Have you ever gone out to pull weeds in your garden and wondered why this garden even mattered? Well then you are not alone. Hundreds of people who grow their own gardens wonder what the benefits may be other than growing their own vegetables. Well that is what I am here to tell you about today.
First, gardening is good for your health. Being outside can increase your intake of vitamin D, while weight-bearing exercise is great for bones and the heart. One study even found that working in a garden can reduce your risk of dementia!
Gardening is also great because you never have to stop. You can continue to garden well into your older years, although you may have to make a few modifications. Building raised beds can make it easier to garden.
Gardening can also improve your mood. A recent study found that a bacteria commonly found in soil can increase your serotonin levels. Many people have also said they feel less stressed after weeding or harvesting their garden.
Not only can gardens help you, but they can help the environment as well. As more wild areas are disrupted, gardens become even more important for water to be filtered. Recently, a study done by the Smithsonian Institution found the importance of native plants and gardens particularly in maintaining the health of birds, bees, and other insects.
Gardens are important for kids. Often, when children are given a chance to grow their own food, they feel accomplished. They love to share the food with others, and teach them about gardens as well. Gardening is also a great way for relationships to develop between parent and child, grandparents and grandchildren, or even siblings and siblings.
Gardens are great for building community. Gardens can inspire conversations and help build connections between neighbors. Community gardens are also a great idea because they build community and gardeners. Community gardens are also a great way to provide food for needy people in the community.
About food, it tastes so much better when it’s freshly grown from a garden. When deciding what fruits and veggies you want to grow in your garden, you should consider planting the ones you really like. For more ideas, check out the dirty dozen list, as well as the clean 15 list.
Gardening can connect you to nature. As humans, we need to have a connection with nature for our bodies and our minds. Gardening can help you feel at peace as well.
Growing a garden is going to improve your life in ways you can’t even understand. And just imagine all the great food! And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love being out in nature?
– by Madi White (15) Escalante
Feature image caption: Gardening is not only nutritional, but healthy for your mind and soul. Courtesy USU extension Panguitch.
Madi White – Escalante
Madi White is one of our junior journalists from Escalante who wrote for us for a little while. She has written about sunny gardening, misunderstood Disney villains, Christian Easter celebrations and small-town healthcare.