There are many blooming rewards to spending time gardening. From the obvious physical rewards to mood-boosting mental wellness. Gardening can provide you with as many benefits as you want to sow.
Seed here to learn how to plant your way toward blooming both your physical and mental health.
The blooming rewards of gardening
Reward yourself with growing muscle strength 
Gardening is a form of exercise that uses almost every major muscle group, including those you didn’t know you had. And, it supports your physical health by improving muscle strength.
Shoveling, digging, raking, pruning, and pulling weeds all improve muscle strength and give room for your plants to flourish. Just like humans, plants need room to breathe so work those biceps to clear pesky weeds from around your plants. Give them room to bloom.
Harvest your Vitamin D levels
Actually, when you spend time outdoors gardening, you get one of the best nutrients your body needs, Vitamin D.
Vitamin D helps to support your body’s absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate which is important in maintaining strong bones and teeth. FYI, you’ll need strong teeth to eat all those fresh vegetables you grow in your garden.
In fact, along with boosting your vitamin D levels, getting more sun can help your body reduce the risk of developing the following health issues:
- Psoriasis flare-ups
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Multiple sclerosis
Get that heart pumping
Did you know that the average adult should aim for 2.5 hours of physical activity each week?
Whether you’re planting or tending to your lawn, gardening, and yard work are excellent forms of low-impact physical activity that get your heart pumping.
Even more, just 30 minutes of moderate-level physical activity most days can prevent and control high blood pressure.
Reap the mental and emotional blooming benefits of gardening
Along with being an excellent way to fill your time, gardening promotes good mental health and emotional wellness. Gardening can yield the following mental health benefits:
- Reduces stress hormones like cortisol.
- Improves the ability to focus.
- Encourages creativity.
- Raises self-confidence.
- Lowers stress levels.
Blossom your gardening skills, indoor
While we still may be facing cool days, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the perks of gardening. Spend some time getting started on the blooming rewards of gardening from the comfort of your home.
To begin with, visually imagine your best garden ever and start some seedlings. Map it out in your mind. Imagine the tastes of your garden produce or the sweet aroma of flowers.
Use these seedling tips to get you started.
- Initially, move your seedlings around your home to ensure they get enough warmth and sunlight.
- Secondly, keep your plants away from heaters and cold doors or windows.
- Also be mindful not to over-water young tender plants.
- Use commercial potting mixes rather than dirt from the outside.
- Above all, make sure the temperature of your home is stable.
The proof is in your budding green thumb
Sow, whether you’re improving muscle strength, harvesting your Vitamin D, or getting your heart pumping you can’t dispute the blooming rewards of gardening. Additionally, if you’re feeling the mood-boosting benefits of gardening, your basket of life will be full and your thumb green.
No plot or room to cultivate?
On the other hand, not into gardening or you don’t have the room to sow a row! Then why not visit a garden center or farmers market? Check out these local produce vendors to reap the rewards of gardening.
Avonmore Berry, Long Sault, ON.
Tincap Berry Farm, Brockville, ON.
Brockville Farmer’s Market, Brockville, ON.
The blooming rewards of gardening, food for thought!
Even as far back as the late 1800s, they knew about the blooming rewards of gardening.
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” – Alfred Austin
Until next time from the Wills Wellness Committee, keep walking on sunshine!
