Why Gardening?
By: Ruben Gallegos
Mental health issues have been part of my life since I was young. During the peaks and valleys of this journey there have been two positive constants in my life: My Parents and Gardening.
I love gardening. But when I was asked to put into words why gardening helps my mental health, and why the San Angelo Clubhouse needs a Gardening Unit, it caused me to pause. My inner-self could probably argue before the Supreme Court that "Gardening is beneficial for mental health and well being.” But for this exercise, we don't need my virtual inner-self, but my real-world self, and a rational and logical presentation.
So I investigated, and below I will happily present, (from a large body of research), a sprinkling of my findings from academia, Social network professionals, Mental Health treatment professionals, and private citizens:
There is increasing awareness among researchers and health practitioners of the potential health benefits derived from gardening activities (Clatworthy et al., 2013, Genter et al., 2015, Wang and MacMillan, 2013). Indeed, previous studies have shown that gardening increases individual's life satisfaction, vigor, psychological wellbeing, positive affects, sense of community, and cognitive function (Gigliotti and Jarrott, 2005, Gonzalez et al., 2010, van den Berg et al., 2010, Wakefield et al., 2007, Wichrowski et al., 2005, Wood et al., 2016). Reductions in stress, anger, fatigue, and depression and anxiety symptoms have also been documented (Rodiek, 2002, Wichrowski et al., 2005, Wilson and Christensen, 2011, Wood et al., 2016). The list could go on, and on.
Acclaimed and beloved neurologist and author, the late Dr. Oliver Sacks, wrote in his essay titled Why We Need Gardens :
"I cannot say exactly how nature exerts its calming and organizing effects on our brains, but I have seen in my patients the restorative and healing powers of nature and gardens, even for those who are deeply disabled neurologically. In many cases, gardens and nature are more powerful than any medication."
Clare Copper Marcus retired Psychology Professor from the University of California at Berkeley, states that "nature and gardening may be so successful at reducing stress because it puts the mind in a state similar to meditation."
Noted author, anxiety suffer, and Psychology Today contributor, Sarah Rayner adds:
“Looking after plants gives us a sense of responsibility. Gardening allows us all to be nurturers. Gardening keeps us connected to other living things. Gardening helps us to relax and let go.”
Irina Wen, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and clinical director of the Steven A. Military Family Clinic at NYU Langone Medical Center, says, "Nature [and gardening], can be beneficial for mental health. It reduces cognitive fatigue and stress and can be helpful with depression and anxiety."
My inner-self agrees! And my real world self can now articulate that the sights, smells, and sounds of the garden can promote relaxation and reduce stress. Gardening can leave a person with an incredible sense of peace and serenity.
San Angelo Clubhouse
For the San Angelo Clubhouse (SACH) I propose the following responsibilities for a new Horticulture Unit. Volunteering members will:
• Grow vegetables chosen by and used by the Culinary Unit in preparation of Clubhouse meals
• Beautify the SACH by growing flowers, and adding lights for growing indoor house plants
• Do all external landscaping needs of the SACH
• Dry flowers and produce paper for homemade SACH greeting cards
With these activities, all members of the San Angelo Clubhouse will enjoy and harvest the healing power of gardening.
Conclusion
So the jury is in: Gardening is beneficial to Mental Health and Well-being! I want to leave you with a fact and a quote from Dr. Oliver Sacks, (who I recently and happily found was a "dear friend of Fountain House"): Dr. Sacks literally “prescribed” gardening as a non-pharmaceutical form of therapy for people with serious mental illness. Dr. Sacks said: "Clearly, nature calls to something very deep in us."
Let's do this!