Many people think of gardening as a chore. Others take up gardening as a hobby. Still there are others who could not even begin to give a proper definition of the term gardening. Whether you love gardens and gardening or you hate even the idea of lifting up a shovel, know that gardening offers many benefits to those who are willing to try gardening.
The act of gardening goes back thousands of years. If gardens are beautiful to look at, imagine the pride and sense of accomplishment that the creator of such beauty can feel. Besides that, gardening is a great way to reduce stress, get a bit of exercise, be creative, and develop patience.
Numerous studies have been undertaken which show that gardening offers many health related benefits. The most obvious benefit of gardening is that it can be a great way to relieve stress. The hustle and bustle of everyday life is difficult to avoid. Work, family obligations, and social engagements are just some of the things that take up chunks of peoples' lives. With so much going on, many people simply forget to make time to relax and do the things they enjoy. Growing a garden requires both an investment of time and attention. Planning the garden and then caring for the garden offers the gardener a simple and inexpensive way to unwind and relax. Gardening can help a person clear the mind. Gardening allows the participant to refocus their attention on the creation.
Another health related benefit of gardening is that when people tend to their gardens, they are getting exercise. Even an activity as simple as gardening can contribute towards weight loss. Any physical activity that gets the heart beating faster is better for the body than no activity at all. Gardening gets a person outdoors, exposed to natural air, and refocused on a pleasant activity.
Gardening also offers nutritional benefits to those who choose to plant a vegetable garden. Creating a vegetable garden is a way of ensuring that there is a continuous supply of fresh vegetables to consume. Vegetable gardeners know exactly where their produce is coming from and they also know exactly what chemicals were used to grow the produce. Eating more vegetables, and especially home-grown vegetables, is a simple way to ensure that a body is getting a proper balance of vitamins and nutrients.
And finally, some studies even report that people who are exposed to gardens and gardening recover more quickly from illnesses. It seems that for many people, gardening is just what the doctor ordered.
Gardening can be a creative experience as well. It's one thing to throw some seeds down and then wait to see what grows. While gardening does not require that the participant have a degree in landscape architecture, a bit of planning will go a long way towards enhancing the beauty and the gardening experience overall.
And finally, the act of gardening teaches people the art of being patient. Unlike other activities, gardening does not produce instantaneous results. As such, a person who takes up gardening must wait for their rewards. The garden should be planned to a certain degree. Once a basic plan has been developed, the land needs to be prepared. Next, the gardener will plant the seeds or plants. But that's not all. In order to achieve a healthy, bountiful supply of plants, the garden needs constant monitoring. Weeds must be pulled and insect activity must be curtailed. Then, one day, they'll appear - the fruits of your labor. Cut the flowers and vegetables, bring them inside and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that is gained from the benefit-rich activity called gardening!