Famous UK gardener and TV presenter Monty Don once said “gardens aren’t about plants; they’re about people.” Mr. Don is a wise man, and we’re inclined to agree with him on this one. Our gardens are about creating thriving spaces for plants, but they’re also about providing us with food, beauty, or relaxation—or all of the above. There’s spiritual and mental reward to gardening that is difficult to quantify but very important to many gardeners. While we may not be able to explain the magic entirely, at Gardzen we do like to explore ideas and research our thoughts. We’ve written before about the role gardening plays in mental health, and now we’d like to visit and refresh that subject. Let’s dig in!
A quick note before we get started: if you’re having mental health challenges or just aren’t feeling quite right, it’s OK to seek help. Talk to your doctor, find a therapist or support group, and if you have an acute issue please reach out to emergency services or one of these support hotlines in the US or Canada. If you’re in another country, please do a quick web search and find resources near you.
The Mental Health Benefits of Gardening
There’s a quick and obvious mental health benefit to gardening that many urban gardeners know in their bones: being around the natural world is good for our minds and souls. Humans did not evolve as an urban species—globally we didn’t become majority city-dwelling until around 2007. We’re meant to be among the plants and animals and bugs and birds, and gardening is a way for both urban and suburban dwellers to reconnect with that. Even a small indoor garden of a few potted plants can make a big difference, as can time spent in a public park, botanical garden, or similar facility. This approach to mental health and therapy has been dubbed “green care” by some professionals in those fields, and we have to say we like the name.
Gardening also helps our mental health on another level, by helping to moderate stress and create a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Done with other people, gardening can help strengthen social bonds and create community—things that we at Gardzen believe in strongly. Working together to create something like a garden helps us learn about each other and the world we all share while potentially providing us with some of the healthy food we need. Hence the importance of community gardens around the world, and why we encourage you to look into joining one.
Gardening also promotes physical activity, fresh air, and sunshine—all of which are good for both mental and physical health. Healthy and moderate exposure to sunshine is particularly important, as that’s how our bodies create and utilize Vitamin D. D vitamins are needed for a host of health functions and getting enough Vitamin D is critical to a healthy life and healthy living.
Speaking of the role of physical health in mental health, there’s some evidence to suggest that gardening, with its combination of mental and physical activity, also helps promote better concentration in both children and adults. This is important at any stage of life, and it’s something else to consider when gardening. Mindfulness of our mental state and where our attention lies is something we can learn while working in the garden, if we put a little effort in.
Finally, and a bit more philosophically, gardening can teach us acceptance. As any gardener knows, things don’t always go well in the garden. Sometimes plants die, or a project doesn’t come together, or you just have a bad season. While it can be distressing or upsetting when things go wrong, it’s also a chance to learn that these moments are just part of life. Gardening teaches us so many things about the natural world, including the fact that the world isn’t always a perfect place and that we all make mistakes. With a little introspection and some community support, bad moments in the garden can turn into grown moments for us as people.
Stay Healthy and Keep Gardening
We hope this blog and the resources we present here help you better understand the role gardening plays in mental health and how we can all learn and grow while tending to our plants. Our gardens are about ourselves, so whether you have a few plants indoors or a lavish landscaped estate, we hope you and your garden are well and that you keep exploring the world of gardening!
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