It turns out getting your hands dirty can be a pretty rewarding thing to do. Not only do you get fresh, wholesome fruit and veggies for your whole family, but you’ll also get a regular physical and mental boost. You can even build relationships that support positive community health if you join or start a community garden.
Here’s what gardening can do for you:
A stronger body
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Healthy food means a healthy you – studies show gardeners and their children eat healthier diets than non-gardeners.
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Gardening gives you regular physical activity – improving endurance, strength, mobility and flexibility. And you’ll enjoy it so much, you won’t even realise it’s a work-out.
A stronger mind
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Nature’s stress relief – Spending time in green spaces can help reduce stress and increase your sense of wellness.
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Find direction in the dirt – Gardening gives you a sense of purpose and drive to achieve an end goal. In community gardens this becomes a shared experience.
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Skills for life – Learn about horticulture and sustainable environmental practices.
For the kids
Gardening is also great for kids – not only will they get outside and learn about fruit and vegetables, responsibility and nutrition, they’ll love the thrill of eating and tasting food they’ve helped to grow. There are plenty of ways to get the kids involved, like planting and watering, worm farms, weeding, aphid hunting, making pots and cooking up the produce. There are also more and more opportunities for the kids to discover gardening at kindergarten and school with programs like the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Just look online for ‘kids gardening’ for more tips and ideas.
