the garden can become a new found gym. Gardening is not only good for the soul, but is also a purposeful way to exercise all the major muscle groups. Did you know that mowing the lawn is as effective as walking briskly at 3.5 mph? Or that weeding burns as many calories as tennis doubles?

Need more examples? In just 30 minutes, you'll burn:

Trimming shrubs (power): 142
Raking: 162
Bagging leaves: 162
Planting seedlings: 162
Mowing (with push mower): 182
Planting trees: 182
Trimming shrubs (manual): 182
Weeding: 182
Clearing land: 202
Digging, spading, tilling: 202
Laying sod: 202
General gardening: 202
Chopping wood: 243
Gardening with heavy power tools: 243

Great way to keep toned while adding more color to your living canvas!

Let me add to this GREAT post (didn't know all that) ~

When I created my garden, the area I used was covered with bricks soooo, had to move all of those and since I could only bag and carry maybe 6 at a time, I got a GREAT workout. After moving all the bricks, I had to place cinder blocks, then bring in the mulch...

What's one of the best things about creating and maintaining a garden is, there's something there! I felt SO productive! So energized because I could physically see the results!

Now, as I maintain it, I get to experience all Lafsalot says here.

I've spoken to our land people about, instead of having a gardener, buy us a mulch-type lawnmower. Our lawn would be so much healthier ~ as would we! And, productive as well.

Thanks for the post, Lafs!