Benefits of Gardening
People garden indoors and out, in different weather and climes and with different intensities and goals. Research consistently shows that gardening has a positive effect on mental health and well-being. And emerging research suggests that gardening may also be a way into healthy behavioral changes writ large.
(Excerpt from Why gardening can grow your mental well-being and cultivate friends)
Participation question
What kind of benefits do you experience when you do home gardening or visit Open Gardens or work in the yard?
In what way does nature in general impact your emotional well-being?
Helpful Videos:
How GARDENING Can Improve Your PHYSICAL & MENTAL Wellness
Helpful Resources:
Growing Vegetables in a Small Space
How to garden without a garden
Seeking Help
Mental stress can cause us not to be able to see the good things in life and lead to excessive rumination or worries which can result in serious health problems. If you have serious, long-term problems with negative thinking and feeling depressed, see your doctor or talk to a therapist if they are related to any mental challenges.
Are you looking for a therapist? 7 Cups has online, certified therapists with a paid option. For more information on what happens in online therapy at 7 Cups, Read Lisa’s (a therapist and director of therapy) explanation
https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/General_2432/WeveLaunchedTalkTherapyon7Cups_319430/
To apply for 7 Cups online therapy, click on this link https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/?ob=1
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@amiablePeace77
i do not garden but iif i did it would help my mood
@alysianna
I find dealing with plants is relaxing in general. Do you have houseplants or is there a nearby park or nice walking area to visit?
@amiablePeace77
yes my brother has a grass house plant from school and there is a playground that has a garden(costs mony i think to get a slot) and a walking path but dad gets mad at haveig to take us anywher. i may get to help with my other grandparents garden this summer as i am staing with them at some point this summer but i will hopefuly be swimming in the ake they live on
@alysianna
I can already "see" you in the garden with your granny explaining you about all the plants and how to grow them 😀. I hope this will be a wonderful summer holiday for you and that you can swim as much as you want in the lake!
@amiablePeace77 I love nature! And gardening. Just started putting ours in here. The potatoes are growing already and some sugar peas. Plus flowers! The iris are blooming and then the lilies will start soon. Gardening is relaxing and helps keep me grounded. Plus it's nice to see the results of the hard work that's put into it when you harvest the vegetables :)
@mytwistedsoul
Sounds lovely sugar peas, potatoes and flowers too! I tried to grow sugar peas a few times however with very little result but eating them fresh was amazing!
@amiablePeace77 They can be tricky for some reason. I usually end up eating them while I'm picking them lol
@mytwistedsoul
smiles - sounds familiar with the few I had 😀
@amiablePeace77
What kind of benefits do you experience when you do home gardening or visit Open Gardens or work in the yard?
In what way does nature in general impact your emotional well-being?
I do not garden indoors because the temperature in the house is not stable and usually on the cold side. Bouquets only
Outside on the terrace, I have mostly aromatic plants, and am particularly watching mizuna and Shiso (also called parilla), because those are tastes I have from Japan. I am constantly going for coriander as well because it is not sold in my area. Then in our veggie patch, I go for peppers, tomatoes, peas and beans, particularly the Soja bean. I am usually followed by a robin or two because they know insects are going to be disturbed and they can hunt them.
I moved back to this family home because of the area - hilly, woodsy and hyper-rural, and while I miss some of the big cities conveniences, I am always happy to look out my windows or step outside. I can visit farmers and volunteer some help with animals, while my dog plays out there with their dogs.
@Fradiga
It sounds so idyllic how you describe where you live. Lovely that you can grow some of the things you can't get locally to get the tastes in your meals you loved so much in Japan.
I used to grow mizuna too but had to find out that the slugs and snails loved it even more than I did! 😀
Glad you know the taste of mizuna! I grow it on the terrace so I can watch out for those critters!
@Fradiga
Growing them on the terrace is actually a good idea, never thought about it so I will try. 🙏
@amiablePeace77
I am sure that if you look online, there are other deterrents that are described. I should look it up myself
@amiablePeace77
I have indoor plants, succulents and orchids, and I have some outdoor pots with flowers. This year, for the first time in many years, I have tomato plants. 😊
I get an emotional boost when I see my plants blooming. I also take pride in how my house looks. I don’t enjoy working outside in the garden, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Lol
@yzzil
It's amazing to see the plants growing and blooming knowing they might give you some nice food like tomatoes! I wish you good luck with them!
@amiablePeace77
I have a balcony and : tomatoes, paprika, grapes, potatoes, rosmarin, and some flowers. I really like to see every day how they grow. I am very generous when it comes to watering them so they don't always like that 😃
@kala
Your balcony must be so beautiful kala but remember plants love enough water but they are not the best swimmers! 😀
Yes 😃😃😃😃
@amiablePeace77 I don't do gardening. I'm rubbish with plants, I'd probably kill off a fake plant😂😂😂 but being out in the garden and seeing nature, really brings me a lot of joy and peace ❤❤
@Tinywhisper11
Nice that being out in the garden helps you to feel well tinywhisper. Are you already going to your special tree in the garden to read or is it still too cold?
@amiablePeace77 I have been able to sit outside and watch the sunrise for a few weeks now ❤❤ I love summer ❤ I've been painting outside this week😁
@Tinywhisper11
Awesome! What did you paint?
@amiablePeace77 I'm doing a huge painting for one of my carers. Her daughter is turning 19 soon and she wanted to give her a sentimental gift of a painting with all different cartoon characters she was brought up on😁 ❤
@Tinywhisper11
That's a very special gift! You must be a great artist too!
@amiablePeace77
What kind of benefits do you experience when you do home gardening or visit Open Gardens or work in the yard?
I find gardening grounding as it is one way in which my brain doesn't over think about stuff and stays still. It is a very good stress reliever. It is also quite rewarding watching things grow or admiring the flowers. Apparently listening to bird sounds is also meant to be good for your well-being also.
In what way does nature in general impact your emotional well-being?
I find being in nature relaxing and is positive for your well-being physically and emotionally.
@Harmony8682
Nice that connecting with nature helps you to relax! I find nature can take all our attention which is great for preventing overthinking, glad you experience that as well!
@amiablePeace77
What kind of benefits do you experience when you do home gardening or visit Open Gardens or work in the yard?
In what way does nature in general impact your emotional well-being?
A few years ago, I started growing indoor plants. I feel like I've accomplished something when my plants are growing well- producing leaves and flowers. They make me smile to see how much they grow. They also take my mind away from the thoughts that overshadow me, at least for a short while. Working in the yard helps me also to focus on something else other that myself and my worries.
Nature for me is a place for me to relax and recharge. Being around trees and water helps to calm my mind and forget my worries for a while. Smelling the pine needles, listening to the wind through the leaves, watching the sparkle of light on flowing water, feeling sand between your toes, etc. Desert, Mountains, Forest, Beach - Nature is a haven from the world.
@NotAllHere713
Nice that you found your own haven in nature in a busy world!