08/09/2021
🌱 Does leave you feeling and ? Do you sometimes have an urge to grab a fist full of soil? Does watering plants give you great, unexplainable ? Your brain might be telling you something. Gardening is actually an effective way of improving your physical and psychological well-being. With all the digging, lifting, pruning, weeding, watering, harvesting, planting, raking, transplanting, and moving, it's clear how gardening can have many physical benefits. But research shows that these benefits can also extend to our minds as well.
🌱 In Japan, there's a growing trend called “forest bathing” where people immerse themselves in the outdoors as a way to refresh, unwind, and boost concentration. Why has this caught on? Because it's effective. Studies have shown that forest bathing forces people to disconnect from distractions and be more mindful of their immediate surroundings. This can also happen while gardening. If you've ever weeded a garden bed, you'll know that it requires a high degree of focus in order to identify unwanted plants. By noticing the smallest details, you're also improving your concentration.
🌱 Another important aspect of gardening is getting your hands dirty and research shows that this can improve your mental wellbeing. Scientists have discovered that the found in soil can improve brain functions while boosting moods. The mycobacterium vaccae found in the soil increases serotonin produced in the brain. By getting your hands dirty, you're also making your happy.
🌱 There's also the sentimental attachment to your garden. Gardening takes effort and because of this, a natural responsibility for the survival of your plants starts to take bloom within you. Sometimes you see them from seed to blossoming shrub. Other times there may be a plant that takes extra tending to. Caring for something other than yourself can be gratifying and purposeful. And as a bonus, the hard work will provide you with tasty little vegetables (who doesn't love free food?)
🌱 So what if you don't have a backyard? This is a tough challenge for many people. If you live in the northern hemisphere, your first step is to find south. If you live in the southern hemisphere, you should find north. These directions provide the most sunlight. Once you've found your ideal spot, look for areas to put planters. Balconies are excellent places for container gardening.
🌱 Gardening is a perfect family activity. Working together in your garden with your children is togetherness time. You build bonds with children and create memories from your experiences in the garden. While your children are learning a lifelong love of growing things, you are learning more about your children—how they think, what they like and dislike and how capable they really are. Your plants can create a beautiful environment, whether they are in a garden, a raised bed or a pot, and you and your children will enjoy every stage of the process
🌱 Another key role that family gardening plays is that you'll teach your children skills that can be passed from one generation to the next. When you make gardening a tradition, it will carry on through many more generations to follow.
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