Ruth Isioma Egbuejeh

 The Hidden Healing Power Behind Owning A Garden Staring into nature and embracing her serenity and peace is one of the most therapeutic ways to improve one's physical and mental state. A garden is one of the naturally occurring things that make up nature. Aside from the obvious role of beautification, there are several hidden healing powers that a garden can add to one's health. Importance Of Gardening On Human Physical Health It is known that humans are generally drawn to physical qualities first. The same is true for one's physical health. We tend to notice another person's physical health issues first, before noticing other internal health issues. There are some important benefits to one's physical state of health that owning a garden can do. Gardening activities are an excellent way to build strength. Gardening is a form of physical outdoor activity that involves planting, raking, digging, and other strenuous exercises. Strength is being built as a result of some of these energy-demanding exercises. Furthermore, because gardening is an outdoor activity, it exposes the body to direct sunlight (vitamin D), which is an essential vitamin required by the body. Gardening can be enjoyable, especially when new gardening tips and tricks are learned. This enjoyment produces a sense of happiness, which in turn improves one's physical health. Gardening can be a good way to avoid loneliness. When we garden, our minds are occupied and productive rather than dormant and idle. There are several other healing powers and physical health benefits that gardening provides. It is a good stress reliever, it is a major source of food provision, and it is extremely cost-effective; this is especially true for those who have vegetable gardens in their homes. Importance Of Gardening On Human Mental Health Aside from improving one's physical health, it is equally important to improve one's mental health. Humans require their sanity to function properly and make sound decisions. To maintain sanity, one's mental health must be taken into account. Fortunately, having a garden can help people maintain a healthy state of mind. Gardening can be used to heal some mental issues, which is why it is best to own a garden. Owning a garden can provide a sense of purpose. Being idle can be mentally exhausting, but gardening allows one to get directly involved in something hands-on and see the result of one's efforts. This can provide a sense of purpose while combating boredom and depression. Humans respond positively to compliments. Once garden owners receive frequent compliments on their garden, it could improve their confidence in their abilities, which in turn improves their self-esteem and self-perception. Gardening allows you to interact with people. Interacting with people can help to improve one's societal relationships, which in turn improves their mental health. Other mental health benefits of owning a garden include increased physical activity, a connection with nature, and improved cognitive function; all of these benefits have been proven. Tips On How To Create A Personalized Garden After learning about some of the hidden healing effects that gardens have on both our physical and mental health, it is natural to want to start your garden. A vegetable garden is a type of garden that can be set up. A vegetable garden not only allows you to get closer to nature but also allows you to save money. A few tips for creating a personalized vegetable garden include: 1- Select the best location for your garden. (NB; this is typically space dependent) 2- Plan your vegetable garden layout 3- Grow what you like to eat, 4- Start plants in rich soil. When you have finally decided to own a garden, you must also keep track of the changes, growth, and improvements that have occurred over time. This record is especially important if you intend to sell your home in the future. The importance of keeping these records is to quantify the increase in value of your home when you decide to sell it. Be mindful of each design created, and if possible, always have photographic evidence; take before and after photos as this will come in handy. Image via Unsplash Ruth Isioma Egbuejeh