A recent article from BlueZones.com (lifestyles of those who live to be 100), discussed the many health benefits to gardening. Many studies reveal that gardening could be the hobby that helps you live to be 100! Many studies have shown that an outdoor-focused lifestyle including moderate physical activity greatly improves your overall health, improves mood and mental function, decreases stress, improves heart rate variability (HRV), and increases happiness! Gardening achieves these same things!
Gardening has been associated with higher levels of happiness like walking and bike riding, which we are also very blessed to be able to do here in SW Florida. We now see big cities working to become more sustainable, walk/bike friendly, and plant-focused to achieve what we may take for granted.
As weird as this may sound, gardening gives us something to take care of, to nurture, and love. We are happy when we see our flowers blooming and our vegetables budding. Being able to look out at our yard or lanai to see these beautiful plants is very uplifting and digging or walking in the dirt helps us feel more grounded.
An Australian research team found that people in their 60’s who gardened regularly had a 36% lower risk of dementia than those who did not garden. This article stated that those suffering from cognitive issues (such as Alzheimer’s and dementia) report “benefits from garden settings and horticulture therapy. Sunlight and fresh air, for example, help agitated elders feel calmer, while the colors and textures of various plants and vegetables can improve visual and tactile ability.”
Let us face it. We live in the tropics where plants grow like weeds! The key is to figure out the timing, soil, and nutrients for your plants, but it can be done in SW FL! We are still working on that exact balance, but we have had a great crop of tomatoes and herbs so far this spring! We also planted citrus, avocado, mango, and banana trees, as well as peppers, ginger, onions, and of course, more tomatoes. We love planting succulents and have used the cuttings to grow many more plants, as well as plumeria, palms, olive trees, bougainvillea, and a wide array of other tropical plants.
Nothing like digging in the dirt! Now get out there and get dirty! It is good for you