GOL WELCOME POST — WEEK OF APRIL 6, 2026

Twenty years ago today, I put down the bottle and picked up my life.

Took control of my Type 2 diabetes.

It seemed right to start something new on the same date — so welcome to Gardener of Life, where a retired dirt farmer pays attention to what matters.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

Twenty-six years farming California’s Central Valley taught me one thing about food: what you grow matters less than what you eat.

I’ve been experimenting with the Mediterranean way — more vegetables, nuts, and seeds, a lot less red meat, more seafood.

Not a diet. Not a trend. Not a restriction plan.

More like a way of living that just happens to make your body thrive.

The Mediterranean diet is based on how people eat in places like Greece and Italy — simple, fresh, and deeply enjoyable.

✨ What it really means:

∙	Food is mostly plants
∙	Meals are slow, social, and satisfying
∙	No extremes, nothing forbidden

The research backs it up. My own blood work backs it up.

👉 Try this: Add one extra vegetable to your next meal. That’s it. Start there.

From the Field

🔗 FoodSafety.gov — Current food recalls and outbreaks from the USDA and FDA. Worth checking every week.

🔗 EatingWell — Practical, research-backed recipes and nutrition guidance. A reliable kitchen companion.

🔗 Glucose Goddess — Jessie Inchauspé’s science-based approach to managing blood sugar through food. Simple hacks, real results.

🔗 The Doctor’s Kitchen — Dr. Rupy Aujla explores the medicine on your plate. Good listening for anyone serious about food as health.