Over 60's enjoy pension years gardening
A favourite pastime for many people is gardening and Garden centres always attract a lot of trade over the weekend. During the week because most people are at work the majority of people who visit the Garden centres are the over 60’s that have retired and spend a lot of their time gardening. Many people who have retired also have allotments where they can grow vegetables such as sprouts, cauliflowers, carrots, peas, beans and potatoes. Allotments can also be a place where keen gardeners can meet up with other people who like nothing better than being outside and enjoying the nature that is all around them. For the over 60’s who are living on a pension (Sofortrente) growing their own vegetables is a way of cutting down on expenses, as well as having the satisfaction of growing their own food. Over the last few years there has been a big demand for allotments, as people have become more aware of the benefits of growing your own produce. Organic vegetables and fruit are very expensive to buy from the shops, so having an allotment and growing your own is becoming more and more popular. Where once allotments were seen as a hobby for retired people, a lot of younger people are taking allotments on and growing organic food for the family.
Once a person reaches 60 thoughts usually turn to retirement and how to spend their free time once they retire. Many people will have to wait until they are 65 before they can draw an immediate pension (sofort beqinnende Rente) so will not be able to retire before then. After having worked a lifetime with very little time to spend on hobbies, retired people want to enjoy life to the full. For someone who enjoys gardening, they might be very happy just pottering around their garden. For others travelling and seeing the world is something that they want to do. Other pensioners might enjoy ballroom dancing and going to the theatre when they get the chance. Looking after the grandchildren and picking them up from school to help out parents who might be working can also fill up their days. Whatever interest pensioners might have, it all depends upon on the amount of pension (sofortrente) someone is allowed as to what type of interest they can take up. Travelling and going on holiday is very expensive and few pensioners can afford to do this. Tending the garden and growing vegetables in an allotment does not cost much money, and it also keeps pensioners fit and active. Gardener’s young and old alike, get a great deal of satisfaction seeing their garden full of different coloured plants and flowers. The hours that might have been spent weeding and mowing the grass is all worth while when they see the finished result. People like to place bird tables in their gardens with fat balls and nuts to attract different kind of wildlife. Having a garden is a pleasure for many people where they can watch the seasons change and nature take its course.