The therapeutic benefits of gardening are many and varied. Through the years, gardeners have realized the therapeutic properties derived from planting and nurturing a garden. Recent scientific studies are providing support for the emotional and physical benefits.

Several kinds of problems can be helped through gardening therapy. It has a calming and relaxing effect, providing stress relief and time to reflect. Gardening can be a way to have social interaction and to gain skills working as a team. There is an overall appreciation for nature as well as general health benefits from working outdoors. Other physical benefits such as improving coordination, strength, and flexibility can be realized. Gardening therapy boosts creativity and mood.

Physically disabled and elderly people can be helped by gardening therapy since it requires low-impact exercise, and it can be tailored to the individual’s needs. For instance, someone in a wheelchair can easily garden in raised beds or at a potting bench. Gardening helps those who suffer from stress or mental illness. It also benefits those who are afflicted with AIDS or cancer, or those who are working in drug or alcohol rehabilitation and treatment centers. Gardening therapy gives people a connection working with the natural world that cannot be duplicated in other methods.

There are both active and passive benefits to gardening. Researchers have found that brain waves of people while gardening are similar to brain waves while meditating. Another study found that hospital patients who have a view of a garden recover faster than those who don’t. Wounds even healed nearly twice as fast as wounds of patients without a garden view.

A community garden is when a group of people who live in a community work together to plan and then plant a garden for the use of everyone who participates in the process. In most areas, the garden will be arranged with the help of one of the public park departments in the town or a neighborhood association. These gardens will also usually be planted on land that is owned and operated by the city or the neighborhood association.

Community gardens will help the community in more ways than just providing food for the people of the area. Sometimes they will provide food for other persons who are in need but unable to participate in working in the garden.

Along with the food, the garden will provide opportunities for the people to get to know their neighbors better. This will help everyone know when there are strangers in the neighborhood that should not be there and perhaps will prevent homes being broken into.

When a garden like this is planted, it is usually planted in an area that is not being used for anything else and more than likely will assist in making the area look better. All the people in the area will be helping to take care of this piece of property.

When people get together to work on the garden, they will also use the time for recreational purposes. If the area has families with children, the garden will also be an educational tool in helping them to learn about the soil and growing vegetables.

Gardening is wonderful therapy for your body and mind. There is nothing like getting outside and enjoying nature. You can do this by actually doing the gardening yourself, or by enjoying a garden that is already growing.

When you are working in your garden it is a great way to increase your strength. It is a form of exercise that works all parts of your body. It improves your muscles as well as your heart and lungs. Gardening helps build strength in your bones as well.

Another great benefit of gardening is the fact that it is a great stress reliever. When you are working in your garden you concentrate on what you are doing and forget about your worries. You will enjoy the feel of the dirt in your hands and the smells of being outside. The sound of the wind blowing through the trees is also calming.

When your garden is planted and it starts to grow you will have a sense of accomplishment. That leads to better self confidence. If you have planted a vegetable garden you will want to eat what you have grown. This is a good way to have a balanced diet. You will be eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. You will also want to share your vegetables with friends and family.

Garden therapy is growing in popularity for people with long term illnesses. It helps get their minds off of their illnesses and gets them back to nature. When people who are ill garden, they seem to respond to treatment better than those who don’t garden. Getting outside in the garden and the fresh air is very important for some people. If they can’t get outside, inside plants will help as well.

If you have ever planted a garden, you know that it is not just rewarding to watch and grow your own vegetables, but it is expensive and hard work too. Nothing can be more aggravating than to watch some critter invite itself to your investment and leave you with nothing but damaged plants as spoils. What adds to the anger is the knowledge that your victor is a furry little chipmunk.

What do you do when your territory is under invasion? First, you need to decide how far you are willing to go to protect what belongs to you. If you decide to go to battle with your furry foes, there are many options. They can range from very costly to inexpensive, and they can also range between humane and inhumane. When going the humane route, make your yard less appealing to them. Make sure water is not available, reduce clutter, and do not leave out pet foods. Protect plants and bulbs by using hardware cloth under and around them. Protect bird feeders by placing them on smooth steel poles and covering them with cone shaped steel caps, this stops the perpetrator from pilfering the birdseed. Sprays are not the most effective route, but spraying hot pepper spray may stop them from eating your tasty goods. ‘Have A Heart Traps’ are a good option if you only have a few invaders. Be sure you know where you are going to take them and if they are welcome there.

If you opt for ridding the small creatures once and for all, then you can consider using some traps or fumigation. Sometimes having cats or a couple of dogs can do the trick for no extra price at all. Your pets can also be helpful in deterring others from coming back.

Community gardens are becoming more prevalent in cities and urban areas where the population of residents has moved to the suburbs and inner city areas are suffering from neglect. Community gardens can be as beautiful and inviting as city parks. Open to everyone, people who participate in maintaining the garden can take pride in their contribution to improving their community.

Community gardens can be developed on any plot of land that will sustain a garden. The first step is to determine who owns the land and get written permission to plant a garden. Many times the owner will be happy to have a group step up and offer to improve and maintain a plot of land that has fallen into disarray. The next step is to determine who will pay for the basic expenses involved. Perhaps you will be able to find a sponsor, or the volunteers can all donate seeds and use their own tools. Another option is to divide the garden site into plots and charge a small fee for potential gardeners to use that plot.

You need to determine what kind of garden you want to grow. You can plant a garden with specific flowers just for their beauty, or you can plant shrubs and trees. You could also plant a vegetable garden to help sustain your local food bank. The possibilities are endless. Make sure everyone who is involved has specific tasks and the project is well organized. Have a way to contact everyone, such as through a rainproof bulletin board to announce meetings and community events in your garden. Finally, determine whether you want to carry insurance on your garden. A well organized garden will add to your community and foster a sense of community spirit among all the workers.