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Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. It’s estimated that 40 percent
of households in the United States have a garden.
But gardening is about more than just pretty flowers. It plays a profoundly important role, both environmentally and societally. Keep reading to learn some of the reasons why it is critical.
Helping to Protect Local Wildlife
One of the best ways to get a glimpse at some local wildlife is by planting your garden. They will rely on plants for food. Flowers will allow you to attract pollinators, which will help your plants thrive.
If you want to support these species, it’s best to put natural species into your yard. This is an excellent way to protect against habitat destruction. Use a wide range of species so that you will have plenty of biodiversity.
Saving Money
Many people will grow fruits and vegetables in their home gardens. One of the reasons this is so popular is that it will allow them to save money, as you won’t need to buy these items at the supermarket.
Sometimes, they will be able to use their gardens to make money. You don’t need to be a farmer with acreage to do this. Anyone with some surplus stock will be able to sell them at a local market. Or you can give them away to friends and family.
Reducing Landfill Size
One of the most significant environmental impacts you have is the amount of waste you send to a landfill. When you have a garden, you will use this waste, turning it into compost. From there, you will be able to release the nutrients back into the soil, helping your plants thrive. There are a few types of waste that you will be able to add to the compost heap, these include:
- Kitchen waste
- Green waste, like grass clippings and leaves
- Coffee grounds
- Paper and newspapers
Absorbs Carbon and Releases Oxygen
A thriving garden will be able to help you release your carbon footprint. As plants grow, they absorb carbon from the atmosphere. During the photosynthetic process, they will release oxygen. This makes them an excellent choice to keep indoors, as you’ll always be able to enjoy some fresh air. Plus, you’ll be able to do your part to stop climate change.
No Need to Use Chemicals
When you have a garden, you will have ultimate control over how your food is grown. As a result, you can avoid using harsh chemicals. This is better for your health. It’s also a win for the environment. Sometimes, these chemicals can leach into the local environment, causing widespread damage.
Mental Health Benefits
The benefits of gardening aren’t limited to helping the planet. They can also be a good way of improving your mental health. They can help you focus on something peaceful. This will allow you to reduce stress. By doing this, you will be able to lower your risks of developing anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, there is some evidence that getting into the garden will help you improve your memory. There are even some studies that suggest that it might be an effective way of dealing with dementia.
Some of the other ways that gardening might be able to help you improve your mental health include:
- Improving your mood
- Lower fatigue levels
- Can provide a form of mental escapism
Is Gardening Therapeutic?
Gardening can also be an excellent way to overcome some more severe issues. For example, it is commonly used as a form of therapy. It can be a good way of calming, helping people who have just gone through a stressful experience.
It might also be helpful for addicts who are on the road to recovery. According to some studies, it might be a better outlet for these people than art. It can produce positive emotions, starting the road to self-forgiveness.
Helping People With Disabilities
Gardening is something that people of all backgrounds will be able to participate in. This can make it a great way for people with disabilities to connect, which can sometimes be challenging. Plus, it can help during the recovery process, which can sometimes be very painful.
Lower Stress Levels
As we mentioned, gardening can be a good way to lower your stress levels. This is about more than just improving your mental health. It has also been linked to an improvement in your physical health. Some of the benefits you can expect:
- Lowered risk of heart attacks
- Lower blood pressure
- It might aid in weight loss
- Can boost your immune system
- Better sleep
Teaches Important Life Skills to Children
Gardening can be a good way for parents to spark meaningful discussions with their children. For example, you will be able to teach them about responsibility. If they don’t water the plant properly, it will start to wilt. It also shows them the value of hard work.
It will also be a good way of forming a bond with them. Gardening is something that both children and adults will be able to enjoy. This can help bridge the generational gap, allowing them to get connected with their grandparents.
Plus, gardening can be a good way of boosting your child’s confidence levels. They will get a great sense of accomplishment from tending the garden, seeing a plant they raised grow into maturity. Even better, they will be able to eat the fruits of their labors or share them with their friends.
Boosting Vitamin D Production
Spending some time outdoors is one of the best ways to increase the amount of Vitamin D your body is producing. There are dozens of reasons why this is so important. Some of the biggest benefits will include:
- Strengthening your bones
- Boosting your immune system to protect yourself against disease
- Lowering the risk of type two diabetes
- Lessening the chances of developing dementia.
However, it’s still important to take some precautions when working in the garden. You don’t want to end up with melanomas or other cancers which can come from excessive UV radiation.
Can Build a Sense of Community
A garden can be a great way to help build the community. You can start a community garden on a shared block of land. Then, everyone can come together, working in the garden together. This is a great way for you to meet new people.
These gardens can also give your community a chance to reduce their environmental impact. Anyone can dispose of their kitchen waste in one of these gardens. The more trash you gather, the more compost you will be able to produce.
Way of Boosting Activity in Old Age
As you are getting older, it’s essential to make sure that you are staying active. This will allow you to take care of your body, preventing severe disease. Gardening is a low-impact activity. Because of this, it will be suitable for people of all ages and abilities.
There are plenty of ways that you can modify your approach to suit your condition. For example, if you have bad knees, there is no need to kneel. Instead, you will be able to sit down while you are tending to the garden. Or you can get a raised garden bed.
Final Thoughts
Gardening is more than just a good hobby. It is a vitally important activity. It is good for the individual, helping both their body and mind. It can also be good for the community. Gardening will allow you to connect with other people and improve the lives of the elderly and disabled. Finally, gardening is essential for the planet. Growing trees will sequester carbon and provide an abundant supply of oxygen.