Health and wellness are at the forefront of everyone’s minds after last year’s global crisis. While we focus on solving large-scale public health concerns, you can start making smart choices in your everyday life that improve your overall well-being.
Since many people are still working from home, now is the perfect time to start a new garden project. Gardening can improve your health and wellness in plenty of ways, offering a productive and rewarding hobby, opportunities to learn about your environment, and hands-on connections to the food you eat. Let’s get into some of these benefits.
1. Gardening is rewarding and creative.
If you are looking for a new hobby that feels productive and creative, gardening is a
great option. Whether you start new plants from seeds or fill your garden with blooming flowers, the plants will change as you tend them and you will get to watch your garden grow into its new space. When your plants produce their first flowers, fruits, and vegetables, you will feel like you created something brand new—and you have!
Further, your garden can add a lot of value and interest to your home. By planting bushes, trees, and flowers, you can make your home look more attractive while adding function. Trees or hedges can create privacy borders, flowers can add color, and trailing vines can fill sparse areas. For smaller apartments with little or no outdoor space, you can bring life and movement inside with a variety of houseplants. When you use plants to enrich your living space, gardening is as practical as it is fun.
2. Getting out in the garden teaches you about your local environment.
If you are planting or caring for plants outdoors, you will need to get familiar with your
region’s characteristics. The average person may not consider their area’s natural qualities outside of noting trends in the weather; however, it is really beneficial to be aware of the characteristics of your local environment. When you educate yourself, you can choose plants that are appropriate for or native to your region to make sure that they will thrive in your garden.
As gardening gets you thinking about the environment, remember to make responsible choices. Some plant species can be invasive to your region, toxic to pets and people, or really difficult to care for. When caring for your garden, avoid using harsh products like weed killer; they can be very toxic and harmful for people, pets, and the environment. Some popular products, like RoundUp, are even linked to cancer. Instead, opt for organic pest control solutions and try pulling weeds manually. After all, you don’t want to eat any vegetables or touch any flowers sprayed with chemicals.
3. You can grow your own food at home!
One of the best aspects of home gardening is the opportunity to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. When you start your garden, you can select plants that you know you like to eat and have a full meal’s worth of produce by harvest time. If you time your planting correctly, you can have weeks’ or even months’ worth of fresh fruits and vegetables constantly popping up in your own backyard.
Having your own garden as a resource can encourage you to make healthy recipes more often and eliminate frequent trips to the grocery store for fresh veggies. If you maintain your garden without harmful chemicals, you can feel confident knowing where your food came from and how it was treated. Be sure to do the research and hire a well-researched pest control company such as this pest control in Clearwater. Nothing tastes better than fresh fruit or veggies right off the vine!
If you’re looking for a way to feel like you’re actively contributing to your health and wellbeing, gardening is the perfect hobby to pick up this season. Gardening will help you make smart, mindful choices that beautify and customize your living space, connect you with your environment, and provide your body with the healthy foods it wants and needs.
