HAVEN Advocates are always looking for ways to have a positive impact on our client’s health and wellbeing. This Spring we are focusing on gardening.
Excerpts from- https://today.tamu.edu/2022/05/18/the-positive-effects-of-gardening-on-mental-health/
The Positive Effects Of Gardening On Mental Health
Experts say working with plants offers a host of psychological and social benefits.
By Paul Schattenberg, Texas A&M AgriLife Communications MAY 18, 2022
Texas A&M AgriLife photo
Getting outdoors and gardening can do more than just provide some physical activity and produce food for the table; it can be beneficial to the mind as well.
Although there are many functional benefits of gardening and the inherent ways in which plants improve the quality of life, Texas A&M AgriLife experts say a particularly important aspect is how plants enhance mental health and a person’s overall outlook.
“As many people already knew and others discovered during the pandemic, plant-related hobbies like gardening offer an opportunity to enjoy nature and give a person a more positive outlook on life,” said Charles Hall, professor and Ellison Chair in International Floriculturein the Department of Horticultural Sciences of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
Hall has done extensive research on how plants and gardening can improve both physical and mental health.
Research by Hall, presented in an article published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture, outlines the numerous psychological benefits of plants and the activity of gardening in a variety of categories. These benefits include:
- Anxiety and stress reduction.
- Attention deficit recovery.
- Decreased depression.
- Enhanced memory retention.
- Improved happiness and life satisfaction.
- Mitigation of PTSD.
- Increased creativity, productivity and attention.
- Reduced effects of dementia.
- Enhanced self-esteem.
Hall said the pandemic was partly responsible for an increased interest in gardening as more people were becoming involved in at-home activities.
He said being in natural settings and engaging in activities like gardening have a positive impact on people’s feelings of vitality and energy.
“Consequently, this has a significant positive effect on a person’s overall mental health,” Hall said.
He also noted that the activities of gardening and plant care help distract the mind and put it into a quieter and more relaxed state
Hall said another psychological benefit of gardening is its ability to bring people together socially, especially in the case of a community garden.
“Neighborhoods with a community garden are often more friendly and inviting,” he said. “And a community garden helps break down certain social barriers in that you will often see people of different backgrounds, ethnicities and economic levels collaborating on them. This sense of community is really the glue that makes a neighborhood special and allows people a chance to really get to know and understand one another.”
Miquela Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist-health, Lubbock, with AgriLife Extension’s Family and Community Health unit, said studies show people at lower economic levels experience greater average net benefits from home gardening compared to medium- and high-income respondents.
“One reason is likely that low-income families often live in food deserts and experience greater food insecurity from limited access to fresh produce,” she said. “Home or community gardening allows them to grow their own nutritious food, which provides some measure of control over their food security and has a positive impact on their physical and mental well-being.”
Smith also noted gardening is one of the ways people can improve their mindfulness as a means of supporting their mental health.
“Gardening is an excellent activity for practicing mindfulness, which is beneficial to overall well-being,” she said. “The ability to use our hands, coupled with being outside, makes it less likely to be distracted by phones or other technology. This helps you focus and distract your mind from those things that would worry you.”
She also reiterated Hall’s point that gardening can also be a family or community activity that promotes togetherness and provides the opportunity for making personal connections.
“This ability to make and sustain personal connections is something that is beneficial to all people, regardless of demographics,” Smith said.
We are excited to plant a vegetable garden at HAVEN. The garden will provide an opportunity to introduce the benefits of gardening to our clients as well as provide fresh vegetables. We also are providing potted herbs. Herbs are the perfect introduction to gardening for newbies or those with limited outdoor space. Would you enjoy a fresh herb for your windowsill or garden? I will be happy to bring one to the first three people that respond to this email!
Happy Spring.
HAVEN advocates are always here to help!
