Reduce Stress
Horticulture can be very therapeutic to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Gardening offers many different healing benefits such as exercise, stress reduction, structured learning, social interaction and leisure activities. Garden-grown food and flowers have much to offer gardeners because of their beauty and tangible rewards.
People with special needs or mental illness greatly benefit from a practice called horticultural therapy. It brings people to a reassuring environment and allows them to get comfortable and interact with nature and the plant world.
Working and weeding in the garden offers gardeners a place to relax and enjoy the serene beauty of the outdoors. The sights and smells of the garden environment is calming and eases your stress by completely engrossing you in the natural world. A garden's positive effects can help lower blood pressure and inspire meditation and reflection.
Studies show gardening may be a good first step towards battling Alzheimer's, since gardening stimulates the mind on a daily basis. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) notes that people who are very mentally active are 47 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Professor Paul Nussbaum of University of Pittsburgh's Medical School asserts that gardening is one of the top three "excellent mental workouts". Not only can gardening help prevent Alzheimer's, but it is also stimulating for those who have already developed the disease.
Raises Self-Esteem
Gardening requires hard work and dedication. The reward for this effort is a great sense of accomplishment and increased self-esteem. Gardening fosters optimism from watching plants grow throughout the season and seeing the fruits of your labor develop into food. The delicious fruits and vegetables harvested give gardeners the opportunity to share them with family, friends and neighbors. A successful growing season provides a great sense of achievement.
Physical Activities and Sensory Stimulation
Gardening provides a variety of exercise for the body. Muscles are developed through digging, lifting and raking. Walking, weeding and mowing can accomplish aerobic activity. Best of all, the focus on gardening tasks makes exercise easy.
Landscapes are a wonderful way to observe nature. The garden landscape helps connect you to the natural rhythms of the seasons and natural cycles. Growing colorful flowers and ornamentals allows for creative expression in decorating and art. Cooking garden produce brings creativity into the kitchen with fun and nutritious meals to share with family and friends.
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