Being at the intersection of isolation and rising global temperatures has amplified an already rocky road for mental health.  We are tucked away into our homes, molding them into uses we never have before. Our spaces have officially become Grand Central Station. 

Thankfully, we have the ability to innovate and are using this time to bond with our homes.

Gardening fits perfectly as the silver lining around our current situation. We know that living in an urban setting does not hinder us from reaping benefits of self-sufficiency.

For example, Syrian women reported significant decreases in depression while involved in a vertical gardening program.  They suggested vertical gardening be used as a therapeutic aid offered to displaced women who have become confined to limited spaces. 

Our knowledge and ambition on the topic of human health in relation to the garden is growing.

I am going to talk about five ways gardening can protect our health and how we protect our health from the garden.

Benefits

Vitamins and Nutrients

As an example to this point I will use Vitamin B2 which can be found in leafy green, legumes and mushrooms (dairy and meat also contain b2).  Deficiencies in this vitamin can cause fatigue, personality changes and brain dysfunction. Eating from our gardens will help replenish vitamins and nutrients that may be depleted through diet or medications.

Being in Nature

Science has proven that exposure to nature can improve working memory, attention and our subjective well being.  The sun, air and soil all play an important role in human health and are an important benefit of spending time in our gardens.

Social Interaction

For a long time, studies have outlined the role social interaction has on our health.  We will live longer, have less severe illnesses and lead more fulfilled lives if we interact with people regularly.   Community gardens are a great way to improve a community’s overall health.

Contact with Soil

Soil microbes have the ability to break down the nutrients in the soil so our plants can use them and therefore transfer them to us.  Microbes have also been found to have a positive effect on the immune system.  

Earth Care 

Food grown in our own yard is more sustainable simply because it does not have to travel. Even ornamental landscapes benefit the earth because we can control what fertilizers or pest control methods are used.  A well planted yard can also double as a carbon sink so you’re actually offsetting your carbon footprint.

Cautions

Pathogens

Microorganisms that may cause disease to humans can be introduced to the soil through contaminated water or waste.  

Toxins

Heavy metals left over from sources like leaded gasoline, pesticides or industrial waste can be made available to us through our edible yards.  It is always best practice to take a soil sample and have the results interpreted to you by a professional. 

Antibiotic Resistance

When livestock is treated with antibiotics it transfers to their waste, we transfer that waste to our gardens and ultimately to the microbes living there.  Antibiotic resistant bacteria can be found in soil due to things like manure or medical waste.  Although it is unclear the full impact antibiotic resistance has on our health directly, it is thought to cause reduced yield and impact food security.

Depletion

In order to reap all the benefits of our hard work we need to ensure our plants have what they need.  A soil can see inadequate levels of nutrients if the soil produces again and again with no replacement.  Again we can see why a soil test and an accurate interpretation of that test can prove invaluable.  A simple heavy mulching may be the only fertilizer you need.

As always your feedback, suggestions and edits are very welcome.   I hope you enjoyed this post and feel inspired to get your hands into that garden! 

My Sources

1. S. N. Talhouk, A. Chalak, Z. Kamareddine, M. Fabian, M. Itani & N. Ferguson (2021) Vertical gardening and Syrian women refugees in Lebanon: an exploratory study on motivation for gardening and depression relief, Local Environment, 26:10, 1235-1249, DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2021.1973393
2. Annalisa Theodorou, Angelo Panno, Giuseppe Carrus, Giuseppe Alessio Carbone, Chiara Massullo, Claudio Imperatori, Stay home, stay safe, stay green: The role of gardening activities on mental health during the Covid-19 home confinement, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 61,  2021, 127091, ISSN 1618-8667, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127091. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866721001163)
3. Kennedy D. O. (2016). B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy–A Review. Nutrients, 8(2), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8020068