A couple of days ago, we met Shawn Phelps in this blog. When we talked, Shawn mentioned that when her father retired, he found himself suddenly at loose ends, and actually got sick. He had to find a hobby – something to do. In his case, it was stock trading, but he also walks, works out at the gym, and gardens – growing ferns and roses and helping out in Shawn’s permaculture garden.

A big part of the philosophy behind Meaford Haven is to provide an active retirement lifestyle to make your retirement years some of your best. And from the beginning, we’ve envisioned community gardening as an activity at Meaford Haven. Gardening provides a focussed hobby with lots to learn and share; the tangible rewards of flowers, fruits, vegetables and nuts; and physical activity (see Zoomer Magazine’s article on getting a workout while gardening.)

While ecological and ethical permaculture gardening is Shawn Phelps’s passion, she has additional ideas on how to make gardening an easy, active and popular active at Meaford Haven.

“Another suggestion would be a community food garden,” she says. “People love to make occasional preserves and have fresh fruit for breakfast, and organic and local are huge trends. Also, people love to garden – it’s excellent for stress reduction. I suggest creating a raised community garden for this, as they’re easier to access, and you can make it look beautiful.”

She explains. “Picture a series of rectangular three-foot by six-foot boxes all set out in two long rows with gravel or cedar bark filling the paths. People can sign up for a “plot”. And you need to have a nice, neat composting section.”

Another option is a small Healing Garden or Peace Garden, she suggests. “Something simple, but beautiful, with a walking path and benches, where people might sit and read or chat, and perhaps a water fountain for sound ambience.”

Visit Shawn’s website at www.shawnphelps.com.