Terry Walton keeps fit growing fresh food on his plot
Growing all my own fresh food helps to keep me fit and healthy
Never a week goes by without some research pointing out the value of eating ‘superfoods’ and the major health improvements that are to be had by eating them. I’m sure many people go out and buy ‘superfoods’ on a whim, expecting them to provide eternal good health, without looking at the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the freshness of what they’re eating. To me, the pleasure of growing your own fruit and vegetables is that you can harvest them when needed and eat them freshly picked. A balanced, healthy, home-grown diet gives me all the nutrients I need, while regular exercise on the plot helps keep me fit!
Experienced allotmenteers realise the benefits to their health of growing their own food, comprising gentle exercise, fresh air, and the social aspects of being on the plot. It’s of great physiological benefit, as you can relax in congenial surroundings with like-minded people.
I didn’t, however, realise that so many drugs manufactured to cure illnesses use extracts from plants. Digoxin, extracted from foxgloves, for example, is used in medication for heart problems, while extract of stinging nettles is used in creams that are said to soothe rashes and eczema. There are many home-made remedies that can be prepared from garden plants but, as with my fear of gathering mushrooms, I’ll leave the preparation of drugs to scientists and my local chemist!
Speaking of healthy, home-grown produce, my onions, grown particularly from sets, have given their all and the tops have dropped and are turning brown. They’re not likely to swell any more so it’s time to lift and store them. I ease the onions from the ground with my garden fork and shake off the soil clinging to their roots. These are then placed on mesh wire to allow them to dry thoroughly. Onions need to be fully dry and the spent tops to be crisp before making any attempt to string them up for winter storage. Their final drying process is usually a couple of weeks under cover in my well-ventilated greenhouse.
The empty area vacated by early potatoes is the perfect, rich place to plant the last batch of this year’s red iceberg lettuce seedlings. I should be able to cut fresh lettuce up until November. They might not make big hearts, but they’ll provide fresh, tender salad leaves.