Gardening is good for health
In a survey by garden company W. Atlee Burpee on the perceived benefits of gardening, an overwhelming majority reported gardening to be good for managing stress, staying fit and making healthy food choices.
And in apparent agreement with first lady Michelle Obama, 79 percent of the respondents said America's obesity problem could be lessened over time if more people took up vegetable gardening.
In other results, more than three times as many respondents felt vegetable gardening was more beneficial to the environment than driving a hybrid. And almost 94 percent said children who vegetable garden are more likely to eat vegetables.
Here are details from the survey:
- 95 percent of respondents said that having a vegetable garden makes it easier for them to make healthy food choices. Among the reasons: easy access to fresh foods, more affordable than store-bought, better flavor than store-bought.
- 60 percent said they believe some people make unhealthy food choices to cope with stress.
- And 97 percent said they would rather spend 30 minutes a week vegetable gardening than standing in line at a supermarket or ordering takeout.
A collection of heirloom seeds used by African-Americans and brought to this country from Africa and the Carribean is featured in the 
Likewise, Europe had a terrible harvest this year, and Europeans purchased much of their produce from the United States, taking with it, the seeds.
It is Wordless Wednesday.
Photographer 
As the first decade of the new century closes, we are looking back over the last 10 years to see how we have changed (if not improved!), and vegetable gardening and food are in the headlines.
The Baltimore Sun, the indulgent parent of Garden Variety, asked us for the 
There is a formula for a perfectly trimmed Christmas tree, one that is known to the professionals out there, like garden blogger Helen Yoest.
I find that a real gardener is not one who cultivates flowers, but one who cultivates the soil -- Karel Capek
In today's garden column in The Baltimore Sun, I write about forcing bulbs (that sounds so barbaric) during the winter months, and I admit to purchasing some paperwhite kits (they are everywhere!) myself.
Cassie Jordan of Elkton Christian Academy in Elkton, Md., is the state's winner in a national cabbage-growing contest for school children.
