gardening
Nurtured by Nature
words by
kristee semmler // the barossa nursery
Gardening: “The activity of tending and cultivating a garden” – Oxford dictionary.
I think this definition can be enhanced by not only tending and cultivating a garden, but that gardening also encompasses tending to ourselves and our own wellbeing.
The benefits of gardening are great; mentally, physically and financially. Quite simply, in my opinion, gardening makes you feel great!
Gardening for mental health
Our lives these days are so busy and pressured. It can be hard to ‘switch off’. Studies are showing that more people are suffering from depression and anxiety than they did 30 years ago.
Gardening may not be the ‘be all and end all’ to treat these conditions, but it can certainly go a long way in helping to cope and calm our minds.
Tending to and nurturing plants and gardens helps to ‘ground’ us and can bring peace by bringing us back into the present and allowing us to practise mindfulness.
The simple act of gardening is a great stress reliever and can reduce anxiety. Seeing the results of your efforts makes you feel good, feel happier and more positive.
There is a process known as ‘Earthing’ which is essentially the process of connecting to the Earth’s electrical energy – following the theory that connecting to the Earth with your bare skin helps bring the Earth’s free electrons into your body, which can have a positive impact on your health and mood.
It can be as simple as walking barefoot on your lawn, or digging your hands into the soil while planting. In other words, soaking up nature to give yourself a boost!
Gardening for physical health
As well as improving mental health, gardening is a great form of exercise. Squatting to pull out weeds, raking up leaves, pushing a lawn mower, lifting bags of potting mix, lunging to reach an errant weed, digging a hole to plant a plant, pushing a wheelbarrow full of clippings and spreading mulch are all functional exercise movements that can burn some serious calories.
In fact, a rigorous morning in the garden can be equivalent to a workout at the gym!
Exercise stimulates chemicals in the brain (endorphins) that help to leave you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious. Gardening equals exercise, equals positive mental health! And on top of that, you get a great looking garden which you can admire, enjoy and generally just makes you feel good.
Gardening has financial benefits
No doubt we have all experienced rising costs across the board including fresh foods. Growing your own can save you a huge amount of money over the years.
Fruit trees can produce huge amounts of fresh fruit for decades. Vegetable gardens can provide a continuous supply of fresh seasonal vegetables, which help to keep weekly food costs down.
As well as saving money on fresh produce, you are in control of what chemicals and fertilisers go on your produce so you know exactly what your family is eating.
You can pick crops when ripe and at the height of freshness and nutrition, rather than buying fruit and vegetables that have potentially been in cold storage for months while their nutritional value slowly decreases.
Once again, gardening/growing your own is providing even more health benefits. Eating healthily also helps to improve mental and physical health. Gardening is just one continuous win!
The best thing about gardening is that anyone can do it.
We have customers well into their 90s who still love to garden every day.
My own kids started helping me in the garden from toddlers, it has benefits for everyone.
Gardening is advantageous in so many ways – it helps to promote a healthy mind, body and soul and is generally just a feast for your senses.
So next time you’re feeling a bit stressed, anxious or just want to feel uplifted, try getting out in the garden. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
“We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.” Jenny Uglow
Happy Gardening!
Kristee Semmler
THE BAROSSA NURSERY
If you have any good gardening old wive’s tales, feel free to share them by leaving a comment online on the Barossa Mag’s website.
I do love hearing a good tale!
In the meantime, happy gardening!