Gardening is Great Medicine: From Soil to Soul

Gardening Is Great Medicine

Gardening is a physical activity that has numerous health benefits. One such benefit is stress relief, so if you are in need of some Eco-therapy (also known as horticultural therapy) this spring, put on your gardening gloves because gardening reduces stress naturally!

Gardening Is On The Increase

Gardening is very popular in America, which is great for stress relief. According to the National Gardening Association and the Mother Nature Network, 37 percent of U.S. households have food gardens. Twenty-nine percent of these American food gardeners live in the South, 26 percent live in the Midwest, 23 percent live in the West, and 22 percent live in the Northeast. Americans plant a variety of flowers, fruits, and herbs, but most U.S. gardeners who plant vegetables grow tomatoes (86 percent), cucumbers (47 percent), and sweet peppers (46 percent). No matter how big your garden or what you plant, just the act of getting outside and getting your hands dirty is a form of stress relief and ecotherapy.

Garden therapy can bring you mental, physical, and spiritual health.

3 Ways That Gardening Reduces Stress

1. Sunlight. Sunshine is a great health benefit for your body. It’s an excellent source of vitamin D, a nutrient that boosts memory and your mood while relaxing you and lowering your stress. Many of us in the Northern Hemisphere lack adequate amounts of vitamin D and fortunately gardening outside can help with that.
2. Exercise. From pulling weeds to pushing wheelbarrows, gardening can be a great source of exercise. You get a chance to stretch and strengthen your body while getting the fresh oxygen to fill your lungs. This physical activity produces endorphins in your body, which can lower your stress.
3. Connection. Gardening therapy engages your five senses. It’s a form of Eco-therapy and it has a therapeutic impact on your health. Your eyes feast on the colors, shapes, and sizes of the plants and animals in your garden. You get your hands dirty, and connect with the soft earth as you listen to the sounds of the insects and wind. All your hard work will produce sweet-scented flowers and plants. And, depending on the plants you grow, you can also taste all your hard work. All of this can lower your stress and blood pressure as well as boost your mood.

Get Started on Your Garden Therapy Today

Plan ahead this year so you can have a garden this summer. You can plan a large production that takes up significant space in your yard or if you’re new to gardening, consider planting in small containers on your windowsill. Statistics show that 35 percent of U.S. households grow indoor houseplants. Bulbous plants actually make for wonderful container plants. Having the ability to bring the containers indoors during cold snaps can ensure the growing success of the plants for the springtime.