{"id":49929,"date":"2023-05-05T15:26:19","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T13:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/growing-20230501\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T20:54:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:54:09","slug":"growing-20230501","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/growing-20230501\/","title":{"rendered":"Sowing and growing: Octogenarian keeps her fingers green"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You are only as old as you feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you were to visit Yvonne Parfitt Place in Westridge, it will be hard to ignore a beautifully colourful garden, now in full bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At 80 years old, Betty Kock has had a lifetime to master the art of gardening, creating a bit of peace for herself no matter where she lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She is self-taught and enjoys ploughing back into her garden. And, as many of us who have seen a plant wilt away can confirm, they don\u2019t always take. But the key is keeping at it and creating a piece of calm, she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI started gardening from my young days. I love gardening because it\u2019s calming, gives you love and keeps you busy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI also knit headbands and bedsocks. I never get bored. I go to prayer meetings and church and I do my gardening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"Middle\" id=\"embed_ef91759b\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/737\/756975fb77ad495a8f65453e7ec974bd.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9db54c25a4cc4c259c1c4963097aa6ea.jpg\" title=\"Flowers in full bloom in her garden. \"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Flowers in full bloom in her garden. <\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/737\/62e5ae04f94e421b84e6df4ea50987af.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/97b046965523402b8d7ff63c24fbdeef.jpg\" title=\"A chair on the front porch is the perfect place to relax in her home-grown oasis. \"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">A chair on the front porch is the perfect place to relax in her home-grown oasis. <\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>She has been living at Yvonne Parfitt Place for the past 10 years and although she has moved units, her garden continues to flourish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Blockquote\" data-pos=\"middle\" id=\"embed_f8d4671c\">\n<div class=\"text\">\u201cI garden every day. When I feel bored, or even if you are feeling angry, if you garden, being among the plants and flowers gives you joy. Flowers are love. I have bought the plants over a few years and planted them myself.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Her favourites are Marigold and Zinnia (Jacob Regop) as they last long and give you seeds to replant, extending the life cycle of the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGardening keeps you fit. It is like exercise,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"middle\" id=\"embed_49276b05\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/737\/756975fb77ad495a8f65453e7ec974bd.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9db54c25a4cc4c259c1c4963097aa6ea.jpg\" title=\"Flowers in full bloom in her garden. \"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Flowers in full bloom in her garden. <\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To others who may be idle in their aging, she encourages them to find something to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt this age, you do not need to sit at home. There is a lot that you can do. You can knit, garden or even just go out to meet with people and talk about God.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You are only as old as you 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