Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
4th April 2020
God’s Garden
For those who have lost track of time, last week we slid very quietly into April.
I think all the April Fools jokes paled into insignificance this year compared to what is actually going on in the world today. Over the years people have fallen for spoofs like the Spaghetti Tree seen on Nationwide years ago and more recently the Gin and Tonic lemon tree which had Thompson and Morgan followers fooled last year. If only the current chaos was a spoof too – but to quote a neighbour, “You couldn’t make it up, could you.”
As people turn to their gardens for solace and safety, I was reminded of an interview I did with the former Arch Bishop of Wales, Barry Morgan. I asked him if the saying, ‘You will always find God in the garden’ was true. He snapped back, “It’s a load of old tosh.”
Clocking my shock, he continued, “That would mean if you haven’t got a garden you haven’t got God. Absolute tosh. God is everywhere, not just amongst the dahlias.”
I have never forgotten it. And now you probably won’t either!
No Rush
Talking of dahlias (see what I did there), I have just planted some that I was lucky enough to get before the movement restrictions. Similarly, I am fortunate to have a good selection of seeds that I didn’t sow last year, to use this year. If you have been caught out, I believe most garden centres are still doing local deliveries. Most of the online seed suppliers are experiencing a huge demand and have a waiting list of several weeks.
Don’t worry – most veggie seeds can be sown straight in the ground (as well as being started in the greenhouse), so by the time they arrive, the ground will have warmed up a bit too. Years ago the gardeners and farmers would drop their trousers and put their bare bum on the soil – if it was warm enough to sit on then it was warm enough to sow seeds. I’ll have to ask Terry Walton if that’s what he does.
Tasty Tips
In a bid to avoid the shops, I have been foraging as much as possible from the garden (as well as thanking my fabulous hens for three fresh eggs every day). I have already shared that I use new young nettle tips (cooking breaks down the sting) and ground elder leaves as spinach substitutes. Nettle tops make great soup and are full of iron, which will boost your immunity system too. In turn, nettle soup can be turned into a tasty curry base.
But this week, whilst experimenting a bit, I discovered that crispy fried nettle tops are delicious. Just add the young tips to a frying pan of bubbling butter, add a pinch of salt and fry for a couple of minutes, until crispy. Much better for you than a bag of crisps, and a great talking point.
Lots of my friends are confessing they are finding it hard to stay away from the fridge whist self-isolating. One has a note on her fridge door reminding her that she is ‘not hungry, just bored’ and one even thought she was getting a tan from her fridge light as she was exposed to it so often.
Chin Up
Online fitness has grown exponentially in the last few weeks and the industry states it has been fast tracked several months with self isolating encouraging instructors to teach on line to keep their clients fit and well.
Don’t forget there are lots of simple ways to keep fit in the garden too. Benches are great for tricep dips, steps can be utilised and a small bucket of soil or gravel can be used for some of the kettle bell routines. There are lots of other ideas on line, which are great for adults and kids alike. Another friend has turned her mountain bike and her kid’s trikes into static bikes by building simple yet clever frames for them.
Exercises like bear crawls, the plank, burpees, lunges and squats can be done outside as well as indoors and you’ll benefit from the fresh air too.
It is noticeable how much the bird song has increased since traffic has diminished and working out outdoors will lift your spirits as well as your gluts!
Rake It In
Gardening chores are also a great way to burn calories.
Mowing the lawn for an hour with a push mower will burn as many calories as a four mile jog, although many of us would have to go over the lawn a few times to make up an hour.
Dig out that ground elder that you have been wrestling with (keeping a patch for food), and rake the moss out of your lawn – raking will burn up to 400 calorie an hour and sweeping almost as many.
Leave the moss out somewhere for the birds – whilst some are laying and sitting on eggs, some are still building theirs and will appreciate a little moss to line their nests with.
Stay Safe
Remember to stay hydrated whilst working out – adding chopped lemon and ginger to your water bottle will help boost your immune system.
And finally remember that stress and feeling isolated has been proven to lower your immune system, whilst exercise and simply ‘moving’ has been proven to improve it.
I think we all spend too much time wanting to be good at something and not enough time being good to ourselves – stay healthy and happy.
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