Thanks to Mauiʻs year-round summer weather, gardening is a favorite outdoor activity for kupuna on Maui. Gardening enriches us physically, mentally and spiritually. Research even shows that gardening is one of the best exercises for maintaining bone health. This is especially important in later life when osteoporosis becomes more common.
As we grow older, simple modifications can make gardening more manageable. Here are a few tips from Oregon State University Extension that can make gardening a lifelong hobby and exercise:
- Use tools with brightly colored handles that make them easily located.
- Use tools that make seed handling easier such as click seeders or seed tape.
- Use long handled or curved handled tools, which offer better grip and leverage.
- Use a stool, chair or bench to back and joint strain.
- Build and use raised beds that accommodate a chair, stool or wheelchair.
- Scale down your garden to make it more manageable.
- Garden in morning and evening to avoid heat and sun.
- Stay hydrated.
- Pace yourself. Start slowly, stretch muscles often, and change your position every 20-30 minutes. Rest for 10 minutes in the shade at least twice each hour.
- Wear protective clothing. Lightweight clothing, long sleeved shirt, eye protection, sunscreen, a big hat, and gardening gloves protect against the sunʻs rays and much more.
- Be prepared. Carry a whistle or cell phone in case you run into any problems.
Maui Master Gardener Resources
The Maui Master Gardeners program is coordinated through the UH Manoa Extension office in Kahului and provides research-based education and outreach to home gardeners. The Master Gardener Help Desk is staffed by Certified Master Gardeners who take calls most weekdays from 9am-12noon and can be reached by calling the UH Extension office at 244-3242 ext 228.
Dr. Cynthia Nazario-Leary is the Urban Horticulture Extension Agent and Maui Master Gardener Coordinator with UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension.
