Digging Into the Benefits of Gardening
In today’s screen dominated, fast-paced world, gardening serves as a refreshing and fulfilling way to slow down and reconnect with the natural beauty that surrounds us. Aside from the sweet scent and beauty of blooming flowers, gardening offers a variety of benefits for your mental and physical health. Let’s dig into some ways this age-old practice can transform your modern life for the better.
Get a Workout in Disguise
Digging, planting, weeding, and watering all serve as excellent forms of low-impact physical exercise that are suitable for all ages. These activities can burn calories, build muscle, and improve flexibility. No gym membership? Grab your shovel and start working out in the garden!
Nurture Your Garden Along with Your Soul
Take a break from the stress of daily life by finding peace in your garden. The rhythmic tasks of gardening provide a meditative quality, helping you find peace amidst chaos. The mental health benefits of gardening are even backed by science! Studies suggest that gardening can result in a variety of positive health outcomes including a decrease in anxiety and depression symptoms as well as improvements in quality of life and life satisfaction.
Go to School in your Backyard
School isn’t the only place where you can learn! Gardening offers a hands-on education in botany, chemistry, and ecology. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, there’s always something new to learn. The thrill of seeing a seed sprout and grow is an experience that will make you feel closer to nature and Earth.
Grow Your Own Fresh Produce
Not sure what to eat? Imagine stepping into your backyard and finding a bounty of vegetables and fruits, ready for picking. Homegrown produce is often more nutritious and flavorful than store-bought products since it can be harvested at its peak. Gardening also gives you control over what goes into your plants, allowing you to grow produce free from pesticides.
Grow a Connection with Your Community
Turning your gardening time into a social activity is a fantastic way to build a closer bond with friends and family. Community gardens and plant swaps also provide opportunities to connect people who are interested in gardening. Grow your sense of community and belonging by sharing gardening tips, swapping plants, and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Cultivate your relationships by cultivating nature!
Gardening is more than a hobby; it’s a holistic experience that enriches your body, mind, and soul. Whether you’re planting a flower or cultivating a sprawling vegetable patch, the benefits of gardening are plentiful and profound. It cultivates not just nature but also relationships, making life greener, healthier, and happier. So pick up your trowel, put on your gardening gloves, and get ready to grow something amazing!
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Resources
Detweiler, M. B., Self, J. A., Lane, S., Spencer, L., Lutgens, B., Kim, D.-Y., Halling, M. H., Rudder, T. C., & Lehmann, L. P. (2015). Horticultural therapy: a pilot study on modulating cortisol levels and indices of substance craving, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and quality of life in veterans. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 21(4), 36–41. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26030115/
Hutchins, R. (2017, October 31). 8 Surprising Health Benefits of Gardening | UNC Health Talk. UNC Health Talk. https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/health-benefits-of-gardening/
Mayo Clinic Minute: Health benefits of gardening. (2020, May 15). Mayo Clinic News Network. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-health-benefits-of-gardening/
Soga, M., Gaston, K. J., & Yamaura, Y. (2017). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 5(5), 92–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.11.007
Wimmer, L. (2022, July 12). Dig into the benefits of gardening. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/dig-into-the-benefits-of-gardening
Disclaimer
We want you to be well and to live your best life. The content in this blog is provided for the purposes to educate and entertain you: our very important reader. It is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical advice from a trained healthcare professional.
If you have a medical condition or are under the care of a medical provider, please always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional before undertaking a new health care regimen. To that point, never disregard medical advice or delay treatment for a medical condition because of something you read on this site.
Listen to your care providers as they know you and your condition best. Thank you for reading!
The Team at BSDI