Driving through the deserted streets of my neighborhood the other day, I noticed pictures of colorful rainbows hanging in the windows of many homes. As people around the world self-isolate, the rainbow is emerging as a symbol of hope.
The idea is to spread some joy amid the coronavirus outbreak; let others know that we are all in this together. In so many different languages, the message is clear: everything will be alright.
My kids have painted their rainbows and living in the French province of Quebec, their message reads “ça va bien aller.”
I have to admit, looking at their beautiful pictures does lift my spirits. We will get past this. We just need to sit tight and ride this thing out.
The rainbow pictures got me to thinking about the saying “eat a rainbow” and how important it is to eat a variety of colors every day.
From red, orange, and yellow to green, blue, and purple, each hue offers different minerals and vitamins that the other one does not.
Long story short, for your health, make your meals colorful!
With the kids home from school indefinitely and gardening being an educational and healthy way to spend time together, why not try growing a rainbow?
This project can be as big or as small as you want it to be; the fruits and vegetables can be planted in the ground, raised beds, or in pots.
Plant by color and label each section accordingly with the crop’s corresponding color. If you choose, you can also try this growing experiment with flowers only, making for a very colorful display!
If you decide to go with edible crops, here are some ideas for you:
Red fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants that help fight heart disease and some forms of cancer. Examples include:
Orange food crops help boost immunity while supporting eye health, healthy bones and joints, and may even help prevent diabetes. Examples include:
Yellow fruits and veggies are an excellent source of vitamins and antioxidants that help maintain healthy skin and may even fight cancer. Examples include:
Green foods are loaded with vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber, phytochemicals, and folate. Examples include:
Blue fruits have a high antioxidant count and help heart health, reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, and certain cancers. Example include:
Purple food crops are all the rage these days; be sure to look for a blog post next week putting purple power in the spotlight! They boost immunity and prevent many chronic illnesses. Example include:
Have fun, and remember, ça va bien aller!-
As harvest nears, it’s essential to make sure your plant’s nitrogen levels are right. Gareth Hopcroft guides us through managing ‘N’ in living soil.
Gardens are beautiful and can be a food source, but they’re so much more than that. Anne Gibson teaches us about the many joys a wellness garden can bring.
Inspiring! Liz Zorab, the author of Grounded: A Gardener's Journey to Abundance and Self-Sufficiency, talks about health and gardening with Catherine Sherriffs.
One Response
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