The vegetable garden and the flowerbeds occupied all your weekends, but age got the better of your great enthusiasm. And if you pass the baton, continuing to enjoy fresh vegetables and beautiful beds?
Contrary to popular belief, gardening is not just the prerogative of older people. More and more young people are taking up this activity, out of conviction or to take a relaxed break, as close to the earth as possible. The lack of space is, however, one of the issues to be managed for those who want to fully enjoy this distraction. Young city dwellers have to make do with their balconies or cramped squares behind the house. Many seniors face the opposite problem. Space, they have it, what they lack is the energy to weed, ridge or plant. With Le Mag du Senior and its practical advice for seniors, we are happy to discover a simple way to reconcile the two situations:co-gardening.
Whether it comes in the form of a loan or a share, co-gardening consists in letting a third person exploit all or part of his land. The idea is that it does not remain unnecessarily fallow, gives free rein to invasive plants and unbalances the harmony of the outdoor space. There are several ways to identify or contact the person who will service the garden for them. The neighborhood, children and grandchildren are all sources of contact, which present the interest of entrusting your precious land to someone familiar. More and more contact sites specializing in collaborative gardening have especially emerged. Like on dating sites, you'll have to sign up — or get yourself signed up — and post ads looking for a gardening buddy. Depending on what you agree with the latter, you will enjoy the harvests in different ways. Some simply appropriate the harvest in an equitable way, others agree on another mode of sharing. This is one of the main points to see before the collaboration, to enjoy co-gardening with complete peace of mind.
Do you have a piece of garden that you are no longer able to maintain properly? Easily join one of the sites specializing in garden lending or sharing. When you come across a “garden applicant” profile that matches your expectations, plan a meeting to discover the land. At the same time, it is an opportunity to discuss the practical conditions of your partnership. Define, among other things, if you expect to share the harvest in the long term, as part of a loan, or if the other person has access to the plot without compensation. Clearly delineate everyone's responsibilities, particularly with regard to supplies:seeds, tools, irrigation water... And if your land is particularly lenient and after sharing, you still end up with flowers, vegetables or excess fruit, consider barter or gift. Market garden product exchange sites are also flourishing. A real opportunity to fight against waste and promote more responsible, short-cycle consumption.
