BRYAN, Texas — Gardening could be a new outlet. Dr. Charlie Hall, a professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, says there are multiple health benefits associated with gardening and has seen the positive effects on himself and the community.
Dr. Hall says that gardening can relieve stress and anxiety, decrease depression and increase creativity.
“We talked about how those who cultivate gardens and landscapes experience less stress,” said Dr. Charlie Hall, a professor at Texas A&M. “During the pandemic, there were 18.5 million new gardeners/landscapers. That’s pretty substantial market growth.”
Plants and gardening come in many forms. Dr. Hall said that healing gardens can really heal people.
“If there are healing gardens, then there are fewer outbursts of anger,” said Dr. Hall.
As Dr. Hall studies more research on the health and wellness benefits of gardening, he wants others to know what he has discovered.
“And I thought to myself … this sounds like something that people need to know because we’re all concerned about the quality of our lives and this is something that directly affects the quality of our lives and it’s very simple,” said Dr. Hall. .
Some of those positive effects include getting your hands dirty in the dirt, relieving stress from the body, and connecting with the community.
“Sometimes it is good to get your hands dirty because there are bacteria in the soil that help in terms of immunity to certain diseases. Of course, being outside, the vitamin D that your skin absorbs.”
Dr. Charlie Hall says that the positive effects of gardening make people want to know more.
“The fact is that people went through a pandemic that changed their lives and a lot of people who had a job weren’t necessarily happy, they said ‘wait a minute,’” said Dr. Hall. “Life is too short.”
Kindergarten teacher Katie Loewe found herself in a similar situation and combined her two passions: gardening and working with sexual assault survivors.
“I was going through a lot of mental anguish myself and was looking for something that I could educate myself in and bring my daughter who was two years old at the time, along with me,” said Katie Loewe, kindergarten teacher, Brazos County. “It provided a great opportunity for education and the community.”
Through a mental health class, Loewe was able to work with people suffering from PTSD, depression and anxiety.
“To think deeply and experience where they are, in that moment. He ground them. It helps to completely reprogram their minds and gives them the courage to interact with the environment around them, which is truly remarkable.”
She says that people opened up and became more animated.
“Being able to get them to reconnect with themselves and the spaces around them is crucial,” Loewe said. “It helps reprogram their mind, it helps them get their confidence back again when their confidence has been shaken.”
Dr. Hall says that gardening helps during all stages of life, from reducing bullying to improving nutrition at the family table to improving work productivity simply by having plants in the office.
Loewe says that all of the garden plants can be found at local stores if you want to start your own garden at home.
If you or your child is interested in becoming a Brazos County gardener, please visit: Brazos County Master Gardeners: Spreading Knowledge, Providing Solutions (brazosmg.com).
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