Green thumbs up: Why gardening is great for the body and mind

ARTICLE

01 September 2023

3 min read

Healthy Body Healthy Mind

Gardening provides more than just beautiful flowers and greenery – the ancient practice works wonders for your physical, mental and social health. Plus, having a green thumb at home can also net you a bounty of healthy, sustainable food and is one of the ways you can help improve the health of the environment and your own health and wellbeing.

More than just a way to clear your head and get your hands dirty, gardening is a hobby blossoming with benefits. Studies have shown that gardening can have a beneficial effect on holistic wellbeing, ranging from improved surgery recovery to better mental welfare.¹

A surprising source of physical exercise

A simple project like planting a small veggie garden can be a great workout for the whole body. A study from Harvard even found the number of calories burned in 30 minutes of gardening was comparable to playing sports like badminton, volleyball and gymnastics.²

And there’s no age limit on having a green thumb. Research from the government’s Better Health Channel shows that only one in 10 Australians over 50 exercise enough to gain any form of cardiovascular benefit, so a healthy hobby like gardening can be a good form of exercise for older people who might require more physical exercise.

A full body activity like gardening encourages use of all motor skills and improves endurance and strength and does wonders for your flexibility. Spending some time in the sun is also a natural and efficient way to soak up Vitamin D – which over 30 per cent of Australians are deficient in.³

A green stress-reliever

Tending to a garden and spending time in nature is an excellent opportunity to get away from the stresses of everyday life. A study found that participants who engaged in 30 minutes of gardening reported greater mental health – improvements in mood and self-esteem – compared to those who didn’t.⁴ And you don’t need a big backyard to benefit: even a small patch of green has been said to reduce cortisol – the stress hormone.⁵ If you don’t have much outdoor space at home, bring nature indoors and enjoy the same stress relief from nurturing indoor plants.

Alternatively, a community gardening is something you can try. A Melbourne study⁶ found regular community gardeners enjoyed building social connections and learning from each other. Community gardens offer a form of escapism from stressful urban environments and can provide a sense of belonging and a place of identity and attachment for like-minded green thumbs.

Try introducing natives

Native vegetation plays a crucial role in the health of our environment⁷. It reduces land degradation and salinity, improves water quality and provides habitats for a variety of species, which in turn increases and improves biodiversity in our ecosystem. Plus, native flora doesn’t require fertilisers or pesticides⁸– which saves you time and money. On your next visit to the nursery, have a look for some colourful and sweet-smelling natives that will entice more visitors to your garden.

Which native plants you should grow

Not just a pretty sight, many native plants also double as nutritious food.

Kakadu plums and desert limes are high in vitamin C and other minerals.
Quandongs and native ginger have plenty of antioxidants.
Bush tomatoes and wattleseed are excellent sources of iron.
Native river mint, anise myrtle and hardenbergia make great tea infusions.

You can usually purchase these as seeds or young plants at your local nursery.

Due to their nativity, these plants will be more resistant to our climate, surviving in high heat and with low water. Planting more local flora will also encourage birds to visit, which will help improve the biodiversity for your local ecosystem. It’s a continuous upwards spiral of good news for both you and the environment.

Footnotes

^{1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334070/

2 https://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/calories-burned-in-30-minutes-for-people-of-three-different-weights

3 https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/your-bone-health/vitamin-d-bone-health/#:~:text=Vitamin%20D%20deficiency%20is%20common,bone%20fracture%20in%20older%20people

4 https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/38/3/e336/2239844?sid=1be645d2-a2e9-47f3-8a85-dd105734e3d2

5 https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/even-a-tiny-patch-of-nature-in-a-front-garden-reduces-stress-and-makes-people-happier/

6 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7108-3#Sec3

7 https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/about-native-vegetation

8 https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2019/08/benefits-of-native-gardens}

Staff Writer

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

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