Ligaya Garden — home gardening for body and mind health 9 February 2022 Living a nourishing life can mean different things to different people. For Jelina Haines — textile artist, ethnographic researcher, and community arts worker — the cultivation of her home garden over the past seven years has played a major role in both the management of her diabetes and her wider lifestyle. Jelena was born in the Philippines but now lives in South Gawler (Kaurna country, South Australia) with husband, Malcolm, and son, Marlon. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2019. “At first, I thought that I was just having a low sugar problem as I always had the symptoms of hypoglycaemia,” she says. “It took two years for my diabetes to be diagnosed properly.” A labour of love Though now integral to Jelina’s approach to her diabetes, the family’s fondness for gardening was blossoming long before she was diagnosed. They created a garden named Ligaya — meaning ‘happiness’ in Tagalog (a Central Philippine language). — an ongoing labour of love begun by Malcolm. Featuring many tropical plants that reflect Jelina’s upbringing in the Philippines, the garden layout supports the plants in the South Australian climate, with larger fruit trees providing protection for smaller shrubs below. Regular exercise and a healthy diet As well as providing the regular exercise and healthy diet recommended for type 2 diabetes management, the garden also provides Filipino remedies that, Jelina says, help her to maintain her blood glucose levels. “As a person now living with type 2 diabetes, everything changes, including the food I eat,” Jelina says. “When I had my first appointment with the dietician, I realised I had to adjust how I eat. I went back to the Filipino system of mealtimes, which consists of frequent meals of small portions (i.e. breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner). “Our garden started with three Styrofoam boxes. Later on we extended it to include plants that can enhance health and wellbeing.” “One plant we often eat in my home country is bitter gourd, or ampalaya. It’s an acquired taste because the vegetable is really bitter, but it has many nutrients that can be beneficial to health, so we are now growing it in our garden. We also grow longevity spinach, moringa, okra, kalamansi, sweet potato leaves and taro, which I eat every day. “One of my favourite meals is a longevity spinach smoothie. I add peanuts as my substitute for sugar and kalamansi juice for the tangy taste.” The importance of community In her work as an ethnographic researcher, Jelina focuses on the transfer of knowledge within South Australian Indigenous communities. As a practicing artist she also celebrates the importance of community and is the co-founder of the Ngarrindjeri Eco Art Co-op, while her garden provides her with plants and eco-dyes for her weaving practice. This wide range of creative and professional pursuits has found its way into the spirit and purpose of the garden. For Jelina, the green space has become a place to rest and nourish her mind and body. “Ligaya is a special kind of happiness that comes from being connected to family and community— our garden is a testament to a health-focused design space. “It is my sanctuary and my therapy space when I am homesick, stressed about my study, and grumpy. The tropical plants from my home country provide food.” Plans for a recipe book After years of experiencing the benefits of a home garden, Jelina now plans to produce a recipe book for others living with type 2 diabetes. Until then, her gardening advice is simple: ‘start small, save your seeds for the next season’, and make the garden a ‘family effort’. With summer in full bloom across the country, there is no better time to start. Longevity spinach smoothie recipe Longevity spinach is a nutritious plant that contains anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals to support general health and wellbeing, which can be beneficial for people living with type 2 diabetes. Ingredients (makes one glass) Four bunches of freshly picked longevity spinach, rinsed and chopped into small pieces One glass of soy milk ½ cup of almonds soaked with hot water for 10 minutes One glass of water Method Add all the ingredients into a blender Blend at a slow speed until all the ingredients are well-mixed Let the smoothie rest for a couple of minutes Once it’s settled and has a smooth consistency, transfer to a glass. Don’t include the residual mixture from the bottom of the blender as this can taste bitter. The smoothie is best drunk straightaway. It’s an acquired taste and needs an appetiser after drinking. You can also add longevity spinach to other meals such as stir fries, fried rice, soups, pastries and vegetable cakes. More reading https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/ligaya-garden/13563592
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