I posted this one the /r/Aging subreddit and a user there suggested I post this here.

It’s about the size of a three car garage. She manages it by herself. She’s been doing it for years. Most of what they eat comes from this garden. She exercises every day but Sunday. She and my FIL are both very healthy both mentally and physically. They do all the right things but a big one is that they have a business to run, a garden to tend to and more. They have reasons to get up every morning.

If you retire and take the rest of your life off, the rest of your life won’t be very long. To live a good, long life or at least have a shot at it, your body and mind need to keep getting the message that they are.

by TheManInTheShack

42 Comments

  1. Margaretta_Flora

    The vegetable garden is beautiful. And your mother-in-law is wonderful.😇

  2. ChrisInBliss

    >If you retire and take the rest of your life off, the rest of your life won’t be very long

    I wish I could convince my mom this

  3. SalsaChica75

    Gorgeous!!! My Grandmother lived to be 94 chipping her own firewood until age 88. She had a beautiful Veggie Garden and Flower Garden in her front yard. Stay active doing what you love and you’ll live a long life🌶️🫛🥕🥒🌷🌼

  4. That’s like my 92 year old nonno’s garden. That guy has it on lock.

  5. SunshineBeamer

    My father was like this, I am flagging at 72, LOL! Never had the energy to be like this when I was 22 though.

  6. Bitter__Leaf

    This is amazing! She’s made herself her own mini farm ❤️

  7. DrFarfetsch

    Wow! Stunning 😍
    It’s also quite remarkable that she’s so active, because that’s no easy venture, at any age.
    May she continue to enjoy her beautiful garden 🥳

  8. speedfilly

    Yes my 80 year old mother also has a huge garden and it is so good for her and my dad’s health!

    They have been retired a while though and just do lots of things. You don’t need a job to keep you mentally thinking. My dad volunteers and my mom does the garden and dog agility!

  9. Wow!Impressive! And 85,great achievement, keep going, I’m a fan👍👏🏻😋

  10. CobblerCandid998

    You are so right! Now, if I could only find a partner to enjoy such a lifestyle with… *and* not be so stiff/aches all the time! 😒

  11. LootleSox

    Me: I have a big, organized garden.

    Granny: Hold my Chardonnay.

  12. flower-25

    Beautiful garden and lovely view 🥕🥒🍆🥦

  13. Immediate_Finish_301

    God bless your mother in law! Great garden!

  14. treslilbirds

    My oldest sisters gma-in-law told her that “you start dying when you quit moving”.

    She is currently 101 and still moving.

  15. Technical-Memory-241

    Kinda looks like my 90 year old aunt, and she still does canning, I get most of my veggies from she still is driving lol I can only hope lol

  16. elaracelinee

    Wow, goals 😍 I hope I have this kind of energy at 85

  17. Beautiful 🖤 my grandpa had a large garden and farmed 500 acres until he was 92 years old. He passed away at 96 and I swear gardening kept him healthy until the very end. He taught me everything I know and gave me a deep love of gardening. My favorite thing about him was he always grew way more than he needed and never accepted a penny for giving away his produce. He was a firm believer that everyone should taste a garden ripe tomato at least once in their life.

  18. tarhuntah

    Wow how wonderful. She has created her own Blue Zone.

  19. leaisthebomb

    Totally agree, exercise is an investment in your body, same as eating healthy.

  20. deliberatewellbeing

    man i cant be anymore impressed that a couple of octogenarians can have the physical strength and stamina to tend to a garden this size!

  21. salymander_1

    What a beautiful garden. This is a great size for a family garden, and it is clearly tended faithfully. She has it organized well, too.

    I would love to have about that much space, as my community garden plot is only 14’×20′, which is definitely better than nothing, but still a little small for a family of three.

  22. PensiveObservor

    Y’all are giving me hope I can make it a while yet. 💪🏼💚

  23. cheerful-refusal

    How is she keeping the weeds at bay? By hand??

  24. tasiamtoo

    My Grammas garden always looked like that ….she didn’t work, other then her garden and feeding us LoL

    It was beautiful

  25. My grandma just turned 100, and while she can no longer manage a garden, she’s able to care for the veggies I planted in pots on her deck. Gardening keeps you going!

  26. ericwiththeredbeard

    I want a glass of iced lemonade while sitting on a plastic white lawn chair in the shade. I’d sit at stare at this all day and love every second. Damn this makes me miss my grandma. 

  27. Emergency_Arm1576

    I love hearing these stories. My dad lived to 86 and his garden was like this. He looked like he was in his 60’s. He died of a clog artery in his heart. I am sorry for those with cancer. It is so heartbreaking when cancer takes hold. I do try to walk the walk of my dad. I stay active, lift weights, tai chi, dance while cleaning, power walk and tend to my garden. 63 and going strong. Stay active and challenge yourself.

  28. jenniferfrederick0

    I love gardening, and it’s been a long-term goal of mine.

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