A throwback to the times some of our more senior seniors can remember is the victory garden. Instead of watering a lawn, an status symbol of excess created to show we are too rich to count the money we trow away, the yard is devoted to a patch of soil meant to grow food, herbs and flowers for our homes. In the past, hard times would encourage creativity in taking care of ourselves- in world war two, the produce you grew was an indirect support of troops who recieved the commercial crops. In the dustbowl era of the great depression, it was the only way to get fresh food for many families. Older adults have the farmers most valuable asset, experience. Failed experiments- trials that didn't end in product. Ask the old lady next door if she knows when to plant, and what needs sun. She will teach you things that you didn't know that you didn't know. Ask the senior why he cuts his roses back on New Years and the details of deadheading and five versus three leaf clipping will make your own head swim. And the exercise you get in a day of gardening is better for you than watching a whole week of Food Network on TV.