HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-26, Page 38Page4
For older people
Gardening's a good hobby
The percentage of gardeners
increases with ' age, peaking
among younger retired people.
Usually older people don't give
up gardening until they move out
of their homes, begin travelling
widely, or become too infirm to
spade and cultivate the soil.
What older people get out of
gardening depends partly on
their financial condition.
Relatively well-off older people
are in it more for pleasure than
for the dollar value of the
vegetables. However, if you talk
to senior citizens who are `'far-
ming" plots in community
gardens, you'll find that most are
hard hit by inflation. They enjoy •
food gardening but place major
importance on the savings in food
budgetsmade possible by garden
Vegetable's. '
Among older people', gardening
leads all other hobbies. Gar-
dening sets their lifestyle and.
- dominates the,lr• calendar. They._
watch the weather closely and
seem to have a sixth sense about
when and how to plant.
Gardening is the most
democratic of all hobbies,. cutting
inm
across' coe Tfles,--'•Weal'th—y-
rofessional people can't wait to
shlvl their fancy suits and get into
old denims and gardening shoes:
Line workers, who have learned
that being creative can bring
strange looks from fellow em-
ployees, leave their frustrations
behind and create gardens that
are masterpieces. As one grows
older, gardens become a place to
retreat from pressures ' and
demands — to some, a sanctuary.
Gardening provides a pleasant,
natural way to remain atti•ve and
to relieve tensions. One doesn't
have to be a physical
powerhouse. A small person can
easily manage a 500 sq. ft. gar-
den. •
One doesn't need unlimited
time. Commuters can grow
vegetables and flowers at dusk or
on weekends. It's amazing how
little care gardens need to sur-
vive. Older people are adept at
inventing .ways to reduce the
work even more.
Across the country perhaps the
Tabor -saving innovations most
often seen are mulches to keep
down weeds and to reduce water
loss by surface evaporation.
• It is sad to see the millions1 f
senior citizens who know how to
garden and would like to, but live
in inner city areas, The Federal:
government, niuniciptylities and
churches are sponsoring com-
munity gardening programs.
,Local chapters of 4-H and Future
Farmers of America oc-
casionally co-operate and the
friendships that .develop b.etween
these youths and the oldsters are
beautiful to see. The young learn
---whi4e-they fetc.h-..-.ca.rr.y.-.a.n.d.dig
-
. for those who are too frail.
'Churches arebeginning, to.,
sponsorgardens for senior
citizens and even to assist them
in canning, preserving and
sharing food. •
The National Garden Bureau
expects gardening to increase
sharply among older people as
inflation worsens, particularly
among those on fixed incomes.
Gardening can easily net $2 to
$3 per hour profit, tax free, if a
person works his land in-
tensively. This may not seem like
much but one earns it in his spare
time and is not penalized by
Social Security rules.
If you are an older person and
are now growing your own food
perhaps this is a good time to
reconsider your priorities. It may
sound trite, but where there's a
will, there's a way!
Improve your lot! With
Ford Lawn & Garden Equipment
CLEARANCE SPECIALS
Tractors
Equipment
RAY POTTER & SONS
on three 1977 Ford Compact Trac-
tors still in stock - (at the dd 1977
prices) 10, 12, and 16 h.p. models.
Also still in stock - one 1978 16 h.p.
Ford Compact Tractor. Hurry -
they won't last long.
6 Brand New 1979 Ford Compact
Tractors now in stock - at special
sale prices ('til May 31, 1979 only).
LIMITED
. Huron St., Clinton (Hwy. No. 8 West)
482-9997
Plastic mulches work
Commercial vegetable and
fruit growers can increase crop
yields up to 100 percent by using
plastic mulches. This is the
opinion of Professor Herman
Tiessen, Department of Hor-
ticultural Science; University of
Guelph. -
Farmers with high .value crops
-
such a tomatoes, 'peppers,
eggplants, squash, cucumbers,
tnuskrnelons and watermelons
mould benefit_nosat
"Plastic mikes are used
quite exensively in Florida,'
California and Israel and I think
we should use them more in
Canada," says. Professor
Tiessen.
Studies over the last seven
years show that a special
polyethylene or 'pltastic film in-'
creases tomato yields by 25 to,30
percent and muskmelon yields by
75 to 100 percent.
Mulching warm weather vine -
grown vegetables with clear,
black or photodegradable -brown
film can speed growth by 10 to 14
days. The• photodegradable film
ite—a-ks iiown al' liar ves'r'tim-e and
does not need to be removed from
the field. Photodegradable clear
film may be available. com-
4mercially in the future -
For Ontario farmers who cope
with a limited growing season,
plastic mulches can mean
commanding premium prices
with top quality products on an
early market:
Early maturity is possible
because' the' plastic mulches
absorb the sun's rays and in-
creasdsoil temperature by 2,to 10
degrees Celsius. Soil moisture is
cbnserv'ed and --leach int of
nutrients is prevented.
Professor Tiessen points out
that for best weed control, black.
or brown plastic should be used.
A herbicide is necessary when a
clear • plastic mulch is used.
Although a black film controls
weed growth by cutting out light,
it does not boost soil tem-
peratures as much as the clear
film.
If there are no weeds, plant
stress• is reducedand a higher
density of crop can he planted
and higher yields expected.
The research project, partially
funded by the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food, shows the
overall cost • of laying and
'removing plastic mulch.es is
aLvtrt•-f•5•60-per-' heeie—re-{$250-pe
acre).'Phis'cost can'be offset by
the premium prices paid for
earlier produce which can
replace imports and provide local
supplies of high value fruits and
vegetables.
1
Make room for the garden!
Move that old wreck from
your back yard to ours!
4T=S4-$$-1-N-YOU It P-A-CwET .. .
WE PAY SPOT CASH FOR WRECKS
PARTS
FOR LATE. -MODEL
CARS & TRUCKS
BOTH REBUILT AND USED
INSTALLATION SERVICE BY
LICENSED MECHANICS
r•'�UNOCOt
482-3211,
FARM—PASSENGER—COMMERCIAL
TIRES
BY DUNLOP
ROAD KING, B.F. GOODRICH,
GOODYEAR
RADIALS - BELTED - POLYESTER PLY
At Spring Sale Prices
--CLERIE-=VU.
AUTO WRECKERSHighway8
3.miles west of Clinton