Wellness Benefits of Gardening

Integrated approaches to mental health and wellness are widely recognized. We focus on eight areas in this integrated approach through the Bodhi Garden Initiative; Emotional, Financial, Social, Spiritual, Occupational, Physical, Intellectual, and Environmental.

white man holding wildflower plant by the roots with white women smiling in the background

Emotional

  • Meta-analysis, or analysis across a body of research indicates gardening reduces depression and anxiety. (Soga, Gaston & Yamaura, 2016)

  • The same authors found improved life satisfaction and quality of life.

  • Activities such as the Gardening Leave Program, is seen as having positive therapeutic benefits by the veterans who attend, and this was echoed by clinical staff. The project is helping individuals to cope better with many elements of their illnesses, learn new skills, and feel safe in an inclusive and understanding environment. (Atkinson, 2009)

seedlings growing in small dirt boxes

Financial

  • With planning, gardening can save money (Willis, 2013).

  • Across a large number of studies and countries, financial stress is linked to depression (Guan, et al., 2022).

  • Gardening and expansion of gardening related occupational activities, including volunteerism, can create paths to employment.

grandpa using a green tin watering can watering outdoor garden with granddaughter

Social

  • Gardening creates a way to connect with living things in a non-threatening way:

    • The structure of gardening creates safety.

    • Plants do not judge or require intense relational commitment, both helpful for those impacted by trauma that has injured trust, confidence, or social interactions.

  • Across populations and the lifespan, gardening promotes positive social engagement.

(Scott, Masser & Pachana, 2020; Growing Healthy Veterans, n.d.)

young woman sitting with legs crossed in outdoor garden in meditation pose

Spiritual/Cultural

  • Plants and interaction with gardens fosters a sense of deep spirituality for many, and the experiences of gardening and tending to land crosses cultures.

  • Opportunities to garden create these protective connections, enhancing the spiritual domain of wellness.

Examples include:

  • Zen gardens and labyrinths

  • Rosary gardens and grottos

  • Victory gardens

  • Nature preserves and natural parks

  • Sacred groves and trees

  • Use of incense, offerings of plants and crops

  • Parables reflecting sowing and tending seeds

pile of garden soil next to a green plastic handheld shovel with soil

Occupational

  • Gardening creates occupational opportunities learning a new skill, vocational activity, or volunteerism.

  • Macro-level community gardening initiatives create improved community-based knowledge, service opportunities, new garden resources, and new social networks for sustainability. (Stluka, et al., 2019)

  • Gardening projects, such as the one at the Honor VA Clinic in Kansas City, enable skill development, planning and execution, fulfilling important team roles, and connecting with others. (US Department of Veteran Affairs, 2022)

young Caucasian woman wearing a tank top, jeans, and white and green trucker hat kneeling to work in an outdoor garden

Physical

  • The CDC includes yard work and gardening as exercise and, as such, gardening has many of the same benefits of the other physical activities on reducing risks for chronic health problems. (CDC, 2022)

  • When an outdoor activity, gardening also offers exposure to sunlight and Vitamin D and fresher air.

  • There is a well-established link between healthy foods, like fresh fruits/vegetables and physical health, as well as activities for relaxation and reduced physical stress.

group of many succulents in a large grey pot

Intellectual

  • Researchers have found that walking in a natural space reduces rumination associated with mental illness, and suggest urban areas plan for green spaces. (Bratman, et al., 2015)

  • Mastering a new skill or habit can promote feelings of ‘mastery,’ a key construct in cognitive behavioral therapy that is shown to reduce depressive symptoms, improve help seeking behavior, and buffer the impact of disability, as well as caregiver roles, on depression. (Hang, teal., 2002; Raeifar, et al., 2017; Schreiner & Morimoto, 2013)

young brown woman tending to aeroponic tower garden

Environmental

  • Greenspace has been shown to improve mental health in a variety of ways, including boosted mood, promotion of wellness activities, improved cognition/problem solving skills, sense of well-being, connection to others, and the like. (Barton & Rogerson, 2017)

  • Urban gardening may be utilized to create gardening opportunities that:

    • Reduce vacant buildings

    • Reduce the use of pesticides and chemicals

    • Reduce the amount of energy used to transport foods and promote more sustainable local gardening