Summary:
An “edible meadow,” known as the “microbiome garden,” designed to enhance gut health will be showcased at the Chelsea Flower Show. The garden, created by two gardeners, features flowers that can be consumed or walked past to influence the human microbiome, a collection of microbes primarily residing in the gut. The garden emphasizes diversity in plant types to promote a diverse microbiome, crucial for overall health. After the show, the garden will be relocated to the Apricot Centre in Totnes, Devon, which serves children in care. The importance of outdoor play in diverse natural environments for child health is underscored.
Key Concepts:
- Microbiome Garden: The garden focuses on enhancing gut health through the consumption or proximity of specific flowers, emphasizing diversity in plant types.
- Diversity for Microbiome: The key principle is diversity in plant types, promoting a diverse microbiome, crucial for overall health.
- Soil Health: Demonstrates the importance of healthy soil, containing helpful microbes transferred to plants and, subsequently, the food we eat.
- Post-Chelsea Relocation: The garden will be moved to the Apricot Centre in Totnes, benefiting children in care by providing a space for play and learning.
- Child Health and Outdoor Play: The garden designers emphasize the importance of outdoor play in diverse natural environments for child health.
- Edible Meadow Plants: Many plants in the garden are edible, promoting the consumption of wild food linked to a healthier gut.
- Historical Food Crops: Some plants in the garden have historical significance as traditional food crops, emphasizing the history of foraging and land use for food.
- Agroecological System: Contrasts modern farming methods, promoting an agroecological system that supports diverse microbial communities.
- Gut-Healthy Garden Tips: Suggestions include growing one’s food, incorporating perennial crops, and cultivating diverse plants for a gut-healthy garden.
- Microbiome Research: Emphasizes the fascinating discoveries about the microbiome and the need for further research, comparing it to the knowledge about outer space.