GARDENING's positive power​

Hailey Edwards Kern-Administrative Coordinator/Assistant To The Director
 
​How a green thumb may help aspects of executive functioning and overall health.
 
Time to get your hands dirty and garden!

With the weather getting nicer every day, we are seeing more people taking on gardening to beautify their properties or eat locally grown produce throughout the summer. Some benefits of gardening may help the whole family with executive functioning and health.
 
Planning and Execution
Where and what you want to plant are two questions to answer before starting a garden. While a flower garden can provide beautification, a food garden will keep you eating fresh and healthy all summer long. Location and the types of plants you want to grow go hand in hand! For example, tomato plants like 8 hours of sun, while garden cress likes almost full shade. Pick a parcel of land that will best accommodate what you would like to grow. Paying attention to details such as how much space your crop will need and how much water it will drink will set you up for success. Using an App to track what needs watering and when can help keep you on schedule. Picking plants that have similar care instructions so you can treat them all in the same manner. This will lessen the mental load of trying to remember too many care instructions.
 
Organization and teamwork
Did you know that some plants grow better together than apart? If you have your heart set on a particular crop, research to see what companion plant may benefit your crop and nourish the soil for years to come. Labelling your plants helps you to remember what you’ve planted and learn what to expect from that crop year after year. Giving every family member an age-appropriate task in the garden is a great way to spend time together and take the mental load off one person.


Perseverance
Mother nature is unpredictable, and as such, planting a garden with others can increase teamwork and help with problem-solving. If things aren’t going your way in the garden, it's okay to switch up what you're doing. Adding fertilizer, compost, and watering more often can bring certain gardens back from the brink. Remaining flexible is the key to getting your garden how you want it, and it teaches us a valuable lesson of stick-to-it-iveness.
 
Other benefits of gardening include beautifying your outdoor space, teaching about care routines and goal setting, and offering safe sensory engagement.
 
Beyond helping with some areas of executive functioning, gardening can help your mental and physical health!
 
For example, a bacterium found in soil may stimulate serotonin production, which can make you more relaxed and happier. Did you know that in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, Medical Doctors can prescribe you a national park pass to get into any national park for free for a year? There is evidence of the health benefits of time in nature, from better immune function and life expectancy to reduced risk of heart disease, depression and anxiety. In colour psychology, green is considered a calm, relaxing colour that promotes stability, endurance, and balance.
Getting outside and being in the sun gives us vitamin D, essential for overall body health.

The beauty of a garden is that you can make it anything you can imagine; there’s no right way to do it. Greenifying our indoor living space can be just as rewarding if you don't have a backyard.
 
Go forth, get your hands dirty, and make plant magic!