Planting De-Stressors

Google ways to relieve stress and two of the top answers are exercise and healthy diet.

Gardening can give you both and a whole lot more. Let’s dig into the whys and hows of stress relief through gardening:

Exercise

The first step to a successful garden is soil preparation, and to do it right, you not only have to get rid of weeds, but you often must amend the soil by adding compost, manure and more. And after you do all that heavy lifting, these amendments need to be worked into the soil to prepare it for planting.

But that’s just the beginning. Planting both seeds and transplants requires bending over and stretching the spine. So does weeding — which if you’re weeding with a hoe is a quick cardio workout. Mulch can alleviate some of the need for weeding, so there’s more heavy lifting. Harvesting your fruit and vegetables also requires bending over and — hopefully! — heavy lifting as you bring your bounty of produce into your home.

In short, gardening is a full body workout!

Benefits of Being Outside

Gardening is a way to connect with nature, something that is linked to less depression, fatigue and anxiety, according to the American Heart Association. In 2020, Cornell University announced research results from a larger study of nature therapy that showed it can take as little as 10 minutes outdoors for people to feel happier and lessen physical and emotional stress.

Spending time outdoors is healthy in another way with vitamin D exposure from sunlight. Vitamin D aids bone growth and strength, bolsters the immune system, reduces the risk of cancer and leads to a healthy heart and lungs. The National Library of Medicine said sunlight is “unarguably the most optimal way to obtain vitamin D plus numerous other benefits.” The study goes on to say that it’s optimal to have sun exposure without sunscreen for vitamin D synthesis five to 30 minutes most days, but it is prudent to not exceed 30 minutes without sun protection.

Sense of Accomplishment

It is extremely gratifying to plant a seed, tend to it, watch it grow and then harvest its produce. Celebrating your success leads to feelings of self-worth, a more positive attitude and improved self-care. And because gardening is not an overnight event, it also helps you master patience as you watch your plants (slowly) thrive.

Connection

Gardening is prime for family time. Have the kids help you plant, water and harvest. Have too many tomatoes? Offer them up to friends and neighbors — they’ll be forever grateful. Connect with fellow gardeners online, through clubs and classes or at special events.

A Healthier Diet

Gardening puts more fruit and vegetables on your plate as you use up your harvest. An overabundance of a particular fruit or vegetable might encourage you to get creative with new recipes, canning or pickling. And because just-picked anything often tastes better than grocery store fare, you might find picky eaters a little less so when it comes to what you’re putting on their plate.

Do you think you have to live in the country to have a garden? Not so! Pick a sunny spot in your backyard for a raised garden or till up a small patch of yard—even small gardens can yield a considerable amount of food. Container gardening is another option for those with limited space.

At Jubilee, we see the numerous benefits of gardening. That's why community gardens are part of our amenity designs, and we plan to add them as an Exploration Zone in the near future!

Learn More About Future Amenities