Julie Garden-Robinson, a food and nutrition specialist at North Dakota State University Extension, said on May 28 that planting gardens can yield more than just vegetables. Garden-Robinson described her own experience planting leafy greens and spinach, noting that she expects to share the harvest with friends and family.
She referenced research involving 100,000 participants indicating that consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables daily—three of vegetables and two of fruit—can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. “When the participants ate five servings a day, they reduced their risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes,” she said. She encouraged people to enjoy a variety of produce including berries, grapes, apples, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, carrots, green beans and onions.
Garden-Robinson also highlighted the importance of overall healthy eating patterns that include lean protein foods, grains (especially whole grains), dairy foods or other calcium-rich choices. She emphasized that maintaining health involves multiple factors: “Staying healthy involves taking care of yourself on several levels. Besides a healthful diet and physical activity, another component may be just as important: social connections.” According to her remarks citing researchers’ findings on social isolation’s negative effects on immune function and longevity, “Here’s some bad news: being socially isolated can increase your rate of premature death… You might want to check in with family and friends regularly because being connected is not only good for you but also for them.”
Garden-Robinson suggested community gardening or simply talking with neighbors as ways to strengthen relationships during summer months. She mentioned Harvard researchers who found relationships were more important than fame or wealth in helping people live long lives.
North Dakota State University Extension and Ag Research News supports rural communities by promoting sustainable agriculture practices through education programs across North Dakota; it operates within the agriculture sector as part of North Dakota State University, according to the official website.
The article concluded with conversation starter ideas for connecting with others while gardening or walking outdoors this summer. Garden-Robinson shared a recipe for Spinach Artichoke Dip using fresh ingredients from home gardens.
