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Gardening:  The Benefits of A Blooming Mind

Gardening:  The Benefits of A Blooming Mind

We are part of a fast-forward world with challenges and diversification that are so rapid that we often forget about our mental health. Do you ever feel stressed by meeting life’s busy demands? Do you ever struggle to find time for yourself? If so, gardening could help. Gardening has the power to calm even the busiest of minds and it’s not as hard as some might think.

For those who start gardening with just a smidge of knowledge, they often fall in love with the activity. Imagine planting flowers and watching them bloom. Imagine the sweet fragrances that brighten your morning, attracting your neighbors as they pass by. Imagine a world full of delicate colors and breathtaking aromas right at your fingertips. Every minute you spend gardening is a moment of healing for you, your soul, and your mind.

Gardening can be a powerful tool that can help you cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges (Howarth et al., 2020). It can also improve your physical health by providing you with moderate exercise during planting season and fresh veggies during reaping. It even has the power to improve overall wellbeing (Chalmin-Pui et al., 2021).

Gardening is also beneficial for communities of color, who may face stress and discrimination. It can help to reclaim our sense of control and ownership over our environment, which can be empowering and healing. It also helps us connect with nature and our cultural roots, which can boost our self-esteem and identity. Honestly, flowers of our gardens often reflect the gardens of our world. 

What do you need to get started? Very little, surprisingly! You can grow plants in pots, containers, and windowsills even if you don’t have a yard. All you need is a little dirt, a seed or a plant, some water and sun, and you’re good to go. You can also find local organizations that offer gardening classes, workshops, or grants for planting gardens. If you are a flower lover, here’s two resources that may be of interest to you:

  1. Black Girls with Gardens.com: A platform that celebrates and supports black women who garden.
  2. The People’s Garden/USDA.gov: A project that aims to create urban gardens in low-income communities of color.

Even if you think you do not have a green thumb, give it a try. You might find the perfect flower that blooms just for you and before you know it, your bouquet has blossomed into something beautiful that you can share with others including yourself.

See Also

#MyJam: Listen to “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee if you want to feel the joy of growing something beautiful.”

Chalmin-Pui, L. S., Griffiths, A., Roe, J., Heaton, T., & Cameron, R. (2021). Why garden?–Attitudes and the perceived health benefits of home gardening. Cities112, 103118.Howarth, M., Brettle, A., Hardman, M., & Maden, M. (2020). What is the evidence for the impact of gardens and gardening on health and well-being: a scoping review and evidence-based logic model to guide healthcare strategy decision making on the use of gardening approaches as a social prescription. BMJ open10(7), e036923.

Shannon Whittington

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