The Very Real Benefits of Gardening Therapy
As a family business that has been serving the Salt Lake valley for over 130 years, one of the things we are constantly evaluating is what we can do to help our community.
Not only do we want to provide the best products and service for your gardening needs, but also give you all the information you need to succeed and your garden to thrive. Why? Well, one thing we know, which has been forefront in our minds over the last few years, is the very real therapeutic benefit of gardening.
The phrase “Garden Therapy” is one that’s been used for decades for a variety of reasons. Often it was a bit tongue-in-cheek when we bought a few more perennials than we told our spouse we would. However, these past few years has made the THERAPY of gardening a very real part of our daily lives. We now all know from personal experience the benefits of garden therapy.
There are untold benefits from gardening for our mental health. From digging in the dirt, caring for plants, watching them grow, harvesting our own food or maybe even creating beautiful bouquets to enjoy around the house.
Entire programs have been built around the physical and psychological benefits of working in a garden. There are some truly interesting studies being done in the field of horticultural therapy. This article from Psychology today hits the nail on the head. And just this year this article came out exploring research that shows gardening may help reduce cancer risk AND boost mental health.
Though we are not trained therapists, we are trained gardening experts. Within the overall theme of “gardening therapy” are dozens upon dozens of reasons that we’ve found create a sense of peace and wellbeing.
We did a poll recently in our Glover Gardening Group on Facebook to see what people found to be the most beneficial aspects of gardening. Here are the top 4 answers from you our gardening community.
1. Gardening is Your Personal Oasis
Be it English style or traditional Japanese Zen, your garden reflects your own tastes and preferences. Whether you grow at home or in a community garden, your garden is your own. This makes it much more enjoyable to spend time outside in the yard. If you’re new to gardening, we highly recommend working with a landscape designer to give some expert guidance and avoid costly mistakes. Garden design is personal but a landscape architect will work with you to create your dream landscape.
2. Gardening Is Beautiful
From early spring blooms like Crocus or Pansies to late fall blooms like Coneflower or Mums, there is something that will bring color and texture to your garden all season long. Flowers bring a sense of joy with their blossoming. There are other benefits to be had as well – tinctures, cooking, aromatic satchels, or just a bright bouquet on the dining table.
3. Gardening Allows You to Grow Your Own Food
During a regular year it is nice to pick your own tomato or gift a neighbor with some of the extra zucchini you’ve grown by hand. There is something deeply comforting in growing your own veggies, herbs and fruits.
It’s a fun experience, but also a deeply satisfying one. When your first harvest is ready and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor (pun intended) you will not regret the time spent in your garden. Come and visit Glover Nursery to see what veggies and herbs are available and ready to plant now.
4. Gardening is a Good Workout
I don’t know about you but 30 minutes of gardening sounds like a whole lot more fun than 30 minutes at the gym. There is always exercise in the garden. Being in the garden, digging, pulling weeds, and planting all are great forms of exercise. You’ll be working different muscle groups and burning some calories. No, it’s not the same as a Crossfit session, but it’s better than nothing!
A study in the Preventative Medicine Journal reported the results of a meta-analysis of research examining the effects of gardening, including horticultural therapy, on health. They found substantive evidence to suggest that gardening can “improve physical, psychological, and social health, which can, from a long-term perspective, alleviate and prevent various health issues facing today’s society.”
If gardening is something that appeals to you, we are here to help. No matter your experience level, whether you are a novice who has no idea where to get started or an expert that would love something new to bring to your experience, there’s the perfect gardening task for you.
We will keep you updated on everything we have coming in this spring to make this gardening season, the best yet!
We look forward to seeing or speaking with you soon. Happy Therapy!
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