There are plenty of good reasons! Gardening has been proven to have a wide variety of health benefits. Getting outdoors, increasing exercise, and even getting your hands dirty are all good for your health! Studies have shown that gardening can improve the immune system, reduce stress and depression, and even lessen the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, dementia and Alzheimer's!
Gardening encourages healthy eating. Food grown from our own backyard encourages us to eat it because it’s fresh, and we know that a lot of hard work goes into producing what we have on our plates. It's also a great social activity, as you can involve the entire family in different aspects of planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting the produce!
How does gardening improve emotional, mental, and spiritual health? Contact with soil and a specific soil bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, triggers the release of serotonin, a natural antidepressant that strengthens the immune system. Even a few moments of gardening each day can make a big difference. Getting our hands in the earth, literally connects us to the web of life. Feeling the connections we all share, having hope for new plants and seeds, and practicing patience and flexibility as nature shows her hand in unexpected ways. These gifts enhance our resilience and connection to the ebb and flow of life.
Gardening is also good for the environment. It impacts everything from the air we breathe to the minimizing of carbon footprints we leave behind. Growing a garden can create habitats for smaller life forms like birds, insects, aphids, ants and other species that thrive and reproduce in the ecosystem. Each creature plays an important role in helping the environment!
If you have an area to plant in, even if it’s simply containers on a deck, take advantage of the space and reap the benefits of gardening!
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