The Connections Warren-Watchung Edition Apr/May 2025

DINING OUT HEALTH & WELLNESS

PAGE 64

FOOD THOUGHT

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Spring Fever: Should You Grow a Garden? By Lori Kolodin, MPH, RD

pringtime generates positive vi sions. As a lifelong northeasterner, I have always viewed this time of year as offering renewal and enthusiasm, as extended day light and warmer temperatures welcome the new season. After a long chilly winter, it is liberating to shed our heavy outer wear. Boots, down coats, scarves, hats, and gloves are cleaned and stored. Then we roll out the raincoats and umbrellas which act as a gentle reminder that nature is on our side. We welcome the rainfall to grow our beautiful gardens. Early perennials such as lilacs and cherry blossoms often lead the way, but additional effort can generate a continuous supply of homegrown pro duce. Maybe it’s time for you to consider a home garden! Isn’t the image of cultivating your own collection of colorful vegetables, bountiful green herbs, and some fruit on the vine tempting? This primordial effort brings joy throughout the summer and continues deep into the fall. The mere convenience of home-grown produce can make anyone smile. The actual work and dedication can be shared among family members and, in some situations like mine, wonderful next-door neighbors. S pringtime generates positive vi

neighbors were generous with their yield of various herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. This eventually led to our part nership.

Fruit & Spice • Fresh Mint or Spearmint • Fresh Orange or Lemon • Fresh melon • Fresh cucumber Optional spices: cardamom pod, vanilla bean, cinnamon stick, fresh ginger root

Creating a garden took me years. I

As someone who cooks often and uses fresh produce, a home garden is more of a luxury than a chore. Not to mislead any one. This requires commitment-although, it is a wonderful exercise in both commu nity and productivity. You can start small with a few potted plants. Then you can ex pand into a larger area as your skills ‘grow’. You might even find community plots into which you can buy. For me, it is truly in spirational to be outdoors and working towards something healthy and organic. Research shows that exposure to dirt can create healthier gut microbes, an extra bo nus of your home garden! Whether or not you decide to move for ward with this project, key points to con sider include: budget, spacing, placement details (surface area, sunlight, access to wa ter), types of seeds vs. small plants, wood for framing plots, dirt, fertilizer, fencing, and pots. Don’t get discouraged-the end results are worth it all! After all, you get to taste the rewards and cool down with a glass of homemade iced tea with fresh herbs, fruit, and some spice. Enjoy! Lori Kolodin, MPH, RD is the owner of LSKNutrition, a clinical practice devoted to providing nutrition counseling to indi viduals and their families. Her office is in Martinsville and she also offers virtual ses sions. More information can be found on her website, LSKNutrition.com. thought about it every spring and felt pangs of guilt for resisting the effort .

1. Brew tea by bringing 4 cups water to boil in a kettle. 2. Pour water into a heatproof pitcher and add tea bags. 3. Steep for 10 minutes with spice of choice as desired. 4. Allow hot tea to cool to room temperature. 5. Cut up fruit of choice and add to cooled tea.

6. Add mint leaves as desired. 7. Refrigerate for a few hours. 8. Add ice if desired. 9. Pour into tall slim glass. 10.ENJOY!

Creating a garden took me years. I thought about it every spring and felt pangs of guilt for resisting the effort. I treaded very slowly. I started by buying a pot or two of green herbs and placing them on my deck. Then I noticed my neighbors digging, tilling, and adding dirt to create three large wood-framed plots of fresh soil, protected by a perimeter of tall mesh fencing. They asked us to water the garden for a few weeks while they traveled. My husband and I took great satisfaction in this activity. The garden thrived and our

Submitted by: Lori Kolodin, RD, MPH LSKnutrition.com

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