuff I
never told you aplecture if I heard.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
You, And welcome to another edition of a happy hour.
But today it's going to be a happy happy hour
and not an unhappy hour or a bit in wine,
which I love.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We'll come back to that cinema, I'm pretty.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Sure, but for today, if you are participating in happy
hour activities, do so responsibly.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Do everything responsibly. Take care of yourself. We need you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Currently not sponsored by any of the things that I mentioned.
I feel like some of these things should be sponsoring us.
That way, how do we get Costco as a sponsorship? Like,
come on, I need a hot dog?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Anyway?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Moving on, So, I wanted to talk about a new
found joy that I have had as of recent and
it's me dabbling into the gardening world, which I feel
like I've mentioned previously because I am very excited that
I have produced tomatoes and have eaten some said tomatoes.
I have produced jilapenos, and I have eaten these kialapennos
(01:19):
and they're coming in and they're growing, and watching them
grow is one of the most exciting things that I
think have happened, that I actually enjoy. And you know,
I've been on the quest for hobbies for a long time, which,
by the way, I just watched okay drama with this
one girl who is like a workaholic and loves her
work but realize she needs to calm down and tries
(01:40):
to find hobbies and can't find a one and it's
frustrated that she's not great at something. And I'm like,
I can relate. But at the same time, I'm not
a workaholic, Like I don't even have that as an excuse,
but whatever. But with that, so, I have talked about
the fact that I have killed plants. I kill many
of plants, burns more succulents, other things. Anyway, but this
(02:07):
time around, I'm like, you know, what the world is ending,
Maybe I should prep with some some foods and see
how far I can go with this. And I Caroline,
you know previous hosts, her and her partner are gardening themes,
like they have so much that they have done a
CSA for some close friends and I'm like, what in
the world. And they are amazing. They've got greenhouses, they've
(02:29):
got let us, they've got all kinds of kale and
all like they are doing things, and like I'm very
like cool, that's cool for you.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I'm a watch And.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Caroline has always been a plant person, like her house
during the pandemic was like a jungle and she was
thriving on talking about these plants. And I just stared
at her and nod and was like, what what we
are in two different worlds? We're not But all of that,
I say, so I'm currently doing. And I have said
(03:00):
I have been really successful because I know you've been
really successful with your sashetos.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Yes, yes, but yes, but them too quickly.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
But yes, we got to enjoy things. But like I've
been really successful with basil for the most part. Like
I had someone when I lived in my apartment and
they died when I went on vacation for a week
and my neighbor kind of forgot about them. When I
was very sad about this because I was doing great
and I named I named my plants. Can't help it.
(03:34):
But one of the things we got some basil recently.
My partner is better at it than me, I think
when it comes to like gardening and understanding what needs
what and soils, but he's not better at remembering to
like that they are there. Yeah, it kind of forgets,
but he's great when he's on it. So we're a
good team, I think in that way. But so he's
(03:55):
been like he will put things out. Are easy, green onions.
We've got tons of green onions if you need those.
I have a basil plant that I got, I want
to say, at a grocery store that looked pretty good,
and so I decided to go ahead and plant it.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And it is huge.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Even though the bugs are eating it, it's getting big.
So I am like cutting it up and then I'm propagating.
So I don't this joy of propagating, y'all. I was like, yes,
look at the roads, look at those roots, even to
the point that I went on vacation in anti dog
set and I was like, hey, I needed to make sure.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
The water is always full. That's all I care about it.
Don't need to be anywhere else.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Like that was part of the responsibilities that I put
on her checklist.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Need it good, thank you.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
And so then I've planted those and they are all
but one, so about like five I think have art thriving.
One decided it did not like it, and it's kind
of like all brown and crusty, but it is okay
because I have more than I have art thriving, and
I'm very very excited. And so now all I'm doing
is propagating basil plants. I am very excited about because
(05:00):
I'm like, I'm have them everywhere.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Which I love.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Basil probably is one of my favorite like herbs, like
it is definitely top two, top two lemongrasses up there too.
I don't use it often, but when I eat it,
it's so good. It makes me so happy. You know,
we have rosemary and we have time as well. We've
kind of had bad luck with rosemary, but like it's
now catching on. Like my partner had one that he
(05:24):
propagated from a brewery and it grew, but like when
we moved or when it has heat like heat waves,
which we've had, it's been bad this week, all of
those things it did not survive. That we finally got
one that's going there. It's getting there. And with that,
Costco had a lot of their gardening section up because
(05:44):
you know, they do a lot of seasonal stuff, and
they had tomato plants and peppers and we were like,
you know what, we're gonna try this.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
We're gonna try this. I think I want to test it.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
So my partner got a small like tub looking thing
that's for garden and we have to put it in
the front because that's where the most sunlight is.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
And y'all, the bell peppers are.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Adorable and they're growing. My halipanios are growing. Each one
of them are thriving. Like for a minute, it was
kind of touch and go because I think we waited
a little too long to actually put them in the
garden bed, Like we had them in their little container
and it was not enough and we were gone. I
think I made you water those, didn't I, or at
(06:26):
least make sure they are okay? Yeah, when it was
not in the garden yet. But they have produced some fruit.
I have been very excited. I've been watching out for
birds like I'm about to fight some birds. I'm gonna
fight them. I'm a fighter book, I'm gonna fight them.
And you know, like it just kind of came back
to like my thought process of like, you know, maybe
(06:48):
this is I mean, I've always heard that this is
rewarding and therapeutic. And actually when I was working with
at ristines or juveniles, we would take them to plant
things and have them go to gardens and we would
have them do like community service and gardens and planting trees, and.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
They loved I actually really loved these activities.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Like as much as they would grown and complain about
being hot and don't want to be there when they were.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
They loved it.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I had kids who were like the hardest kids that
were talking about, you know, the gain activity they were
part of, asking about the trees that they planted, like
wanting pictures, and those that like I forgot how amazing
that is that it really was a great time for
me to bond with them, for them to see that
I'm not just being here that dorky adult telling you
(07:36):
lies about the future, and they really like actually participated
and enjoyed having those moments and being able to do
something different. And I decided I wanted to go and
look through and see all of the benefits, because you know,
every now and again in happy hours, we decided we
want to research lightly, very lightly, just a few things,
(07:56):
and actually one popped up, which was a study titled
Gardening for Help, A Regular Dose of Gardening by Richard Thompson.
And this is intensive gardening. This is what again Caroline
and her partner do not me, like I'm fairly out there,
but like still love this moment. But they say it
combines physical activity with social interaction, exposure to nature and sunlight.
(08:18):
Sunlight lowers blood pressure as well as increasing vitamin D
levels in the summer, and the fruit and vegetables that
are produced have positive impact on the diet. Working in
the garden resource dexterity and strength, and the aerobic exercise
that is involved can easily use the same number of
calories as might be expended in a gymg Raking and
mowing are particularly calorie intense. There's a gem outside mini
(08:41):
a window. The social interaction provided by communal and therapeutic
garden projects for those with learning disabilities and poor mental
help can counteract social isolation. Furthermore, it has also been
reported that the social benefits of such projects can delay
the symptoms of dementia, an effect that might be partly
due to the beneficial effects of exercise. So, you know,
(09:01):
like they are talking about this as a therapeutic level,
and a lot of the studies that I've seen are
talking about how different like health facilities and institutions have
been using this and implementing this as a part of
their process that it is called horticultural therapy, and I
was like, that makes so much sense. And of course
(09:22):
there were some more stuff like Mayo Clinics health systems
talk about how to start a garden. They talk about
how routines provide structure to our day are linked to
improve mental health, like the watering, weeding is like soothing rhythmic.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Ease to stress.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
And I will say there's something like satisfying and pulling
the roots of weed. I've had battles in our backyard
with the pine trees that are trying to grow their
baby pine trees. They smell delicious and they're kind of cute.
But I'm like, no, I just make thousands of dollars
to get rid of a phoebia because you were like
at a danger to my house. So I would go
(09:59):
through like rip them up and pulling them out, but
with all root and all m M.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
A little bit a little bit violent, but also very satisfying. Yeah,
very satisfying.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
If you do want to start a garden. I have
a feeling most of our listeners are like, Samantha, where
have you been? Why have you not done this previously?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Come on?
Speaker 2 (10:30):
But if you are a novice like me and thinking
about it because again, I've killed so many plants, and
this is a little bit worrisome, you know, because if
I fail.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I'm gonna be really hurt. I'm gonna be really hurt,
you know.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
But the Mayo Clinic dots talk about how to start
one They say start small, and yes, I did start small.
They're small with just a few plants, easy plants. I
feel like tomatoes and the peppers are the you know,
the essential beginnings. Right then they say build a network,
find people who are interested in gardening. I'm not ready
for that yet. We don't need people to tell me
what I'm doing wrong yet yet. If I decided we
(11:04):
want to take a whole plot out, we'll have a conversation.
I feel like, if Caroline and her partner give me advice, sure, sure, sure,
but right I'm not networking for.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Gardening friends yet.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
If our listeners have advice, I will take that too,
because I feel like they are trusted resource strangers. Nah listeners,
and who are my friends? Yeah, okay, I'll take that,
says research appropriate plants. And that's the other part to
this is I've been really really talking about like having
native plants in the area that you're at that is
in for your zone. Like that is such a common
(11:37):
conversation that I'm like, oh, that makes sense. And as
with climate change, things have changed and therefore maybe different
plants can now grow here. Like we talk about wines
and I'm a little leary of sometimes like grapes and
wines here because I'm like, we're not really built for that,
but maybe now we are.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Who knew? But with that, Yeah, it's like also.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Being conscientious of the environment if we because again gardening
I'm not quite there yet to like flowers and like
blooms and such, but in the understanding that native plants
are important to be here. That's also talking about conservation.
You know, there's now a new debate I feel like
it's been happening for the last ten years, but about
you know, lawns and whether or not lawns are beneficial
(12:19):
to the environment Boiler alert Apparently not. But at the
same time we have white supremacy. It was like, no,
but it looks better and we like it, so you
can't do native plants and lots.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Of wildlife like that.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
That. Yeah, that's my voice for hoas, which I'm not
a part of because I'm not a fan. But all
of that to say is I think, like that's something
that we've been talking about. My partners really into that
really wishes that he didn't He loves a good like
mow lawn, Like there's something like satisfying to see crisply
mode lawn with.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
That smell of grass.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
But understanding that we also want to help the environment,
create a welcoming environment for the species that are a
dying out, that have been here, should be here, who
have been here to help out the ecosystem.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Blah blah blah I.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Say, blah blah blah blah, and like this lot of
big conversation, but also realizing that that's something that we
need to be researching as well. So that is something
that I do have in the back of my head.
I have a feeling we have some listeners to be like,
be careful. And of course with that, we also wanted
to talk a little more about the impacts in the
health outcomes. I talk about reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety,
(13:28):
decrease in reporting stress and mood disturbances, decrease in BMI,
which whatever hire a reported sense of community. Thank you
Healthymindsphilly dot org and improved cognitive function. So they add that,
and again they talk about horticultural therapy and how using
gardening is a maze to facilitate.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Dialogue and skill building.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
And I think that's really important too, like we're able
to like survive maybe recognize. I've I've found out that
some of the weeds in my backyard are called pork greens.
I thought they were weeds, but my neighbor, we love
our neighbor was like that people take that and you know,
make that into like collar greens. I was like, like collars,
(14:08):
cook them like collar greens. And I was like, I
love collared greens. What so that might be an adventure
that I have to try. Yeah, But of course, like
when it comes to weeds that we find in the backyard,
I'm really kind of weary because I don't know much
about planets that I'm like, I don't want to end
up into the wild, you know what I'm.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Saying, Well, wandering into the woods alone, at least be
at your house and hopefully hopefully your partner will find
you and be like, no, get you up.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I'm gonna be call Annie and be like, I'm gonna
eat this check on me.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
In an hour.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
I'm just kidding, but yeah, like binding stuff like that
is pretty interesting to me, and I feel like learning
these things and being able to survive just in cases
we have blackberries in that backyard. Was very excited about
that too. Again, it talks about reduced mental fatigue, lower stress,
better protection against illnesses, and overall feeling better with your health.
(15:09):
And I could see a lot of that. So yeah,
I am. And you've got me a little journal. It
did to go into this, so I'm about to pull
it out and like talk about my progression, y'all. I'm
excited the peppers and you're gonna come over this.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Week and I hope to show it off. But they're
they're cute.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I love friends who have gardens, and I especially love
when they give the fresh produce.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
A lot of basil.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
I had got so much basil.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
You know, I love it. I always amusing it. Today
I had a capraise salad.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Ooh yeah, last time you came over, you're like basil
as I just get in the garden.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Yeah, did you got it in the garden?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
No?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Because I had some already and I needed to use
that if I hadn't guy, use the sum that I
brought with me, use what I brought with me, then
I would have trust me. Next time, I like to
add it to my ramen. I like to make like
a kind of faux fuh situation.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Yeah. Yeah, the babel comes in clutch on that for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah, m hmmm. So yes, I'm very excited about this too.
I'm very happy. I love tomatoes, I love peppers. This
is all exciting, so I'm very glad to get this update.
It is also kind of funny to me because my
mom my mom both has a friend who grows so
(16:38):
much produce that every time I see her, she gives
me some and it's a ridiculous amount of produce.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I can't even like you open her her little.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Fridge box and it's not just it's just collar greens
and bags frozen. Yeah, I mean, it's amazing, it's amazing.
It's amazing. But she she doesn't really grow produce. She
has some herbs, but she has a huge garden of flowers.
And it's funny to me because she grumbles about it
(17:10):
because it's hot where we are and it takes her
like an hour to water all of them. But I
can tell she kind of you know, it's it's a thing.
Like you said, it's every night I got to go
out and do this.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Yes, unless it's rained.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
It's so hot it vaporates so quickly right now. Yeah, yeah,
I mean I think that's the benefit to that.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Like I my mother loves a garden and is very
proud of it.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
She also like she grumbles about it because she is
hurting a little bit, but at the same time she
can'not not do it, Like it's kind of a pride thing,
and it's gorgeous. Like every time I come out there,
it feels like I'm going through a faeryland.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yeah, my mom's is too, And I think it does
add like a if you care about your plants, it's
harder to as opposed to a workout.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Maybe yeah, it's harder to kind of skip on it
don't have to die. Yeah yeah, like, yeah, I don't
want it to die.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
So the plant pair thing got huge in.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
The last day.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
It really did.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
It is sad when one died.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I had a really good basil plant that lasted me
for years and then one day, I have my feelings
aunts just.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Came in and killed it and I was like, why.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Yeah, it hurt's my feelings.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
It is said, well hopefully best of black.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yes, I got a lot more now.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I'm very excited to see it next time we hang out.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
But listeners, please, yes, let us know if you have
any tips, if you have pictures of your garden or
any thoughts about gardening stories, we would love to hear them.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
You can email.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Us at Hello at the Stuff Whenever Told You dot com.
You can find us on Blue Sky at Moms Off Podcasts,
or Instagram and TikTok at stuff and They've told you
for us on YouTube, and we have a book you
can get wherever you get your books.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Thanks as always too, our super duce Christina, Exect producer,
My Aner, contributor Joey, thank you, but thanks to you
for listening. Stuff I Never Told You is production by
Heart Radio.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
For more podcast from my heart Radio, you can check
out the heart Radio app of a podcast or if
you listen to your favorite shows
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. Welcome to stuff I
never told you aplecture if I heard.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
You, And welcome to another edition of a happy hour.
But today it's going to be a happy happy hour
and not an unhappy hour or a bit in wine,
which I love.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We'll come back to that cinema, I'm pretty.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Sure, but for today, if you are participating in happy
hour activities, do so responsibly.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Do everything responsibly. Take care of yourself. We need you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Currently not sponsored by any of the things that I mentioned.
I feel like some of these things should be sponsoring us.
That way, how do we get Costco as a sponsorship? Like,
come on, I need a hot dog?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Anyway?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Moving on, So, I wanted to talk about a new
found joy that I have had as of recent and
it's me dabbling into the gardening world, which I feel
like I've mentioned previously because I am very excited that
I have produced tomatoes and have eaten some said tomatoes.
I have produced jilapenos, and I have eaten these kialapennos
(01:19):
and they're coming in and they're growing, and watching them
grow is one of the most exciting things that I
think have happened, that I actually enjoy. And you know,
I've been on the quest for hobbies for a long time, which,
by the way, I just watched okay drama with this
one girl who is like a workaholic and loves her
work but realize she needs to calm down and tries
(01:40):
to find hobbies and can't find a one and it's
frustrated that she's not great at something. And I'm like,
I can relate. But at the same time, I'm not
a workaholic, Like I don't even have that as an excuse,
but whatever. But with that, so, I have talked about
the fact that I have killed plants. I kill many
of plants, burns more succulents, other things. Anyway, but this
(02:07):
time around, I'm like, you know, what the world is ending,
Maybe I should prep with some some foods and see
how far I can go with this. And I Caroline,
you know previous hosts, her and her partner are gardening themes,
like they have so much that they have done a
CSA for some close friends and I'm like, what in
the world. And they are amazing. They've got greenhouses, they've
(02:29):
got let us, they've got all kinds of kale and
all like they are doing things, and like I'm very
like cool, that's cool for you.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I'm a watch And.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Caroline has always been a plant person, like her house
during the pandemic was like a jungle and she was
thriving on talking about these plants. And I just stared
at her and nod and was like, what what we
are in two different worlds? We're not But all of that,
I say, so I'm currently doing. And I have said
(03:00):
I have been really successful because I know you've been
really successful with your sashetos.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Yes, yes, but yes, but them too quickly.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
But yes, we got to enjoy things. But like I've
been really successful with basil for the most part. Like
I had someone when I lived in my apartment and
they died when I went on vacation for a week
and my neighbor kind of forgot about them. When I
was very sad about this because I was doing great
and I named I named my plants. Can't help it.
(03:34):
But one of the things we got some basil recently.
My partner is better at it than me, I think
when it comes to like gardening and understanding what needs
what and soils, but he's not better at remembering to
like that they are there. Yeah, it kind of forgets,
but he's great when he's on it. So we're a
good team, I think in that way. But so he's
(03:55):
been like he will put things out. Are easy, green onions.
We've got tons of green onions if you need those.
I have a basil plant that I got, I want
to say, at a grocery store that looked pretty good,
and so I decided to go ahead and plant it.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
And it is huge.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Even though the bugs are eating it, it's getting big.
So I am like cutting it up and then I'm propagating.
So I don't this joy of propagating, y'all. I was like, yes,
look at the roads, look at those roots, even to
the point that I went on vacation in anti dog
set and I was like, hey, I needed to make sure.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
The water is always full. That's all I care about it.
Don't need to be anywhere else.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Like that was part of the responsibilities that I put
on her checklist.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Need it good, thank you.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
And so then I've planted those and they are all
but one, so about like five I think have art thriving.
One decided it did not like it, and it's kind
of like all brown and crusty, but it is okay
because I have more than I have art thriving, and
I'm very very excited. And so now all I'm doing
is propagating basil plants. I am very excited about because
(05:00):
I'm like, I'm have them everywhere.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Which I love.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Basil probably is one of my favorite like herbs, like
it is definitely top two, top two lemongrasses up there too.
I don't use it often, but when I eat it,
it's so good. It makes me so happy. You know,
we have rosemary and we have time as well. We've
kind of had bad luck with rosemary, but like it's
now catching on. Like my partner had one that he
(05:24):
propagated from a brewery and it grew, but like when
we moved or when it has heat like heat waves,
which we've had, it's been bad this week, all of
those things it did not survive. That we finally got
one that's going there. It's getting there. And with that,
Costco had a lot of their gardening section up because
(05:44):
you know, they do a lot of seasonal stuff, and
they had tomato plants and peppers and we were like,
you know what, we're gonna try this.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
We're gonna try this. I think I want to test it.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
So my partner got a small like tub looking thing
that's for garden and we have to put it in
the front because that's where the most sunlight is.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
And y'all, the bell peppers are.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Adorable and they're growing. My halipanios are growing. Each one
of them are thriving. Like for a minute, it was
kind of touch and go because I think we waited
a little too long to actually put them in the
garden bed, Like we had them in their little container
and it was not enough and we were gone. I
think I made you water those, didn't I, or at
(06:26):
least make sure they are okay? Yeah, when it was
not in the garden yet. But they have produced some fruit.
I have been very excited. I've been watching out for
birds like I'm about to fight some birds. I'm gonna
fight them. I'm a fighter book, I'm gonna fight them.
And you know, like it just kind of came back
to like my thought process of like, you know, maybe
(06:48):
this is I mean, I've always heard that this is
rewarding and therapeutic. And actually when I was working with
at ristines or juveniles, we would take them to plant
things and have them go to gardens and we would
have them do like community service and gardens and planting trees, and.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
They loved I actually really loved these activities.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Like as much as they would grown and complain about
being hot and don't want to be there when they were.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
They loved it.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I had kids who were like the hardest kids that
were talking about, you know, the gain activity they were
part of, asking about the trees that they planted, like
wanting pictures, and those that like I forgot how amazing
that is that it really was a great time for
me to bond with them, for them to see that
I'm not just being here that dorky adult telling you
(07:36):
lies about the future, and they really like actually participated
and enjoyed having those moments and being able to do
something different. And I decided I wanted to go and
look through and see all of the benefits, because you know,
every now and again in happy hours, we decided we
want to research lightly, very lightly, just a few things,
(07:56):
and actually one popped up, which was a study titled
Gardening for Help, A Regular Dose of Gardening by Richard Thompson.
And this is intensive gardening. This is what again Caroline
and her partner do not me, like I'm fairly out there,
but like still love this moment. But they say it
combines physical activity with social interaction, exposure to nature and sunlight.
(08:18):
Sunlight lowers blood pressure as well as increasing vitamin D
levels in the summer, and the fruit and vegetables that
are produced have positive impact on the diet. Working in
the garden resource dexterity and strength, and the aerobic exercise
that is involved can easily use the same number of
calories as might be expended in a gymg Raking and
mowing are particularly calorie intense. There's a gem outside mini
(08:41):
a window. The social interaction provided by communal and therapeutic
garden projects for those with learning disabilities and poor mental
help can counteract social isolation. Furthermore, it has also been
reported that the social benefits of such projects can delay
the symptoms of dementia, an effect that might be partly
due to the beneficial effects of exercise. So, you know,
(09:01):
like they are talking about this as a therapeutic level,
and a lot of the studies that I've seen are
talking about how different like health facilities and institutions have
been using this and implementing this as a part of
their process that it is called horticultural therapy, and I
was like, that makes so much sense. And of course
(09:22):
there were some more stuff like Mayo Clinics health systems
talk about how to start a garden. They talk about
how routines provide structure to our day are linked to
improve mental health, like the watering, weeding is like soothing rhythmic.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Ease to stress.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
And I will say there's something like satisfying and pulling
the roots of weed. I've had battles in our backyard
with the pine trees that are trying to grow their
baby pine trees. They smell delicious and they're kind of cute.
But I'm like, no, I just make thousands of dollars
to get rid of a phoebia because you were like
at a danger to my house. So I would go
(09:59):
through like rip them up and pulling them out, but
with all root and all m M.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
A little bit a little bit violent, but also very satisfying. Yeah,
very satisfying.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
If you do want to start a garden. I have
a feeling most of our listeners are like, Samantha, where
have you been? Why have you not done this previously?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Come on?
Speaker 2 (10:30):
But if you are a novice like me and thinking
about it because again, I've killed so many plants, and
this is a little bit worrisome, you know, because if
I fail.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I'm gonna be really hurt. I'm gonna be really hurt,
you know.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
But the Mayo Clinic dots talk about how to start
one They say start small, and yes, I did start small.
They're small with just a few plants, easy plants. I
feel like tomatoes and the peppers are the you know,
the essential beginnings. Right then they say build a network,
find people who are interested in gardening. I'm not ready
for that yet. We don't need people to tell me
what I'm doing wrong yet yet. If I decided we
(11:04):
want to take a whole plot out, we'll have a conversation.
I feel like, if Caroline and her partner give me advice, sure, sure, sure,
but right I'm not networking for.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Gardening friends yet.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
If our listeners have advice, I will take that too,
because I feel like they are trusted resource strangers. Nah listeners,
and who are my friends? Yeah, okay, I'll take that,
says research appropriate plants. And that's the other part to
this is I've been really really talking about like having
native plants in the area that you're at that is
in for your zone. Like that is such a common
(11:37):
conversation that I'm like, oh, that makes sense. And as
with climate change, things have changed and therefore maybe different
plants can now grow here. Like we talk about wines
and I'm a little leary of sometimes like grapes and
wines here because I'm like, we're not really built for that,
but maybe now we are.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Who knew? But with that, Yeah, it's like also.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Being conscientious of the environment if we because again gardening
I'm not quite there yet to like flowers and like
blooms and such, but in the understanding that native plants
are important to be here. That's also talking about conservation.
You know, there's now a new debate I feel like
it's been happening for the last ten years, but about
you know, lawns and whether or not lawns are beneficial
(12:19):
to the environment Boiler alert Apparently not. But at the
same time we have white supremacy. It was like, no,
but it looks better and we like it, so you
can't do native plants and lots.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Of wildlife like that.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
That. Yeah, that's my voice for hoas, which I'm not
a part of because I'm not a fan. But all
of that to say is I think, like that's something
that we've been talking about. My partners really into that
really wishes that he didn't He loves a good like
mow lawn, Like there's something like satisfying to see crisply
mode lawn with.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
That smell of grass.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
But understanding that we also want to help the environment,
create a welcoming environment for the species that are a
dying out, that have been here, should be here, who
have been here to help out the ecosystem.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Blah blah blah I.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Say, blah blah blah blah, and like this lot of
big conversation, but also realizing that that's something that we
need to be researching as well. So that is something
that I do have in the back of my head.
I have a feeling we have some listeners to be like,
be careful. And of course with that, we also wanted
to talk a little more about the impacts in the
health outcomes. I talk about reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety,
(13:28):
decrease in reporting stress and mood disturbances, decrease in BMI,
which whatever hire a reported sense of community. Thank you
Healthymindsphilly dot org and improved cognitive function. So they add that,
and again they talk about horticultural therapy and how using
gardening is a maze to facilitate.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Dialogue and skill building.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
And I think that's really important too, like we're able
to like survive maybe recognize. I've I've found out that
some of the weeds in my backyard are called pork greens.
I thought they were weeds, but my neighbor, we love
our neighbor was like that people take that and you know,
make that into like collar greens. I was like, like collars,
(14:08):
cook them like collar greens. And I was like, I
love collared greens. What so that might be an adventure
that I have to try. Yeah, But of course, like
when it comes to weeds that we find in the backyard,
I'm really kind of weary because I don't know much
about planets that I'm like, I don't want to end
up into the wild, you know what I'm.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Saying, Well, wandering into the woods alone, at least be
at your house and hopefully hopefully your partner will find
you and be like, no, get you up.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
I'm gonna be call Annie and be like, I'm gonna
eat this check on me.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
In an hour.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
I'm just kidding, but yeah, like binding stuff like that
is pretty interesting to me, and I feel like learning
these things and being able to survive just in cases
we have blackberries in that backyard. Was very excited about
that too. Again, it talks about reduced mental fatigue, lower stress,
better protection against illnesses, and overall feeling better with your health.
(15:09):
And I could see a lot of that. So yeah,
I am. And you've got me a little journal. It
did to go into this, so I'm about to pull
it out and like talk about my progression, y'all. I'm
excited the peppers and you're gonna come over this.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Week and I hope to show it off. But they're
they're cute.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I love friends who have gardens, and I especially love
when they give the fresh produce.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
A lot of basil.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
I had got so much basil.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
You know, I love it. I always amusing it. Today
I had a capraise salad.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Ooh yeah, last time you came over, you're like basil
as I just get in the garden.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Yeah, did you got it in the garden?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
No?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Because I had some already and I needed to use
that if I hadn't guy, use the sum that I
brought with me, use what I brought with me, then
I would have trust me. Next time, I like to
add it to my ramen. I like to make like
a kind of faux fuh situation.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Yeah. Yeah, the babel comes in clutch on that for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah, m hmmm. So yes, I'm very excited about this too.
I'm very happy. I love tomatoes, I love peppers. This
is all exciting, so I'm very glad to get this update.
It is also kind of funny to me because my
mom my mom both has a friend who grows so
(16:38):
much produce that every time I see her, she gives
me some and it's a ridiculous amount of produce.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I can't even like you open her her little.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Fridge box and it's not just it's just collar greens
and bags frozen. Yeah, I mean, it's amazing, it's amazing.
It's amazing. But she she doesn't really grow produce. She
has some herbs, but she has a huge garden of flowers.
And it's funny to me because she grumbles about it
(17:10):
because it's hot where we are and it takes her
like an hour to water all of them. But I
can tell she kind of you know, it's it's a thing.
Like you said, it's every night I got to go
out and do this.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Yes, unless it's rained.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
It's so hot it vaporates so quickly right now. Yeah, yeah,
I mean I think that's the benefit to that.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Like I my mother loves a garden and is very
proud of it.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
She also like she grumbles about it because she is
hurting a little bit, but at the same time she
can'not not do it, Like it's kind of a pride thing,
and it's gorgeous. Like every time I come out there,
it feels like I'm going through a faeryland.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yeah, my mom's is too, And I think it does
add like a if you care about your plants, it's
harder to as opposed to a workout.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Maybe yeah, it's harder to kind of skip on it
don't have to die. Yeah yeah, like, yeah, I don't
want it to die.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
So the plant pair thing got huge in.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
The last day.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
It really did.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
It is sad when one died.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I had a really good basil plant that lasted me
for years and then one day, I have my feelings
aunts just.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Came in and killed it and I was like, why.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Yeah, it hurt's my feelings.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
It is said, well hopefully best of black.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yes, I got a lot more now.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I'm very excited to see it next time we hang out.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
But listeners, please, yes, let us know if you have
any tips, if you have pictures of your garden or
any thoughts about gardening stories, we would love to hear them.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
You can email.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Us at Hello at the Stuff Whenever Told You dot com.
You can find us on Blue Sky at Moms Off Podcasts,
or Instagram and TikTok at stuff and They've told you
for us on YouTube, and we have a book you
can get wherever you get your books.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Thanks as always too, our super duce Christina, Exect producer,
My Aner, contributor Joey, thank you, but thanks to you
for listening. Stuff I Never Told You is production by
Heart Radio.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
For more podcast from my heart Radio, you can check
out the heart Radio app of a podcast or if
you listen to your favorite shows
Stuff Mom Never Told You News
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Anney Reese
Samantha McVey
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