The physical and mental health benefits of being in nature have been long-established, especially for those with existing medical conditions. Now, a new pilot study found gardening can yield mental health benefits, even among those who have never gardened before. “Both gardening and art activities involve learning, planning, creativity, and physical movement, and they are both used therapeutically in medical settings,” said co-author Charles Guy in a press release. “This makes them more comparable, scientifically speaking, than, for example, gardening and bowling or gardening and reading.”
Another recent Princeton study—conducted prior to the pandemic—surveyed 370 people living in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area on their emotional state and happiness levels throughout the day. Of the 370 participants, 118 of them engaged in home gardening. These home gardeners reportedly had high happiness levels when gardening was measured against other day-to-day activities. This “emotional well-being” (EWB) that the study tracked was increased for vegetable gardeners than for ornamental gardeners.
Why do people feel happy while gardening? Connected with nature, getting your hand dirty to get healthier micro-bacteria in your body, exercise, improving creativity, connecting with others, self-sufficiency, and sunlight are some common reasons researchers pointed out.