Wouldn’t it be sweet if a single activity could improve mental and physical health, boost quality of life, cost next to nothing, and be a downright pleasure to boot? The humble act of gardening, it seems, holds all of these benefits with a downside no greater than a little dirt under the fingernails. The beauty of it is that gardening in some form is available to us all. Whether we’re seeking a crop of edibles, an ephemeral cluster of blossoms, or a task to quiet the mind, it hardly matters: a garden delivers on so many levels. Being out of doors in the company of plants might be just what the doctor ordered! Consider these advantages.
Jackie Skrypnek is a holistic nutritionist. She lives in Cochrane, Alberta, where she practises permaculture and operates an urban tiny house bed and breakfast.
Stephanie MacDonald
Heidi Fritz, MA, ND
Carime Lane
Joshua Duvauchelle