Gardening for the Mind and Spirit

By Mark McNease

One of the things I’ve been proudest of achieving since we moved to our little house in rural New Jersey six years ago is setting up our raised-bed garden. It felt almost like an artwork, but a living one. It’s getting a little worn-down now, but we have at least one more year of a bountiful tomato, squash, zucchini, and (this year) lettuce harvest. I may tear it down and start over next year … or not. I’ll let nature and my own ambition tell me what to do next spring.

Gardening can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be. It can be done in the countryside, suburbia, or even in an apartment! There are so many ways to connect with the healing essence of gardening. We did raised beds because digging up that much earth was too daunting a task, and the ground here isn’t good for it anyway. I’ve seen some amazing gardens around here, and then there’s our humble little patch. If you can garden in any way–vegetables, flowers, upside-down tomatoes–do some research and get into it. It helps calm the spirit, stretch those muscles, feed you deliciously, and give you a sense of accomplishment.

Some benefits of gardening

Gardening can offer physical, emotional, and mental pluses to anyone’s life. Physically, it is a great form of exercise that can improve strength and endurance. It can also help relieve stress and anxiety by providing an opportunity to practice mindfulness, be in nature, and take part in a calming activity.

Gardening also provides people with an outlet for creative expression. It allows us to express ourselves and our personalities through the plants we choose to grow, as well as how we arrange our garden spaces. It can also be a good way to bond with spouses, family members or friends, by gardening together or sharing tips and tricks for a successful harvest.

Growing your own food is another major benefit. Homegrown vegetables are often healthier than store-bought produce because we have control over the quality of soil in which our plants are grown, and can ensure that no harmful chemicals are used. Growing our own food can also help save money, since we don’t need to buy from the store as often.

Gardening can also teach us about ecology and sustainability — two concepts that are becoming increasingly important. We learn about plant biology from observing the different stages of growth, and we gain knowledge about various types of pests and beneficial insects that often inhabit our gardens.

Finally, nothing tastes quite as good as a tomato you grew yourself, or a batch of zucchini bread you baked with your own plants. Dee-licious.