The recreational activity you choose should create happy, quiet and peaceful states of mind. In terms of being a wholesome recreational activity that not only brings joy but is also productive; gardening scores a 100% in my mind! 

I have always been fond of gardening. I have an open air terrace attached to my 2nd floor flat and my mother has a green thumb. She would buy a plant, admiring its small delicate leaves. After a week in my mother's care, the leaves would have grown into giants! :) 

I spent 3 months with my parents in the UK and my mum has been growing her own vegetables there. After 3 months of walking into the garden to pick salad leaves, capsicum, cabbage and tomatoes, I came back to Bombay inspired! 

Despite the absence of my mum's green thumb, as a first time experiment I planted seeds of tomatoes, lettuce and capsicum. Soon I had saplings and found my sweet little plants were being eaten up! They were moved to a corner of the garden and covered with a sheet. As the saplings grew it was time for re-potting. Now the saplings have been separated into pots of their own with lots of khad/ manure in each pot! They are growing happily under a mosquito net. They are still too small to bear fruit; lots of patience and love is required while I wait for the fruit of my labour! :) [www.vedana.in/garden.htm]

Taking this one step further I decided to try composting. I came across these very informative sites on growing vegetables and using your organic kitchen waste. I am trying the bag method. Tightly pack the bottom of a goni or sack with sugarcane baggase. Add some compost and a layer of soil. Plant seeds or a sapling, allow them to grow a little and then start adding your raw kitchen waste. For complete details visit http://www.devalt.org/newsletter/jun05/of_5.htm or natuecocityfarming.blogspot.com/