Cultivating Serenity: Unveiling the Mental Health Wonders of Mindful Gardening

If you’ve been around for awhile, you know that my deep dive into gardening came from pretty severe postpartum depression. I had a complete inability to communicate my needs or help anyone putting myself very last. And the visions. I had this tiny preemie baby that I felt like I had no business having because I had no idea about anything and I just wanted everything to be the way it was before. My mind had clearly gotten stuck in its evolution to motherhood. 

But something magical happened. A therapeutic haven was awaiting me right in my backyard and I didn’t even know it. I dabbled in gardening throughout my life, mostly herbs and basic vegetables. But nothing that required more than a couple containers or a keyhole raised bed. Day after day, I strapped the baby on and just walked around the garden. Actually, taking note of all the things I wasn’t doing because I had this little tiny thing to take care of instead. But that’s when it happened, all of a sudden, the oppressive weight of everything left when I went out to the garden. The reduction in cortisol, the dopamine and serotonin release, the engagement of my motor cortex and cerebellum that release endorphins, it all came together over a period of time where I didn’t even realize it was happening. Did I still struggle with motherhood, I still do because of the nature of motherhood! But the garden showed me it’s magical therapeutic powers and I want  to share those with everyone who will listen. In this dynamic post, we explore the profound connection between mindful gardening and mental health, unveiling the transformative benefits of just a few wonderful things awaiting those who embark on this green journey. And why you, too, should garden for your mental health. 

What is Mindful Gardening?

When you garden, you are offering yourself an opportunity to practice mindfulness, which involves being fully present in the current moment. Not on your phone, not on any social media, just being in the moment. It draws inspiration from mindfulness meditation principles, encouraging practitioners to approach their gardening tasks with a non-judgmental and open awareness. By focusing on the sensations, sights and sounds in the garden and cultivating deliberate and unhurried movements, it can promote stress deduction, relaxation, reduce anxiety, increase focus and improve overall mental clarity.

You explore your garden where each moment is savored, and nature becomes a source of profound serenity. Why doesn’t everyone garden like this! Can you feel it now, just tending your vegetable garden can be a mindful practice, fostering a deep connection between your mind, body and the earth. 

Why should I nurture my Mental health in the garden of all places? 

I get this alot. Why not a doctor’s office, or therapy. Please hear me when I say this does not substitute for professional care and you should always seek consultation with an appropriate doctor for any mental health crisis you may be experiencing. The garden helps to support care you may already be receiving. Or if you don’t need professional help, it can also help with just your overall mental health. 

The garden has such a positive impact on mental health in many ways, not just providing a much needed respite from the demands of daily life. It also provides a calming and therapeutic experience allowing individuals to connect with nature and engage in mindful activity. The physical tasks involved in gardening, such as planting, weeding, and watering, can help reduce stress levels by reducing cortisol, which is a chemical your body produces in response to stress. Spending time in nature and working with plants can elevate moods and reduce anxiety. Gardening releases serotonin and dopamine which are the two “feel-good” neurotransmitters which lift mood. Dopamine is released in high doses during harvest time.

The garden has also been found to be a wonderful place for individuals who are healing after surgeries (most hospitals have green spaces), or with those coping with trauma, grief or loss .It can provide a sense of solace, renewal, and growth, allowing individuals to channel their emotions into nurturing plants and finding healing in the natural world. That’s how it helped me with my postpartum. 

Ok, but what are some Mindful Techniques I can do  in the Garden

This is so important, learning practical and actionable mindfulness techniques that you can integrate into your gardening routine is how you will get maximum benefits. From mindful breathing amidst the blossoms, planting sensory experiences throughout your space, or even special harvesting techniques. Small changes in your gardening approach can lead to significant improvements in mental clarity and relaxation. 

Here are Homegrown and Harvested, we share a few mindful gardening practices with clients in the first few coaching sessions. 

• Nothing is more profound when you first walk out to your garden, than grounding yourself. Each and every time. 

• Followed by deep breathing techniques, really breathing in all of those delicious smells you’ve intentionally placed in certain spots, 

• Listen to all the birds, buds, wind, plants, the symphony that is your garden.

• Meditation. Sometimes we don’t even realize we are doing it. 

• Of course, no phones in the garden

• Practice gratitude and grade. Giving yourself grace in the garden as you are learning is so important. The garden is a strict teacher. 

• I highly recommend journaling. We keep a garden journal anyway for germination rates, transplanting dates, succession planting. Don’t forget to keep a small section for yourself to jot down your own thoughts and observations!

Cultivating Mindful Habits Beyond the Garden

All of these habits we cultivate in the garden are so easy to apply to our life outside of it. You end up practicing mindfulness whether you want to or not once it has become routine. These lessons we learn from nurturing the garden can be applied to reduce stress, increase focus, and enhance your overall mental health outside of the garden gate. Remember, cultivating mindfulness is a gradual process, and finding what works best for you is key. Consistency and a non-judgmental attitude toward yourself are crucial components of developing a mindful lifestyle.

As you venture into the world of Mindful Gardening, remember that the benefits extend far beyond the bounty of your vegetable harvest. Embrace the therapeutic power of nature and cultivate a sanctuary that not only nourishes your body but also nurtures your soul. Join our newsletter today and sow the seeds of mindfulness in your garden and your life. Happy gardening!