Coronavirus isolation got you down or feeling bored? Need a way for your kids to expel some energy? Tired of shortages at the store? Looking to save money on food, connect with nature or simply brighten up your quarantine space?
A garden offers productive, family-friendly fun with tangible rewards for both belly and budget. It can relieve stress and promote mental well-being, in addition to physical benefits of exercise and sunshine.
Previous generations also turned to gardening in troubled times. Food security concerns prompted the Victory Garden movement during WWI and WWII. Seed sales spiked amid dire economic conditions during the Great Recession.
The coronavirus pandemic has already led to an upswing of would-be gardeners, but the public health crisis presents different obstacles. How are garden centers and nurseries adapting to meet customers' needs during the outbreak and address social-distancing concerns? Can supply keep up with demand?
What grows best this time of year and what level of care is required? What supplies do you need? How can you reap maximum benefit from whatever size space you have to work with? What pitfalls should you be mindful to avoid?
Parents: What do you want to know about how to make gardening a successful, kid-friendly activity?
Experienced gardeners: What advice do you have for people whose thumbs aren't as green as yours?
Guests:
- David Rodriguez, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture in Bexar County
- Andrew Labay, horticulturist with the San Antonio Botanical Garden
"The Source" is a live call-in program airing Mondays through Thursdays from 12-1 p.m. Leave a message before the program at (210) 615-8982. During the live show, call 833-877-8255, email thesource@tpr.org or tweet @TPRSource.
*This interview was recorded on Wednesday, April 8.