My 2018 Resolutions
In 2017 I shared my gardening resolutions for the New Year. For the most part, I had a successful year in the garden. In fact, I’m still enjoying produce from the garden (frozen tomatoes and corn, canned green beans, pickles, and some potatoes in storage). However, there’s still areas where I need to work a bit more. Here’s my resolutions for 2018:
Be Healthier
This first one is somewhat loosely related to gardening in that growing fresh produce is a great addition to any healthy diet. Last year, I started off the year on a diet. I mainly counted calories and made an effort to make better food choices. I managed to drop around 30 pounds. However, with the holiday season, I gained back 10 pounds. This year I want to kick my diet in high gear, but also come up with a plan that suits my tastes and is sustainable. (Salads are good, but the get old pretty quick.)
This year I also want to incorporate exercise into my plan more. Last winter we were in the process of remodeling our house so I got plenty of exercise painting, sanding floors, and doing many other odd jobs. My daily exercise routine consists of two parts, yoga (yes … I do yoga) and the Wim Hof Method.
When I was in college 12 years ago, I took yoga as a PE elective. (It was either take that or modern dance. So I chose yoga.) The surprising thing was that it was fun and fairly easy to learn (being flexible enough to do the poses correctly is the hard part). Dr. Gudivada, who taught yoga and computer science at Marshall University, said anyone who takes a yoga course eventually comes back to yoga. As I’ve aged and discovered I’m not as flexible as I used to be, I think it’s time to start anew. …. Yoga in the greenhouse might make for a fun event ;-)
The Wim Hof Method is a bit more extreme. Developed by Wim, a crazy Dutch guy, the method consists of a series of breathing exercises, stretches, and cold exposure via cold showers, ice baths, and exposure to cold environments (like going for a jog in just shorts … today). This combination has been scientifically proven to improve the immune system, burn fat, and many other benefits. You can learn more here.
Improve My Garden’s Soil
Back in October I had my garden’s soil tested by WVU. This spring I plan to continue improving the soil in my garden by amending it according to their recommendations. Also, I want to add back in some compost from my compost bin. This coming fall, I plan on planting a cover crop to help loosen the soil and add some organic matter.
Extend the Growing Season
I’ve written about extending the growing season before. I usually grow a few cool weather crops; however, I haven’t experimented much beyond using fabric row covers to protect from frost. One project that I would like to tackle this coming fall is building a cold frame with some reclaimed windows. My ultimate goal once we finish our home renovation is to build and attached greenhouse or sun room, but that’s a few years down the road.
Work on Landscaping
When my wife and I bought our house in 2015 we got a blank slate. There isn’t a single tree on our 1.5 acre lot and minimal landscaping around the house. In fact, the previous owners had filled in the existing flower beds with weed cloth and limestone. Grrrr! For the past couple years we have focused on remodeling the interior. Now I want to start work on the exterior, both from the aspect of improving the curb appeal, but also adding fruit trees and other edible items. I also want to work on building a better habitat for birds and pollinators.
These are my 2018 gardening resolutions. Now I would like to know yours. Hit the button below to share. I have a project planned, but I need more entries.
Happy New Year & Keep Growing!
John R. Morgan
Editor