Community Gardening and Mental Wellbeing
- Community Gardening and Mental Wellbeing -
There are a whole host of benefits when it comes to community gardening. However, one that always seems to ring true is how community gardening has a positive impact on mental wellbeing.
Of course, mental health is super important. Creating safe spaces to support and care for your mental wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others, should always be encouraged. So, with that in mind, here are just some of the ways that community gardening can help mental health.
Learning New Skills
There is so much to learn when it comes to gardening, and so many different routes to go down when it comes to learning new skills.
Whether you want to focus on flower arranging, designing gardens, learning about the history of plant names or want more knowledge on growing food from scratch.
Getting involved in a community garden is a great way to learn new skills that can be used through other areas in life.
Therefore, it helps to give a sense of purpose and a focus, which is incredibly important.
Physical Exercise
Mental and physical wellbeing go hand in hand.
Getting outdoors into fresh air and digging, mowing the lawn, planting and weeding is a great way of getting exercise into your routine.
Of course, this in turn has a positive impact on mental health. Exercising will make you feel good. Meanwhile, you’re being productive with your time and can reap the rewards of your hard work.
Tasks in the garden are also important for keeping up with fine and gross motor skills which is important for children and adults alike.
Socialising
Of course, one of the main things about community gardening is the community itself.
These gardens see people from all walks of life come together with the mutual interest of gardening and caring for the shared space.
Everyone has a shared endeavour.
Therefore, this makes socialising easier and allows people to talk and share stories, tales, hints, and tips.
Consequently, community gardens have had a hand in decreasing loneliness. They encourage people to get out and socialise with others.
Horticultural Therapy
It’s been widely researched and shown that exposure to nature can aid healing and promote recovery.
For example, patient with cardiac issues were shown to have reduced stress, better mood, and better heart rate management after spending time in green spaces.
Increased sunlight will increase your Vitamin D intake through skin absorbtion, which in turn improves your mood and boosts your immune system.
Fresh air and exercise will improve respiratory functions and promote good heart care. Plus, there are lots of different edible plants and herbs that you can grow to help too.
Reduce Stress
Gardening has the ability to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
The time spent engaging with nature reduces anxiety by giving a focus rather than allowing people to focus on the daily stresses of life.
It can also be a great way of channelling emotions and expressing these emotions.
For example, digging, weeding, and pruning can be a healthy way to get these emotions out and feel relief from doing so.
Getting involved in community gardens is a fantastic way of giving your mental health a boost. Not only will you be with like-minded people with a common goal, but you’ll be learning plenty of skills along the way.
What is your favourite thing about community gardening? Let us know in the comments or over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.