Healthier life go do gardening
May 2015
“My house is in the hills above Trujillo. A very simple place. Pinkstones that warm in the sun. A kitchen garden that smells of herbs in the day, jasmine in the evening. Through the gate is a giant poplar. Figs, apples, pears. The soil, Marcus- black. Black like my wife’s hair. Grapes on the south slopes, olives on the north.” this is how General Maximus of the Gladiator played by Russle Crowe explains his house to his frail Emperor.
Everytime I watch this movie these lines make me wonder how beautiful are the houses which have gardens around…the green grass the trees the herbs the shrubs..to be closer to nature.To sow seeds and to see them become a plant is like seeing your own children grow.
Gardening is not a mere hobby, if followed deeply and honestly it affects your life in a many ways…
The benefits
- As we do gardening especially in the morning time,we are exposed to sunlight which is a great source of vitamin D.Which is very beneficial for our blood and bone health.
- Soil is a rich source of microorganisms, good bacteria and minerals.As we dig our hands in the soil we are exposed to them which can be beneficial for our health..more than drinking a probiotic drink and eating fermented food.
- Touching soils releases stress and works as a mood uplifter. Even an activity as simple as looking at a garden uplifts your mood and take your mind away from worries and tensions.It in turn lowers your blood pressure.
- Any one who is growing veggies and fruits must be eating them too,which again is good for health.
- Having a good garden around is healthy for the family members.Walking barefoot in the garden for 20 mins every morning is a proven health booster.
- Any kind of physical activity is good for health,gardening involves mild movements which are good for your body.
- It will be our contribution to a better environment. A tree we plant today will give shade to generations to come.
- A kitchen garden will ensure healthier fruits and vegetables thus benefitting our health and saving us from harmful effects of pesticides.
On a more serious note
An article published in the daily mail by George Gordon, highlights certain very important effects of Gardening. He says that gardening is now being used for calming and helping prisoners too.For eg: New York’s notorious Rikers Island Jail is using horticultural therapy to help prisoners and prepare them for their release.They take part in the prison’s Greenhouse Project, which has changed a neglected site into a small oasis with butterfly and bird gardens, a medieval-style herb garden and a waterfall.
“Horticultural therapists” say gardens produce the most positive effects on mental health.
They do this by providing a sense of control – the psychological counter to stress and anxiety. Gardens are also beneficial for stroke patients, those recovering from physical trauma or people with disabilities.The science is now being used in hospitals and rehabilitation centres in the U.S., where “healing gardens” have been created for patients to look at and walk through.Doctors and nurses are also using the leafy retreats to cope with daily life-and-death crises.”For patients who find themselves restricted by a disability, even the simplest gardening experience – such as growing a potted plant from a cutting – gives them a feeling of control,” said Teresia Hazen, who oversees horticultural therapy programmes in Oregon.
As we see that gardening is not just a hobby any more, but a life changing activity.It must be taken up seriously in todays tiring times. Children must be encouraged to plant trees and also take care of them. Not only our families but also we should try to encourage our neighbors and people in our society to take up gardening.Terrace gardens,Kitchen gardens, Greenhouses etc. are the changing facets of gardening which are very interesting and beneficial. It must be pursued as a recreational activity on a daily basis.