On a deeper level, our mind and spirit experience a makeover,
too, as the doldrums of winter are replaced with the joy of
envisioning, creating, and executing our garden plans. All these
activities lend themselves to a feeling of purpose and well-being.
Let’s explore what other seeds a garden can sow within us.
GARDEN MAGIC
The garden harvest marks the happy culmination of the fruits of
your labor. The final act before the curtain drops on the growing
season. But as gardeners across the world know, a garden yields
so much more than merely a magical harvest. While working
in a garden, secret rewards are slowly revealed to us between
the sowing and the reaping, two acts that simply designate a
beginning and an end. The time spent between those events is
where another magic happens.
Admittedly, the first couple days of garden prepping can be a
little rough on the body. Those sleepy muscles of winter don’t
always want to wake up too quickly, but always do. A few days
of bending, squatting, and digging, and that stiffness is replaced
with a more fluid movement. Which segues nicely to the point
of this article — the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits that
manifest themselves through gardening. It’s rather cosmic stuff
and proven to be true. Let’s start with the physical perks. I’m sure
your own experience will verify what I say is true.
“While working in a garden,
secret rewards are slowly
revealed to us between the sewing
and the reaping, two acts that simply
designate a beginning and an end.”
FULL-BODY WORKOUT
Gardening is like a full-body workout. At first, muscles you forgot
were there start aching. But then, it gets better. Carrying bags of
soil strengthens our back, arms, and legs. Digging, hoeing, and
raking tightens our core muscles and gives the shoulders and
hands a good workout. Rolling a wheelbarrow, pulling a mulchladen
wagon, or even lifting potted plants increases muscle
strength in our arms and lower back. All these activities increase
stamina, improve our cardiovascular system, strengthen our
overall physique, and render us happily tired at the end of the day.
Popping a good sweat while soaking up some sunshine makes
your body feel better and you feel better about your body.
Physically working in the garden also helps to relieve stress and
allows us to decompress naturally.
THE DOCTOR IS IN
The physical values of gardening are obvious but for the mental
and spiritual dimensions, we’re going to have to dig a little deeper.
To learn about those qualities, I reached out to wellness guru
Seth J. Gillihan, PhD., author, international lecturer, and Assistant
Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, who
specializes in mental and spiritual wellness. I tracked him down
after reading an article he penned in Psychology Today about
how a garden mirrors life and can teach us, and even heal us, in
indefinable ways.
The good doctor was gracious enough to answer a few
questions about the unexpected and salubrious side effects
of gardening. I was to learn how gardening played an
indispensable role in helping him heal from a difficult and
lingering illness.
Maximum Yield 31