Written by Aubrey Santiago, Blue Zones Project - Hawai‘i Ambassador

Following the Blue Zones Project Power 9^®, growing our meals at home and with the right people calls for a sweet recipe for a healthier lifestyle. And because of Hawai‘i's suitable weather climate year-round, gardening is the way to go. Growing food, especially in the comfort of our homes, has many advantages when it comes to having fruits, herbs, and vegetables at arms reach.

A Family Who Gardens Together Grows Together

Successful centenarians who live in blue zones put their families first. Studies have shown that it lowers the disease and mortality rates in homes with children. Gardening is a great way to make time with our families and have a fun bonding experience for all to enjoy. Being outside and having a project that everyone can benefit from can also be a learning activity for kids, a way to get teens out and away from their phones, and a checkmark on the to-do list for adults. Opening up even just a small place at home to start a garden can effectively result in less spending, new and healthier recipes, and possibly a newfound family hobby.

Homegrown Plant Power

Plant slant is yet another Power 9 principle that is found through gardening. Foods such as beans, including fava, black, soy, and lentils, are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. Planting other kinds of vegetables and fruits in your garden grants us a continuous supply of healthy treats and ingredients to add to meals. 

Easy-to-grow vegetables include leeks, green onions, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplant, taro, and more. You will not have to buy grocery bags full of ingredients and instead, save on buying vegetables by the pound at the supermarket.  

Source: The Soccer Mom Blog

Supporting local farmers by buying locally at our closest farmer's market is another cheaper and more sustainable way to start a home garden. Farmers markets can be found all over Hawai‘i and in my community across Maui include.  Here are some of the farmer’s markets I go to:

• Maui Swap Meet
  University of Hawai‘i Maui College (310 Ka’ahumanu Avenue, Kahului, HI 96732)
  808-244-3100
  Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Ko Mahi‘ai Makeke
  Kukui Mall
  1819 S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753
  Tuesdays 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

A Gardening Workout

The longest-lived people do not bench press, run marathons, or join gyms. Instead, they live in environments that provide ways to move naturally without any thought about it. They do yard work, walk around their neighborhood and even grow gardens. Building and growing a garden may be a sweaty process, but the experience and outcome will be worth the work and wait. Gardening allows us to move naturally, incorporating movements that we would do in a gym, such as squats and lifting. And, according to Sarah Pittman, a graduate in dietetics, research has found that increasing our activity in nature has positive effects on mental and physical health. 

Soil the Stress Away

Finding a place at home to set up a garden can be both a relaxing and cleansing activity. According to blue zones, the world’s longest-lived people have routines to shed stress. Stress leads to chronic pain, which is associated with all age-related diseases. For example, Okinawans take a portion of each day to remember their ancestors, Ikarians take naps, Sardinians have happy hours, and some pray. There are many other ways we relieve stress from our day-to-day schedules, but gardening could be one of them. Putting aside deadlines, assignments, or any form of work to take time for ourselves ― garden ― will help refresh our minds.

Citations:
Sarah Pittman, B. S. "Exercising in Nature."