The Benefits Of Gardening – Going Beyond Just Growing Food

Gardening is more than just a practical hobby or pastime. In fact, there are many benefits that go far beyond just harvesting food. Whether you have a huge garden or just a few windowsill boxes, the benefits are still there.

From reconnecting with nature to improving your overall mental and physical health to benefiting the environment, gardening has it covered. Not only will you enjoy the benefits of gardening, but your whole family and possibly even your community will as well.

Probably one of the best benefits is the feeling of accomplishment and self-sufficiency you get by growing your own food. It is so rewarding to watch something you plant with your own hands grow into a huge plant that can then be harvested from.

If you are on the fence, wondering if gardening is really worth the time and effort that goes into it, I can say with 100% confidence that it is! Hopefully, after reading this article, you will agree with me and give gardening a try this year!

Growing Your Own Food

I’ll start with the obvious benefit of gardening, and that is you are able to grow your own food. The textures, flavors, and even colors of freshly-grown produce beat grocery store produce any day.

Besides, there aren’t many things better than being able to walk out to your garden to grab whatever ingredients you need for that night’s meal. It doesn’t get any fresher than a direct “farm to table” situation. So why not let the “farm” be your own backyard?

In addition, you have total control over your garden. Not only can you choose the types and varieties of fruits and vegetables you grow, but you also get to be in charge of how those plants are grown.

If you want to grow a 100% chemical-free garden, then go right on ahead and do that. If you want to only use certified organic products on your plants, you can! The choice is completely up to you and your family.

Physical Health Benefits of Gardening

Another great benefit of gardening is the physical aspects of it. Gardening creates a healthy, active lifestyle. That is something all of us can benefit from since so much of our lives are spent in front of a screen anymore.

Whoever said that gardening isn’t a workout has never hauled multiple bags of fertilizer and soil from their car to their garden. Nor have they likely bent over 1,000 times to pick row after row of green beans. I can easily work up a sweat whether I am planting seeds in the soil, pulling weeds, spreading mulch, or harvesting produce. Stretching, heavy lifting, squats, lunges, and cardio; Gardening covers it all!

I mean, have you ever heard of the exercise called “Farmer’s Carry”? Where do you think that term came from? Farming and gardening go hand in hand. (I sadly didn’t make the connection about the usefulness of the farmer’s carry workout until one day when I was hauling a full bucket of water in each hand to my garden. It’s functional training at its best!)

It’s Hard Work But Rewarding!

I won’t lie – sometimes gardening is hard work and takes effort. There have been MANY times where I have been super sore and struggling to move the day after spending a few hours in the garden. (That also might be because of my age, but we won’t dwell on that topic!) However, I would much rather get my sweat on by gardening than be stuck in a gym or on a treadmill.

If you are limited in your physical abilities, there are many different tools you can use to help with gardening chores. For example, there are hoes and weeders that allow you to stay standing while weeding. They reduce the need for bending and thus the stress on your body.

Oh, and don’t forget that if you actually eat the produce you grow, you will be healthier overall. Are you a parent? Kids tend to eat more foods that they have a hand in growing and preparing. I don’t know how many times I’ve caught my kids out in my garden snacking on green beans or cherry tomatoes! I’d much rather see them swipe those food items rather than a pack of processed snacks.

Mental Health Benefits of Gardening

In addition to the physical benefits, there are also mental benefits to gardening as well. In fact, the mental benefits are probably the main reason why I garden.

Not only can you reconnect with nature, but you can also disconnect from the outside world. When I am in my garden, I am not doomscrolling on my phone or worrying about who said what about whom. Instead, I am focusing on the tasks at hand while feeling the sun on my back, the soil in my hands, and the light breeze blowing in my hair. This has an overall positive effect of boosting my mood and promoting mindfulness.

Research has shown that being out in nature and interacting with plants and the soil can greatly improve overall mental health. This includes stress and anxiety, something many of us struggle with. When people are outdoors, they tend to breathe deeper, which can help to lower blood pressure. And the sunlight does wonders to improve mood and vitamin D levels. (Just don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!)

Promoting a Creative Outlet

Gardening can also provide a creative outlet for you. When you are gardening, especially with annuals, you have the chance to have a blank canvas every year.

You can then choose what plants are grown where, what flowers and colors you want included, where your walking spaces will be in your garden, what you will grow in each container, and so forth. You are in control of the entire garden layout and design.

In addition to being creative with plants and flowers, you can also add non-living objects or items to your garden space. For example, I have my late Grandpa’s small windmill in my garden and a horseshoe butterfly my Dad made. Items like concrete sculptures, bird baths, fun pots and containers, or even benches can be added to decorate your garden if space allows.

The types of trellises and supports you use can also be included in creating a fun and unique garden area. Use a combination of function and beauty to design a space that feeds your belly as well as your soul. (Might be cheesy to say, but it’s true.)

For some, this type of planning can be overwhelming, trying to decide what goes where. That is why I started using dedicated growing rows and walking rows so I wouldn’t overwhelm myself at first. But after a few years, I craved having more of a creative input in the garden, so I added what I like to call in-ground raised beds. I now have more freedom to be creative and grow crops wherever I want in some spaces without overwhelming myself in others.

Helping The Environment – Benefits Of Gardening

Let’s not forget that gardening is not only about you and your family. It’s also a great way to leave a positive impact on the environment.

One of the most obvious ways of doing this is by helping feed the pollinators in your area. Almost all fruits and vegetables grown produce blooms that need to be pollinated. These blooms help to draw in all sorts of pollinators like butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and bees of all types.

In addition to growing vegetables in my garden, I always include a wide array of flowers. While some are used as companion crops or for other purposes, most are grown simply for enjoyment and pleasure. The more flowers I grow, the more pollinators visit my garden and thus, my vegetable and fruit blooms. It’s definitely a win-win situation.

Another way that many gardeners help the environment is by composting. All of the food scraps, paper materials, and yard waste that go into your compost pile are kept out of landfills. At the same time, the finished compost can be used to improve and power your garden soil, creating healthier and more productive plants.

Learning & Teaching Life Skills

Gardening is a never-ending learning experience because each year is different. One year, you may have beautiful cucumber plants and an excellent harvest. Next, you might have weak plants and only a few cucumbers to harvest.

These ups and downs that come with each gardening season teach you problem-solving, responsibility, maintenance, routines, and more. I am constantly learning about new plants, techniques, pests, and so forth. The knowledge and learning don’t end, no matter how many years you’ve been gardening.

Gardening is also a good lesson in patience. If you’ve ever planted seeds, whether indoors or directly in the garden, you know just how important having patience is!

If you have a family, these life lessons and skills are being seen and taught to your kids. An important life lesson you can teach your kids is that while something might require hard work or seem difficult at first, the reward at the end makes it all worth it.

Social Benefits Of Gardening

Lastly, gardening has many social benefits. When you first start out gardening, you will probably ask friends, neighbors, or other gardeners for tips and advice. Thankfully, the gardening community is full of people who are willing and eager to share their time and expertise with new gardeners. (In fact, many gardeners will talk your ear off if you let them!)

In addition, once you start gardening, you will likely have excess produce that your family can’t eat or process fast enough. What do you do with all that leftover produce? You can share them with family, friends, and neighbors! Or, maybe you will sell your produce at a local farmer’s market to make a little profit. Either way, you are connecting and benefiting your community as well as your own home.

Something else to keep in mind: You never know when you might inspire someone to grow their first tomato or pepper plant in their own backyard. Gardening can be intimidating at first, so seeing how easy and rewarding it is for you can encourage someone else to take the plunge and purchase their first plant.

And as most of us know, once you start gardening, you now have a hobby for life!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

*This post may contain affiliate links. These are products I have used personally and highly recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you purchase items through my links. These links and the ads on this page help to support my family and our semi homestead, so Thank You!