Gardening for Depression

Gardening helps depression! First of all, happy microbes under your fingernails. Then weeding is focused, productive meditation. You get so focused on determining what is a weed and what is a seedling you’re trying to grow, that the depressing thoughts or the ache in your heart pauses. You get in the zone mentally and it’s such a relief to get a break from those heavy thoughts and feelings! Harvesting also does this, hunting for food amongst the leaves is focused, actively productive meditation.

Obviously the vitamin D from the sun, the fresh air, the exercise, and the productivity are all physical and mental boosts against depression.

I also take my shoes off and get in some earthing which provides health benefits. Even if you don’t believe it does (despite the scientific evidence), the sensory input of touching the real world is a mentally grounding experience.

Since my only option to garden is at a community garden so I have to drive there and get my work done, I don’t have the luxury of getting lazy about it or my plot gets taken away per the rental contract. (They’re pretty cool about it, thank goodness, but we do need to keep up with gardening upkeep within reason.) Being forced to focus like that keeps me on task.

Let’s not forget the optimal nutritional value of food you grow yourself! That boosts your body and mind’s ability to improve your well-being.

I know it won’t solve everything, but any boost against depression is worth doing.