Human health and the state of our planet are connected. To be healthy you need clean air, water, and soil. For the environment to be in such good shape, you need to be in good health to help it heal from centuries of abuse. Elevate your gardening routine with the right attire. Explore our selection of Garden Clothes—perfect for a comfortable and stylish outdoor experience.
One of the activities that can improve both is gardening. If every human being on the planet planted one tree, it would eliminate a lot of carbon emissions from the atmosphere, believes climate activist Greta Thunberg. She has a good point, considering that trees use carbon for photosynthesis and release oxygen into the air. Moreover, they barely cost anything and can pretty much take care of themselves.
Imagine how much good gardening can do for you and the environment if planting only one tree can turn into something this big. So, let’s discuss ways gardening can improve health and benefit the environment, both at once or one at a time.
1. It’s a workout
Gardening can burn as much as 330 calories in an hour, based on CDC. Today, when one of the biggest health problems in the world is obesity, this is a good way to maintain or lose weight. Basically, the more work you do in your garden, you may burn more calories.
Also, it can lower the body mass index or BMI that is directly connected to being overweight or obese. While according to a 2013 study, men lost more in BMI than women, the results are still an important indicator that gardening can help you control your weight.
2. It can relieve you of stress
If you want to take control over your stress, a Dutch study suggests you do gardening. The study included two groups of participants, both exposed to the same stressor. Afterward, one group was instructed to read quietly and the other to garden. The tests showed that the group doing gardening had lower levels of stress hormone — cortisol than the other group.
Gardening helps you stay in the present and calm down by doing various tasks, like planting and digging. This is a great way to take your mind off the things that bring you stress and even come up with solutions on how to resolve the troublesome issues.
3. It can improve your diet
Growing your own food allows you to control what kind of ingredients you use. If you follow organic farming, you will eat chemical-free produce and also be kind to the environment.
In addition, you will pay more attention to your diet by including more vegetables, fruits, and herbs into the meals. This means more vitamins and minerals, as well as fewer bad habits, such as eating processed food and trans fats. The more people do this, there will be less demand for products cultivated by practices that harm the environment, like mono cropping.
4. It brightens up your mood
If you suffer from anxiety or depression, gardening should be part of your therapy. Tending to your garden increases serotonin and dopamine levels in your body making you feel happier and satisfied. However, using glyphosate-based herbicides is bad both for your mood and the environment.
Even if you wear products made from plants sprayed with glyphosate, such as cotton, you can feel the bad effect on your mood. Besides lowering dopamine and serotonin, this chemical affects wildlife on the cellular level. Some scientists believe that it is responsible for disrupting gut bacteria in many animals, like bees.
5. It’s good for your heart
A Swedish study found that gardening can reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack since it is a form of moderate exercise. This is because it offers an appropriate amount of physical activity and stress relief, both effects are known to improve heart health. Moreover, using homemade pesticides may lower the risk of heart disease, as well as keep the environment clean.
6. It’s beneficial for the brain
Based on a 2019 Korean study, 20 minutes of active gardening can stimulate nerve growth that may improve memory. This means that people who suffer from dementia may experience improvement after gardening.
Greencare programs in Norway and Netherlands are based on horticultural therapy where dementia patients work in the gardens for several hours during the day. Social interaction and cognitive function during gardening may allow people who suffer from memory problems to relax, stay active, and improve their quality of life.
7. It teaches you to reuse waste
You probably heard of composting as a good way to give your plants the nutrients they need to grow. But this is also a sustainable practice that will help you recycle your food and natural waste instead of throwing it away.
Put used tea bags, coffee grounds, banana peels, grass clippings, dead foliage, and other suitable waste into the composting bin. Since it takes three to nine months to produce compost, you should start making it in time for the fall preparation of the soil. Thanks to composting, you may turn into a zero-waste household.
8. It reminds you to conserve water
A garden needs water or your plants would wither and die. However, even though Earth has more water than land, we can use only 1% of it. This is why water is a precious resource that needs conservation and careful use, especially during drought seasons. One of the ways to do that is through rainwater harvest from the roof into the barrels.
Also, install a sweeper hose which is designed to sip water into the soil and reduce wastage. Placing a timer on your irrigation system will make sure you only spend the amounts your plants need, as well as not to forget to water them.
9. It helps lower carbon levels
Plants need carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to perform photosynthesis. As a result of this process, they release oxygen into the atmosphere. So, the more plants we have on the planet, the better are our chances to eliminate these harmful amounts of carbon from the air and stop global warming.
This also means you will have more fresh air on your property, especially if you plant trees. Maple, spruce, and Douglas fir give the most oxygen, but you won’t make mistakes by planting oak or aspen.
The bottom line
There is a strong connection between your health and the health of the entire planet. If air is polluted, waters contaminated, and soil barren, humans may be next in line for extinction. Gardening may not be the only way to improve health and benefit the environment, but it’s a good start to make a difference.
About The Author
Nina Simons is a lifestyle blogger and an avid traveler passionate about interior design and creative DIY projects.