{"id":958,"date":"2026-06-29T19:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T19:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/?p=958"},"modified":"2026-10-02T18:24:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T18:24:05","slug":"age-gardening-and-the-harvest-for-older-wyomingites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-gardening-and-the-harvest-for-older-wyomingites\/","title":{"rendered":"Gardening and the Harvest for Older Wyomingites"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"958\" class=\"elementor elementor-958\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b40332 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4b40332\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15131d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"15131d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gardening and the Harvest for Older Wyomingites<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81e5e3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"81e5e3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1816\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites-300x90.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites-1024x307.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites-768x230.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed70dcf e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ed70dcf\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d90f976 elementor-widget elementor-widget-author-box\" data-id=\"d90f976\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"author-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"elementor-author-box__avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AGE-Authors-7-Donna-Hoffman-300x300.jpeg\" alt=\"Picture of Donna Hoffman\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-author-box__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDonna Hoffman\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8718f16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"8718f16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-a3a363a elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/2026\/06\/29\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-calendar\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 192h424c6.6 0 12 5.4 12 12v260c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V204c0-6.6 5.4-12 12-12zm436-44v-36c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48h-48V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H160V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v36c0 6.6 5.4 12 12 12h424c6.6 0 12-5.4 12-12z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>June 29, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7865204 elementor-share-buttons--shape-rounded elementor-share-buttons--view-icon-text elementor-share-buttons--skin-gradient elementor-grid-0 elementor-share-buttons--color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"7865204\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_linkedin\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-linkedin\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-facebook\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.78 90.69 226.38 209.25 245V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.31 482.38 504 379.78 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_email\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on email\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-envelope\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_print\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-print\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M448 192V77.25c0-8.49-3.37-16.62-9.37-22.63L393.37 9.37c-6-6-14.14-9.37-22.63-9.37H96C78.33 0 64 14.33 64 32v160c-35.35 0-64 28.65-64 64v112c0 8.84 7.16 16 16 16h48v96c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h320c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-96h48c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16V256c0-35.35-28.65-64-64-64zm-64 256H128v-96h256v96zm0-224H128V64h192v48c0 8.84 7.16 16 16 16h48v96zm48 72c-13.25 0-24-10.75-24-24 0-13.26 10.75-24 24-24s24 10.74 24 24c0 13.25-10.75 24-24 24z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrint\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76f8776 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76f8776\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gardening Can Be a Lifelong, Accessible Activity<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c4221a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c4221a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gardening is an activity that often starts early in life. It is also an activity that can be enjoyable into later years of life. It can be picked up at any stage of life and can bring a great sense of accomplishment when the harvest season arrives each year. Gardening is an activity that can be continued into later stages of life, and with accommodations for accessibility, can be very enriching to those who thrive by growing things for themselves or even for others. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-200230b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"200230b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Winter Planning Keeps the Mind Active<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-474c7e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"474c7e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGardening is a hobby that keeps the mind active and builds creativity even in the winter months, when one can\u2019t easily have their hands in the soil. Planning for the next growing season can keep someone busy reading seed catalogs and searching out seed for the best varieties, for the most prolific types of produce, or even just the right color and shape of flower for a difficult spot in a garden location.\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38998c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"38998c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Crop Rotation and Recordkeeping<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4af35bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4af35bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Once a garden is in place, a gardener must make plans for crops to be rotated every few years to prevent disease or insect pests from ruining a crop in successive years. So, planning for rotations to keep members of one plant family out of areas where the same family had been grown. Many gardeners keep records to track what grew where in the garden and what did well or what might have faced challenges in a specific location of the garden each year. Recordkeeping and planning practices are great for maintaining an alert mind through the months that many Wyomingites spend indoors. <span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c70ef5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c70ef5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Getting Outdoors as the Season Begins<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c93ec29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c93ec29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Preparations for the season give ample opportunity to get outdoors as the season begins to warm prior to each growing season. Once the soil is workable in the spring, even a few hours a day can be spent outdoors cleaning up parts of the garden that were not finished the previous fall.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f569b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3f569b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Early-Season Planting Prep<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3e4aae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3e4aae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPreparations for the season give ample opportunity to get outdoors as the season begins to warm prior to each growing season. Once the soil is workable in the spring, even a few hours a day can be spent outdoors cleaning up parts of the garden that were not finished the previous fall. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span>\n\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">The addition of organic matter or fertilizers can be done prior to warmer days in late spring. Cool-season crops can be planted while we are still expecting regular snowstorms. They will germinate and start growing when conditions are right.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e77a84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e77a84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The addition of organic matter or fertilizers can be done prior to warmer days in late spring. Cool-season crops can be planted while we are still expecting regular snowstorms. They will germinate and start growing when conditions are right.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d76b750 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d76b750\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gardening-Intergenerational.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-995\" alt=\"Older Adult woman and teenage girl gardening\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gardening-Intergenerational.png 1200w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gardening-Intergenerational-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gardening-Intergenerational-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gardening-Intergenerational-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4baddf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4baddf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Composting Garden Debris<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5af6519 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5af6519\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Debris from the garden can be added to compost piles at the home site, and keep that beneficial material onsite instead of adding it to community landfills. With proper aging and appropriate temperatures, waste product become beneficial additions to improving growing conditions in gardening spaces. Monitoring and turning compost can be a great physical activity.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d10646 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d10646\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Rewards of Growing Your Own<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dc6b73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6dc6b73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Debris from the garden can be added to compost piles at the home site, and keep that beneficial material onsite instead of adding it to community landfills. With proper aging and appropriate temperatures, waste product become beneficial additions to improving growing conditions in gardening spaces. Monitoring and turning compost can be a great physical activity.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3835ef0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3835ef0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Harvesting at the Right Time of Day<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f863b6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f863b6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When the first fruits or flowers of the garden are ready to be enjoyed or shared with others, all the effort of the process makes it seem worthwhile. Most harvests are done in the morning hours to preserve the moisture that the plants have accumulated overnight. The harvest will be the plumpest at that time of the day, and the sugars in the fruits will be of the highest quality in the morning. If the harvest is done later in the day, plants will begin to turn the sugars into starches, and the flavors will not be the best they can be. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0e85d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d0e85d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Benefits of Eating What You Grow<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb90e12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb90e12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It is said that the produce grown from one\u2019s own garden is the healthiest and nutritionally beneficial to those who eat it. There are benefits of eating what you grow, and part of that is the sheer satisfaction of being self-sufficient enough to have grown produce you can eat or share with others. Besides the activity of harvesting, enjoying the fresh produce, even cut flowers, or preserving the fruits and vegetables of the harvest for enjoyment through our long winter months is the best part of the process. That harvest can add to the longevity and livelihood of the gardener. As we all learned as children, \u201cYou are what you eat!\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d858086 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d858086\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-835d862 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"835d862\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Posts<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72de818 elementor-posts__hover-none elementor-grid-2 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"72de818\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:80,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:71,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:30,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-958 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-age-blog category-mental-health category-nutrition category-physical-activity tag-donna-hoffman\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-gardening-and-the-harvest-for-older-wyomingites\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1816\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites-300x90.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites-1024x307.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/32_Garden-and-harvest-for-older-Wyominites-768x230.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-gardening-and-the-harvest-for-older-wyomingites\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tGardening and the Harvest for Older Wyomingites\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Gardening is an activity that often starts early in life. It is also an activity that can be enjoyable into later years of life. It can be picked up at any stage of life and can bring a great sense of accomplishment when the harvest season arrives each year. Gardening is an activity that can be continued into later stages of life and with accommodations for accessibility can be very enriching to those who thrive by growing things for themselves or even for others.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-gardening-and-the-harvest-for-older-wyomingites\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Gardening and the Harvest for Older Wyomingites\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRespectful terms for aging\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-952 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-age-blog category-physical-activity tag-joddee-jacobsen\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-eyes-on-safety-the-importance-of-eye-health-and-balance\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AGE_feature-image_eyes-on-safety.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1789\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AGE_feature-image_eyes-on-safety.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AGE_feature-image_eyes-on-safety-300x90.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AGE_feature-image_eyes-on-safety-1024x307.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AGE_feature-image_eyes-on-safety-768x230.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-eyes-on-safety-the-importance-of-eye-health-and-balance\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tEyes on Safety: The Importance of Eye Health and Balance\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older.https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/falls\/data-research\/index.html  Over 14 million (or 1 in 4) older adults report falling every year. Falls can be extremely dangerous for older adults and can result in fractures, hospitalization, and disability according to the National Institute on Aging. With that said, your vision changes with time and age. That\u2019s why it\u2019s especially important to have your vision checked yearly to keep your eyesight healthy as you age.  <\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-eyes-on-safety-the-importance-of-eye-health-and-balance\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Eyes on Safety: The Importance of Eye Health and Balance\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRespectful terms for aging\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gardening is an activity that often starts early in life. It is also an activity that can be enjoyable into later years of life. It can be picked up at any stage of life and can bring a great sense of accomplishment when the harvest season arrives each year. Gardening is an activity that can be continued into later stages of life and with accommodations for accessibility can be very enriching to those who thrive by growing things for themselves or even for others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":1816,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9,10,11],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-age-blog","category-mental-health","category-nutrition","category-physical-activity","tag-donna-hoffman"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=958"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1827,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/958\/revisions\/1827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}