If gardening can help astronauts stay calm in space, imagine what it can do for people back on earth. As David Hobson, the famous Australian opera singer says, “I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow.”
Gardening means different things to different people. Dace Jeyo, a kindergarten teacher with a passion for gardening says, “Gardening means getting your hands dirty. You should feel comfortable around manure or compost; otherwise gardening is not for you.” Dace is right. A garden needs love and care, like every other living thing on the planet. Nurtured well, a garden can evolve into a “thing of beauty, a joy forever” and a haven of peace.
Even though gardening is considered a hobby, it is more of an investment for our wellbeing. The returns are far more than the investment people make in terms of time and dedication. Gardening not only makes us healthy, but also transforms us into responsible and mindful persons. A study by Dutch researchers shows the moment one steps into a garden, the cortisol level in the brain reduces. As a stress hormone, cortisol reduction means good mood, better immune system, strong heart, and enhanced memory.
Sow a seed and nurture it daily. By the time it blossoms into a plant, you, too, would have grown into a different version of yourself through years of exercise, meditation, and a healthy diet. You will develop a strong mind and body. Researchers from around the world unanimously agree on how gardening can also decrease the risks of Alzheimer’s, stroke, psychosomatic disorders, and increase dexterity and strength, confidence, and cognition abilities. The long list of health benefits comes from a simple fact—gardening involves muscle movements and exposure to Vitamin-D that regularise blood circulation and blood pressure, and manage the secretion of hormones. Result: you will heal faster, have a healthy heart, strong bones, and be less prone to diseases such as diabetes.
Nature is an elixir that can give people a new lease of life. This is why doctors prescribe gardening as an activity to older people and individuals suffering from mental illnesses. For children, learning gardening early on in life can make them responsible and compassionate. Watching bumblebees searching for nectar or worms basking in the moist soil is soothing, but also teaches the importance of life and nature. Gardening, therefore, is the easiest route to get up-close and personal with nature and recreate our bond with it. It also renews our hope that one day, our grey forest will turn green once again.