The Benefits of Gardening
College is stressful. While there are many ways to relax and de-stress from homework, tests and papers, students living in dorms may overlook a beneficial activity that can improve their mental and physical health — gardening.
This activity can positively impact students’ lives and promote personal health.
For example, Consumer Reports notes that foods grown from a garden can be safer to eat because they are not grown with pesticides, unlike produce that is grown in bulk and shipped to grocery stores. According to U.S. News & World Report, fresh foods grown in a garden can also be more nutritional because they aren’t exposed to travel conditions, which gradually sap away their nutrients.
Personal gardens provide a source of health, happiness and beauty for the people who maintain them. In fact, the National Institute of Health points to their efficacy, saying, “There is increasing evidence that exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical health.”
Gardening also does not have to be something you do by yourself. Community gardens can bring people together and provide fresh, healthy vegetables for those who need them.
Whether you’re planting flowers or vegetables, a garden adds to the world through its beauty.
Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
When looking at the tallest of trees or the smallest flowers, it is evident that the glory of God is present without question. Gardening is a great reminder of his masterful creation.
According to UNC Health Talk, growing a garden can even build a person’s self-esteem. Part of this is because of the satisfaction a person feels by doing new things and being productive. Gardens also provide a sense of responsibility to some who might otherwise feel unneeded, as they require careful attention to detail.
College students understand stress, whether it comes from a full-time job or hours of endless homework assignments and sitting behind a screen. Getting outside to garden can help students get through those stressful moments.
Gardening in the sunlight also provides a quality amount of Vitamin D, which UNC Health Talk says can strengthen your bones and immune system. It is also essential in maintaining psychological health, as the Counseling & Wellness Center of Pittsburg points out, “Spending time in nature and getting fresh air and sunlight can help improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression.”
Whether you want to plant a garden for personal enjoyment or to benefit your community, this endeavor is well worth your time. You can pursue gardening with Liberty University’s Gardening Club, which means you can preserve nature and add some wellness to your own life.
Visit Liberty’s clubs page to find out more about the Gardening Club, where you can build on your own skills, make friends with other gardeners and even earn CSER credit for the semester.
But whether you are gardening with others or gardening alone, it is impossible to ignore the great benefits that gardening can bring to anyone.
Sanford is an opinion reporter for the Liberty Champion.