Gardening is creating life from a seed or seedling planted into the earth. It allows you to detach from the hustle and bustle of your busy life and to reconnect to your roots (no pun intended). Gardening allows you to slow down and smell the roses (again with the puns!). It's an act of faith, patience, and nurturing. The act of nurturing is a healing process.That is why I believe gardening is a great hobby for people that suffer from mental illness. Coming to the Growing Home Community Garden (GHCG) is a great way to improve your mood.
Here are some ways coming to the garden can improve your mood:
- Gardening gets you out of the house; it helps you to stop isolating.
Gardening is good exercise and exercise improves your mood.
When you are gardening you are in the sun creating vitamin for your body and vitamin D is also great for your mood, studies have shown that individuals with depression often are vitamin deficient.
Volunteering at the garden on a regular basis gives you something to do and to look forward, which adds structure to your life.
You can take some flowers, herbs, and vegetables home from the garden (yummy).
You can sit and enjoy the garden through your senses it smells and looks great by the herbs and flower beds.
Working with others on a team can be fun and rewarding.
You can socialize in the garden.
You can sit and relax in the garden.
You can do art in the garden.
You can learn new things in the garden.
There is something enjoyable about digging in the dirt. Do you remember making mud pies or building sand castles as a kid?
So, come join us at the garden!
