The benefits of gardening were far from my mind when I first planted flowers, rose bushes and veggies. I fondly remember my grandparents’ small garden in the postage-sized backyard of their duplex in Bayside Queens.
They had a snowball bush that I recall as being huge and two fruit trees that seemed to produce different fruit each year – pears or apples. Even as a 5-year-old, this didn’t make sense. I intensely questioned my grandfather about how apples and pears could come from the same trees. I understand now that this was Grandpa magic as much of his activities were.
My grandfather and I planted carrots and marigold seeds. It was always thrilling when it was time to pull up the thin little carrots and bring the marigolds to a jelly-jar vase.
I tried to recreate that magical feeling decades later with my nephew and niece. They were having none of it and preferred swinging on their playset instead. But I still remember the day when I planted the seeds in the 2-foot by 3-foot bed on the side of their house, and turned my head to see my 5-year-old nephew pushing my 3-year-old niece on the swing. As they say, a moment of Zen.
Although a huge benefit, gardening is more than just memories and connections to people, places, and the past. Since I started my gardening journey just 5 short years ago, I found multiple benefits that gardening brings to my life and can bring to yours as well.
Physical Benefits of Gardening
Exercise is not my passion. I have a genetic dislike of most physical movements. I blame this on being a city girl at heart, but I just despise how I feel when exercising.
Gardening provides the benefit of physical movement but for a greater purpose. Lugging bags of soil amendments, digging and removing tree roots, and building raised garden beds give me the physical movement that everyone needs. I’m distracted because I’m creating my oasis.
Before I know it, my Apple watch exercise ring is 100% for the day.
Also, gardening gets you outside. The benefits of getting outside are numerous. Being in the sun promises the benefit of your skin making vitamin D. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “vitamin D plays a role in your nervous system, musculoskeletal system and immune system.” Additionally, the Cleveland Clinic reports that approximately 35% of adults in the US have vitamin D deficiency.
Mental Health Benefits of Gardening
For me, the mental health benefits of gardening are even more powerful than the physical benefits.
Being in nature has been linked to better health, wellbeing and reduction in stress. Gardening provides ongoing access to being with nature. Whether you put your hands in the soil or just gaze out over your garden, the benefits of gardening for your mental health can’t be overstated.
I probably spend half my time ‘gardening’ by looking out over my back forty (more like back ¼ acre). While sitting in my comfy chair, I imagine what certain plants will look like when I complete sections of the garden.
Even though my house is located just 2 blocks away from a busy road, it is quiet, especially in the morning. When the air condition units and leaf blowers are silent, I do get a sense of nature and calm. Even though I see my neighbors’ houses, yards and occasionally my neighbors in this ¼ acre-lot neighborhood, I still am at peace.
I probably spend half my time ‘gardening’ by looking out over my back forty (more like back ¼ acre). While sitting in my comfy chair, I imagine what certain plants will look like when I complete sections of the garden.
Even though my house is located just 2 blocks away from a busy road, it is quiet, especially in the morning. When the air condition units and leaf blowers are silent, I do get a sense of nature and calm. Even though I see my neighbors’ houses, yards and occasionally my neighbors in this ¼ acre-lot neighborhood, I still am at peace.
Benefit of Gardening: Patience
Gardening teaches patience, which is a great lesson or practice given the chaos associated with day-to-day life. Actually, gardening requires patience. You must wait to see your seeds sprout, buds bloom and vegetables ripen. In some cases, the wait is over in just a few weeks and other times it can be years before you see the full effect of your gardening effort.
For many perennials (plants that return each year), the old gardening adage – Sleep, Creep, Leap – is true. In year one you might not see any additional growth than when you planted the perennial. Year two there is just slight growth. After waiting until year 3 you will be awarded with the sight of a mature plant. That’s a lot of patience.
Sometimes it is the journey that counts the most.
Benefit of Gardening: Accomplishment
Gardening provides a sense of accomplishment. If you get a thrill from having a vision and seeing it come to fruition then gardening is for you. When the flowers you planted from seed germinate and you see their little green leaves and stems poking out of the soil, I am so excited. I’m amazed that I got something to grow. Not every seed you plant will grow which is why there is such joy when things work out right.
Benefit of Gardening: Gratitude
This leads to one of the best benefits of gardening which is gratitude. Even though not everything works out in my garden, I’m grateful for the time to garden. I’m grateful for the beauty that the flowers, birds and butterflies bring to my backyard. I’m grateful for the extra vegetables and fruit I can share with my family and friends. I’m grateful for the hope of what my garden will look like next week, next month and next year.
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Gardening is such a gift. Thanks for this piece on the benefits. I’m going to share it with my Master Gardener friends.
And, I’d like to share a piece I wrote last year on the benefits of Plants in the Office: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lexymartin_master-gardener-plants-in-the-office-enable-activity-7076278268739424256-L6qf/
Thanks for your comment Lexy. Just read your article about Plants in the Office. Very interesting and something that makes sense, but hadn’t occurred to me. An office plant allowance should be the next employee benefit!
That’s a brilliant idea to have an allowance. There’s a ton of research on the benefits of plants as you likely know. I’m a researcher:) I found this piece when I researched that Plants in the Office piece: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=50814