Gardening is insanely good for you. Here’s why:  

For those of us seeking to enhance our health and vitality, cultivating a garden can offer profound benefits that resonate far beyond the blooms and harvests. Gardening isn’t merely a hobby; it’s a therapeutic endeavor with scientifically proven advantages. If you’ve heard of going to the gym for your health, allow me to introduce gardening into your repertoire.

Physical Fitness: Engaging in gardening activities such as digging, planting, and weeding provides moderate-intensity exercise, contributing to improved cardiovascular health and muscle tone [1].

Stress Reduction: Spending time in natural environments, like gardens, has been linked to reduced levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, promoting a calmer state of mind [2].

Nutritional Benefits: Growing your own fruits and vegetables ensures access to fresh, nutrient-rich produce, supporting a balanced diet and potentially lowering the risk of chronic diseases [3]. In fact, with each day that passes since produce was picked - it loses nutrient value. In other words, the fresher something is, the better it is for you.

Mental Well-being: The act of nurturing plants can elevate mood and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, fostering a sense of accomplishment and purpose [4].

Another study validated how getting your hands in contact with the bacteria in healthy soil can have amazingly positive impacts on overall mental health and even lower depression [5].

Annette and I have had the joy of gardening the last few years and can attest to the joy and deliciousness of having a garden.

Why garden? I mean it’s so much easier to go to the store!

Truer words could not be said. I love the meme below about basically investing hundreds of dollars and time instead of going to the store. But all jokes aside, we all know a homegrown tomato is pretty much a different type of food than a store-bought tomato. They can’t compare. We should come up with new names for each.

There are so many reasons to garden. Do it for your health - the food is more nutrient-dense. Do it for your freedom - food has been historically used as a weapon of control, especially in times of crisis - go plant yourself some freedom.

Do it for your stress. Instead of expensive drugs and therapies, it’s amazing what the garden can do for your mental well-being and happiness.

If you want to read an awesome book on the role of soil and the rise and fall of civilizations - here’s the book for you.

In my own studies, I am convinced that the soil is the greatest asset of humanity. I am a believer in the story that we came from the soil and the billions of bacteria that make up healthy soil also make up a healthy gut microbiome. We are what we eat and the more we can derive our food from healthy soil - the healthier we will be. But as that book I linked to above shows and much of the Old Testament scriptures - if we rape and pillage the soil long enough - it finally turns on us and we can’t derive life from it - and civilizations fall.

So consider it an investment in your health - save some money on medical costs and grow something in your backyard that gives you some fresh healthy nutrients to nourish your whole body.

A Few Excuses for Gardening

While the benefits of gardening are compelling, integrating this practice into a busy lifestyle may seem daunting. Here are common objections and practical solutions:

• Time Constraints: Many perceive gardening as time-consuming. Start small with low-maintenance plants or herbs that require minimal care. Set aside short intervals, like weekends or evenings, to tend to your garden.

• Physical Limitations: Concerns about physical ability shouldn’t deter you. Raised beds or container gardening can reduce the need for bending or kneeling, making it accessible for all ages and abilities.

• Knowledge Gap: If you’re new to gardening, seek guidance from local nurseries, gardening clubs, or online resources tailored for beginners. Start with resilient plants that thrive in your region’s climate. Check out my wife’s site for a treasure trove of content.

• Space Limitations: Living in urban areas or smaller homes shouldn’t hinder your gardening ambitions. Vertical gardening, window boxes, or community garden plots offer creative solutions to maximize space.

Takeaways: Integrating Gardening into your life

If you do nothing more than get a large planter or some pots on your patio, balcony, kitchen window, or backyard - you won’t regret it. There is nothing as amazing as taking a seed, planting it, watering it, and watching it become something amazing. To me it is a lesson book of our lives - that with time, we will blossom and become what we were destined to be.

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Are there any gardeners out there? I’d love to hear from you. 👋

I’m always looking for feedback. What would you like for me to cover? Anything in the newsletter you like or want to see more or less of?

Here are a few topics I think you’ll dig if you haven’t checked them out before:

How to Breathe for Better Health

How Self-Doubt Can Become Your Superpower 

How to Supercharge Your Sleep

The Power of the Sauna

Forgiveness May Be Your Missing Ingredient

-Jared

P.S. - This newsletter does not provide medical advice. The content, such as graphics, images, text, and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to be applicable to any specific individual's medical condition.

1. Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A., & Canavate, R. (2018). Physical activity and quality of life in older adults: An overview of the epidemiological evidence. Current Aging Science, 11(1), 2-13.

2. Bratman, G. N., et al. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances, 5(7), eaax0903.

3. Berto, R. (2014). The role of nature in coping with psycho-physiological stress: A literature review on restorativeness. Behavioral Sciences, 4(4), 394-409.

4. Soga, M., Gaston, K. J., & Yamaura, Y. (2017). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 5, 92-99.

5. Gonzalez, M. T., & Hartig, T. (2010). “Three levels of nature and mental health: A study in urban public housing.” Health & Place, 16(5), 922-927.