The Restorative Power of Plants
By Lynsey Ruml
With food so readily available and inexpensive compared to the labor and time it takes to produce, cultivating one’s own ingredients has long been unjustly devalued by our fast-paced society. But gardening regained popularity over the past year, and many first-timers learned the joy of growing their own food, while simultaneously experiencing nature's positive effect on their physical and mental well-being.
Spending time in the garden not only provides much needed sunshine, solitude and movement, but also fulfills our innate desire to interact with other living organisms in our natural environment.
The Science-Backed Health Benefits of Gardening
Scientific literature proves gardening increases overall health and mental well-being — an important benefit considering 46 percent of Americans have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year, and 13 percent of American youth suffer from depression.
Gardening and good health are historically correlated; the first recorded hospitals in Europe were designed by monks who made community gardens a central part of hospital facilities and treatment. Plant life plays such an important role in facilitating healing that even Florence Nightingale famously journaled about the sight of a bright perennial patch healing the spirits and body aches of her patients during the Cremian war.
Modern science validates Nightingale’s observation. Exposure to plants is so powerful that simply viewing them has measurable, positive effects. A Japanese study found patients experienced lower anxiety levels, blood-pressure and pulse rates while viewing plants. A similar study found post-operative patients had improved moods and even lower analgesic needs when provided greenery views during post-operative care. Further Japanese studies found green spaces in general increase measurable overall well-being and longevity.
The Health Benefits of Living Near Plants
The benefits of greenery and gardening are proven to grow exponentially when heavily incorporated into one’s daily routine. Blue Zones are geographic areas where a high number of residents live significantly longer than the global population’s average life-span. Residents of these much-studied areas offer a great example of this phenomenon by ‘gardening as a lifestyle’ — and often living disease-free into their centernarian years! Gardening and a deep connection with nature are strong, scientifically noted features of all seven Blue Zones.
Residents of these areas tend daily to gardens and harvest a diverse selection of produce over an extended, often year-round growing season. One heavily researched Blue Zone, Loma Linda, California, is known for its large vegetarian population and even touts vibrancy with the official tagline: “A city focused on health and prosperity.” The city’s large Seventh-day Adventist population views interacting with nature and following a high-produce diet as acts honoring their faith. Driving through Loma Linda, one will find vegan restaurants, foodscaped front yards and lush college dorm balconies overflowing with plants.
Incorporating Plants into Your Self Care Routine
One needn’t relocate to a Blue Zone or participate in a research study to reap the benefits of interacting with nature and greenery. Here are five easy steps to bring the healing power of plants into your life:
Enjoy the process of picking out seeds. Shopping for seeds is a great, stress-free way to take the first step toward planning your garden. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of our favorite colorful cultivars! Many local libraries also offer seed banks and germination classes to the general public through their local university master gardener extension program.
Pick-your-own. Some small farms and orchards offer pick-your-own options, providing those who are unable or don’t have the desire to garden a chance to connect with nature and experience the joy of harvesting their own produce. Pickyourown.org provides local farm listings along with information on what’s in season.
Visit an outdoor farmers market. Meeting your local farmers while spending some time outdoors is a restorative way to spend an afternoon. If you’re lucky enough to have a great tomato vendor, canning is a relaxing way to spend the rest of the day. Keep an eye open for these great canning varieties at your local farmers market.
Plant a tree. Studies prove spending time around trees has a positive impact on mental health. Pick a climate-appropriate variety and a planting location that can accommodate your new tree’s canopy and root structure. If you’re a fan of apples and live in USDA Zones 4-7, check out our authentic heirloom Johnny Appleseed tree. It’s self-pollinating and we offer both traditional and dwarf rootstock.
Research horticultural therapy and green space. Interested in bringing the healing power of plants to your patients? As previously mentioned, adding greenery to clinical offices and treatment rooms aids rehabilitation and helps normalize emotions. Adding green space can be as simple as putting a living plant in your waiting room. For an impressive example of a therapeutic garden program piloted with few financial resources, check out the graduate research project “Gardening on a Psychiatric Inpatient Unit: Cultivating Recovery”.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoy adding some restorative greenery to your day. If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line. Otherwise — happy gardening!
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