INTRODUCING THE SPORT OF GARDENING
Why not? It qualifies when it comes to physical activity
The Council of Europe has concluded that “sport” includes all forms of physical exercise, including those completed just for fun. If that is the case, then gardening definitely qualifies as a sport.
In terms of physical activity, gardening takes the cake. Here is a brief rundown of many gardening-related activities and their relative calorie burn. Iowa State University determined the following:
Digging: By digging for 30 minutes, a woman burns 150 calories and a man burns 197 calories.
Mowing the lawn: With a pushtype reel mower a woman burns 181 calories in 30 minutes, and a man burns 236 calories. Mowing with a rotary power mower takes a little less work, but not much —
a woman burns 135 calories in 30 minutes and a man burns 177. Planting transplants, shrubs and trees, and trimming and pruning: A woman burns 135 calories in 30 minutes; a man burns 177. Weeding the flower beds and vegetable garden: A woman burns 138 calories in 30 minutes; a man burns 181.
Raking the yard and lawn: A woman burns 120 calories in 30 minutes; a man burns 157.
Research shows that gardening for just 30 minutes daily will help you increase flexibility, strengthen joints, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It will lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease, and slow the advance of osteoporosis.
Now, some people will say that something has to be competitive in order for it to be a sport. But if catching fish or shooting a deer is a sport, then why not gardening? While there are competitive aspects to gardening, such as growing the largest pumpkin or creating the most original flower arrangement, isn’t there sport in clearing a garden of weeds? In creating a garden bed that is brimming with colour and attracts pollinators galore? I believe that there is more sport in gardening than there is in a lot of so-called sports.
If there is one thing that annoys me about professional sports it is the timeouts. Basketball would hold my interest for much longer periods if it were not for the infernal interruptions to play. The New York Times recently determined the actual time that the ball is in play in a typical NFL football game is 11 minutes. Replays take 17 minutes. This is insanity.
Gardening does not force us to take time out, except for good reason. Like when you need a rest, a drink, a stretch or a snack. If there is waiting between innings or activities in my garden, they are generally of my own choosing, unless they are weather-related. And there is sport in that, too: “I can get this job done before the rain comes. I can grow this even though I am pushing the growth-zone limits” — you get the idea.
In terms of being sportsmanlike, gardeners come out on top every time. Ask a gardener anything (that has to do with gardening), and chances are you will get a warm, detailed response from which you can learn important things, such as don’t feed your herbs and be sure to use lots of compost on your tomatoes.
The sport of gardening? Why not? The sports channels on TV, sports section of the newspaper and the sports field at the local school could take on new meaning. Imagine.