Gardening has been a big part of my life for a very long time. It's one of a few things that really bring me so much joy, peace, and fulfillment. Gardening has taught me to be patient, to slow down, and to live more intentionally.

I am so passionate about gardening that I want it to become everyone's thing, too!

Because let me tell you friend, once you get dirt under those nails and bite into a juicy, flavorsome homegrown tomato, there is no going back!

Not to mention all the fantastic health benefits of gardening. I have experienced these benefits firsthand!

Keep reading to discover how gardening has enriched our lives and all the health benefits you get from practicing this healthy habit!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDENING

Sure, spending time out in the sun working on your beds can be tiresome at times, but it's also so rewarding and, sometimes, even straight-up fun.

Studies have also shown that gardening is scientifically good for you, from reducing stress and raising self-esteem to helping your heart and brain health and improving your immunity. Gardening is Mother Nature's medicine!

These are some of the amazing benefits you can get from gardening:

1. REDUCE STRESS AND RAISE SELF-ESTEEM

Whenever I feel life is getting a bit too much or I need to clear my mind, I head to the garden. It offers almost immediate relaxation and makes me forget about all that is bothering me at that moment.

Studies have shown that just 30 minutes of gardening can reduce your cortisol levels. Cortisol, or "the stress hormone," has been linked to a multitude of dangerous disorders, from obesity and heart disease to memory and learning problems and immune function.

A Dutch study asked two groups to complete a stressful task, like waiting on hold for customer service or getting on a Zoom call for work.

Afterward, each group took 30 minutes to partake in a leisure activity. One group read a book indoors while the other gardened outside. In the end, not only did the gardening group report better moods, but they also showed measurably lower cortisol levels.

A Kansas State University study also showed that gardening is an excellent activity for older adults. Those who regularly participated in the hobby saw increased hand strength and self-esteem.

Gardening is a good source of exercise, especially for this generation, and can target different muscle groups depending on the task.

However, unlike other forms of physical activity, the hobby is more obviously rewarding and encouraging, as the hard work pays off in the form of a growing, living plant and, often, something edible!

2. HELPS HEART HEALTH

A Stockholm study even found that gardening can prolong life by as much as 30% for people 60 and up. The study also found that those who gardened had a 27% lower risk of heart attack or stroke.

This is not only due to physical exercise but also to exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the human body and is good for bones while also decreasing your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon.

However, most people don't get enough D, especially in winter seasons and colder regions. In fact, it's almost impossible to get enough vitamin D in the winter if you live north of Atlanta! Those with dark skin or older generations are most susceptible to deficiencies, as their bodies naturally produce less of the vitamin.

But absorbing the vitamin from sunlight is a dangerous and delicate balance. Too much can cause sunburn, skin cancer, and melanoma, and too little can increase your risk of other cancers, like colon cancer, due to a vitamin D deficiency.

Doctors recommend 10-15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure to arms, legs, abdomen, and back, ideally between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. As a rule of thumb, if your shadow is longer than your body height, your body can't produce vitamin D. Any more than 15 minutes should be met with strong sun protection of 30-SPF for higher.

Funny story, Jared actually did a little experiment with sun exposure a few years ago on a golf trip, and his findings were quite surprising! Read more about this story here!

3. BETTER BRAIN HEALTH

Gardening requires many critical physical functions, like strength, endurance, dexterity, and mental, problem-solving, and sensory awareness. This synthesis of skills may exercise the body and brain in a way that keeps the mind sharp.

Let me tell you, it takes some critical thinking and decision making, deciding which seeds to order and where to plant what! ;-)

Research has found that daily gardening represents the single biggest risk reduction for dementia. One long-term study found that risk was reduced by 36%, while another found the reduction to be even higher, at around 47%.

4. IMPROVE IMMUNE FUNCTION

The increased vitamin D we take in while working outside in our garden can lower our risk of cancer and heart disease, and fight off colds and flu.

Plus, getting dirty may actually be doing you a favor.

The bacteria in the soil, called Mycobacterium vaccae, can improve your immune function and alleviate symptoms of psoriasis, allergies, and asthma.

Usually, we only take in the bacteria through the inhalation and ingestion of vegetables, but gardening can give us another dose!

5. GARDENING IS GREAT EXERCISE!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers gardening an exercise. And I 100% agree with them!

According to Harvard Medical School, just 30 to 45 minutes spent in the yard can burn up to 200 calories, the same as walking, cycling, or yoga.

Raking, weeding, and trimming are examples of routine gardening tasks that use several muscle groups simultaneously, increasing your level of general fitness.

simple country living

Master the essentials for a healthy garden, including soil health, garden layout, raised beds, choosing your seeds, frost dates, crop rotation, companion planting, compost essentials, and ways to involve the whole family in the garden. This book also offers so much more than gardening tips. You’ll find recipes, tips, and tricks to live a simpler, intentional life, no matter where you live!

get my book here

6. DEPRESSION AND MENTAL HEALTH

Many people who garden talk about the lift they feel from being out in the greenery of their garden. This feeling isn't just a symptom of better vitamin D intake, more physical activity, and fresh air, but has been scientifically proven.

Some of this may be due to the beneficial bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae, which has been shown to help with not only bodily conditions but also the brain, alleviating depression.

In fact, gardening has become so widely accepted as beneficial for brain health that it has begun to be used in therapy. Some therapists have adopted horticultural therapy as a way for patients to cope with issues such as anxiety, depression, dementia, and eating disorders.

Additionally, therapy gardens have been used in treatment plans with people post-surgery and those recovering from strokes to regain mobility.

Gardening helps both to increase happiness and to stimulate thought while being peaceful. Research has found that those who practiced horticultural therapy felt renewed desire, a better sense of self-worth, and decreased anxiety.

Edward O. Wilson created a hypothesis around this idea called BET or biophilia. In it, he describes the idea that humans have it written into their biology to be attracted to other living and vital things like plants, and are subconsciously drawn to seek them out.

7. EATING seasonal & LOCAL PRODUCE

Seasonal and local eating might be my favorite benefit of gardening!

The award for working those long hours in the garden is the ability to walk into your backyard and pick fresh produce straight from the vine.

Not only is this delicious and satisfying, but access to local fruits and vegetables has great benefits for your health.

When we buy produce at the grocery store, it is usually picked before it's ripe to account for the time it takes to deliver it to the store. This process can take days or even weeks.

This means that all supermarket produce is unripe or ripened by human intervention rather than naturally.

Locally grown food has also been proven to have more nutrients, thanks to a shorter waiting period between harvesting and eating. As produce is picked, sorted, handled, shipped, stored, and stocked, it loses nutrients bit by bit every minute.

Friend, as you can see, the benefits of gardening are so much more than just having a pretty garden or growing vegetables. I highly encourage you to give it a go for your overall well-being!

If you don’t have a garden, consider container or vertical gardening. Read more here about vertical gardening if you don’t have much space.

I also have so many garden-related blog posts that will guide you on your gardening journey, from preparing your beds, starting seedlings, to growing different vegetables and flowers, and so much more!

START YOUR GARDENING JOURNEY HERE

Love, Annette xx