A
s a cancer survivor and
garden designer, I can attest
to the fact that gardening is
a mood lifter, a body balancer and a
mind clearer. So much so, that as I
was recovering from treatment,
I was compelled to write a book on
the subject, “The Cancer Survivor’s
Garden Companion: Cultivating Hope,
Healing & Joy in the Ground Beneath
Your Feet,” as a way of helping other
people use their gardens as resources
for a happier, healthier and more
balanced life. Gardens can lift your
mood and soothe your soul, making
even the most stressed-out person
more balanced and healthy.

AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
Most of us have too many things going
on in our lives on a day-to-day basis.

Whether we work outside the home,
have a busy desk job or take care of
children, we try to be multi-tasking
champions, often at the risk of our
own health. Experts call this “Directed
Attention Fatigue” — our minds are
forced to focus too long and too hard,
with overloading and constant stimuli.

It’s not good for anyone, and it can
take a serious toll on every part of us.

GARDENING FOR
Health and Wellness
BY JENNY PETERSON
It’s not difficult to see that gardening is great light exercise, right?
Hauling mulch bags, turning the compost, digging holes and
raking leaves all use your entire body, stretching and building
muscle. But what if you knew that gardening is actually good for
your emotional health as well? In fact, gardening is known to be
beneficial for every single part of you — body, mind and spirit.

32 June 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com
A simple antidote is to get outside
in the garden, because when we
garden, the mind is able to relax and
focus on just one thing. And with
some garden tasks like weeding and
watering, no focus is even necessary
— we know what to do and can do
it on autopilot. This allows the mind
and body to decompress and simply
connect to the moment.

A number of things that happen in the
body when you garden distinguish
this activity from any other type of
“workout.” Fresh air, sunshine and
light movement can be invigorating
for your body. Combine that with the
connection to nature, growing healthy
food and making your outdoor space
attractive and inviting, and you’ve
got the perfect ingredients for feeling
strong, balanced and mindful.