We gardeners know the pleasure of getting outside: the musky brown scent of soil, the fragrant green of plants, the wind on our cheeks, and crumbly earth beneath our well-worn garden gloves. Worries take a back seat as we trim wayward tendrils, move pots to catch (or avoid!) the sun, and curse those missing scissors yet again! Then we pause for birds singing through the leaves or Douglas squirrels chirping in the treetops, with an ear still alert for the local bear snuffling out of the trees. We praise thriving plants and apologize to those we neglected. Life seems good, even while we battle bugs chewing our favourite vegetables and deal with those black slugs… well, I know what I do with them!

Let’s appreciate gardening’s benefits and invite those preoccupied with paperwork or screens to discover its pleasures. Studies comparing non-gardeners with people who gardened once or twice a week found lower perceived stress and higher mental well-being among the gardeners. Enjoyment matters too: the gardener needs to see the activity as a hobby, or at least as something satisfying, but not as another obligation.

Gardening is such a wonderful way to connect with nature. Reach into the soil and see how each handful reveals an intricate tiny world, alive with a complex multitude of interacting agents. All senses come alive, and while the mind thinks and plans for next year, the heart stays rooted in the task at hand. Meanwhile, absorbing sunshine’s vitamin D is so important for our bone health.

Gardening is widely acknowledged as an effective way to relieve stress. Anxieties decrease and depression lessens, which lowers high blood pressure. When you plant a seed or seedling and watch it grow, you know you have succeeded in making a difference. It’s a win for self-esteem! As gardeners, we know that not every “experiment” succeeds, so each disaster becomes a mental exercise in persistence. The plant died. It’s not a world-shaking event. It’s a setback, not a defeat, so let’s see what I can try next year! Gardening is a mental exercise in persistence!

Gardening is great exercise. It’s “forest bathing” on steroids! There is so much walking, stretching, bending, twisting, lifting, and sustained exertion that forces us out of inactivity. All those muscle groups are being worked, aerobic activity is happening, and your heart gets some needed cardio! Going to the gym needs dedication, but when the garden is calling for the next project, it gives you a cheerful purpose. Many of us have arthritis issues, so working with our hands, with consideration for specific issues, can be very useful. Chronic pain and stiff joints appreciate some attempt at regular movement. Do remember, however, that we all need to be realistic about our increasing age and reduction in capabilities, or the next day may be “on the sofa” with Tylenol/Advil! “You can do it” needs to be tailored down to what you REALLY can do!

Gardening has some surprising benefits, like better sleep (guess we are more tired when exhausted! Lol!) and the release of serotonin coming from strains of bacteria in the dirt! Mental awareness, by keeping track of the what-where-why-when-how of planting keeps those mental activities sharp! Yes, a written planner may be needed, but that’s Sudoku and Word Search exercises translated into garden chores!

Gardening can also be for a sense of community.  Whether you garden with, or for, your family, if you reach out to other gardeners for advice, join a garden club, or just check online to see what other gardeners are doing, you are part of a community of gardeners!  We all want to help each other succeed and we all want to share those successes and failures. That can make gardening is a joyful, shared experience as well. Enjoy the solitude but get social too!

Now, as a surprise to me, I found that there is something called “digital gardening”! In a world of high-rises, where so few young families can afford a house with a garden, the idea caught my attention. Physical limitations and cognitive barriers also make access an important part of this discussion. This notion intrigued me, and I came across two different approaches to the topic. They share a name, but not a purpose: one uses gardening as a metaphor for developing ideas online, while the other brings technology into garden-related experiences.   Illustration by Esma Melike Sezer on Unsplash

In one view, a “digital garden” is a collection of notes, ideas, and knowledge on a website or online space. The garden is a metaphor, not a place for growing plants, but the essence of gardening is its backbone: notes are seedlings, developing ideas put out buds, and mature ideas are evergreens. Diversity and personal preference are mainstays, and the garden keeps growing. Unlike a “blog”, or web log, its writings are organized by themes rather than by date, so old information is just as relevant as new posts. The term was coined by Mike Caulfied in 2015 and further developed by Maggie Appleton in 2020. What heady thoughts and amazing extrapolations are down this “rabbit hole”! No plants here, but the metaphor keeps growing with gardens as inspiration!

The other view of a “digital garden” involves garden-related experiences supported by technology. That’s an unexpected “branch”! One study explained four different types, citing positive results with all. First, media digital gardens use videos or displays, such as gardens featured on YouTube, with a focus on mindfulness and meditation. Second, nature-based therapeutic digital gardens enhance a park or natural space through video, lighting, sound, and other sensory stimuli. Third, app-based digital therapeutic gardens use IoT (Internet of Things I had to look this up!) “Smart home” devices to collect data about both the growing space, including humidity, soil temperature, and watering schedules, and the client, including heart rate and daily mood ratings. This approach was described as particularly well suited to the health of aging adults, with evidence of improving cognitive functions. Fourth, “Smart Gardens”, described as the newest invention, use modular indoor planting units with automatic lighting and irrigation, alongside options for meditation and patient care. The reported benefits suggest possibilities for people with serious physical or mental concerns, rather than a guaranteed benefit for everyone.

Illustration by Salman Ahmad on Unsplash

Whew! This nice little topic has deep roots! Hahaha!

Bottom line… GARDENING IS GOOD FOR YOU!