Have you ever wondered how gardening can change your life, inside and out? Whether you’re looking to improve your health, connect with nature, or simply grow your own food, gardening offers endless rewards.
Gardening is an amazing way to get outdoors and really make an impact on your local community, and environment as well as your mental and physical health.
So, let’s dive into some of the amazing benefits gardening offers.
Looking to boost your mental and physical health? Gardening is the perfect way to start.
Physically gardening is generally a low-impact form of exercise but can of course be taken up a notch here and there around busier times of the year. Sowing seeds, planting bulbs, and harvesting all that delicious fresh food are all examples of when this low-impact exercise could become a bit more intense.
Mentally however, gardening can give the person a sense of purpose and mental clarity. Getting outdoors if you can can make a world of difference to your mental health, it might not seem like it right now in the depths of winter but just think soon enough it’ll be spring and then summer and all those yummy strawberries will need someone to eat them. Gardening isn’t just about tending to plants—it’s about taking a break from the digital world and focusing on something simple and rewarding.
Do you want to improve your nutrition and the nutrition of your nearest and dearest?
Gardening is an amazing way to learn where your food comes from and provides a sense of pride in many people. Some people garden to grow flowers and other plants but some people garden to grow good old fashioned fruits and veg. Knowing where your produce has come from and being able to ensure its organic and fresh is a truly memorable experience and skill. In turn eating some if not all of the produce you grow will allow you to truly “eat the rainbow” and explore so many new recipes and ideas. But of course you don’t have to eat everything fresh off the vine, jams, chutneys and pickled goods are also a great way to use and extend the life of your fruits and vegetables. Start small with easy-to-grow veggies like tomatoes, herbs, or lettuce, and you’ll soon have a harvest to be proud of! So whether you’re just looking to improve on your five a day or even your gut microbiome, growing what you can when you can can make all the difference.
Did you know gardening can make a big impact on your local ecosystem and community?
From better air quality to reducing your carbon footprint, gardening is an amazing way to be active in the fight against climate change. With you bees and butterflies can flourish and so will your local community. Sharing your produce when you have excess also allows more people to eat locally and reduces the need to buy produce from overseas. Not only are you helping the planet, but you’re creating a little sanctuary for local wildlife—and that can be as rewarding as harvesting your own food.
Okehampton Community Garden 