Gardening is more than a journey from seed to plant; it’s a metaphor for life that can help you keep your own journey in perspective. 

Having the power to follow the trajectory of a life from genesis to fruition introduces us to many emotions along the way. Think of the vulnerability of a tiny seed or the persistence of a plant that pushes its way through the pavement. If they can reach for the sunlight, so can we.

Our relationship with plants has weakened as more people move into urban environments where they cannot cultivate crops. While our ancestors counted on plants to provide food, shelter, and natural remedies, we have lost that bond as those items have become commodities. 

Along the way, we have lost that sense of purpose of growing our own decorations or food while finding more reasons to stay indoors, exposed to unhealthy, fluorescent light. By getting back to the earth, we find a way to enjoy simple pleasures that ignite virtually all our senses. This not only keeps you more grounded, but it also makes you more mobile and resilient.

Gardening therapy advocates have known for years that nourishing plants leads to flourishing within the people caring for them. It began in the 19th century then became key to helping rehabilitate war veterans in the 1940s and 1950s, due to its mental and physical health benefits. 

Anyone facing depression, anxiety, addictions, or post-traumatic stress disorder can find peace in the simple care of plants. For those not ready for talk therapy, this is a great way to get away from your troubles and focus on something positive and fulfilling.

Just getting outside has many benefits, ranging from better mobility, exposure to fresh air and natural light, and even greater longevity – thanks to lower stress, blood pressure, and heart rates. Having house plants also gives you a dose of similar purpose and sensory enrichment.

However, working with a garden and a trained therapist makes the experience even more rewarding.

Patients who work in gardens recover more quickly, spending less time in hospitals and mental-health facilities. It also helps dementia patients improve their memories, allowing them to live independently longer.

Plants teach us a great deal about how to arise from a low period to blossom anew. They face tough environments and rely on others to provide them with water and care so they can thrive. They love sunlight and require courage, optimism, and patience to reach their full potential.

By association, you are part of their success as you germinate seeds, provide water, and remove weeds that impede growth. All this builds your confidence and helps you see a constructive role for yourself in the world if you felt that was lacking.

All this is possible for anyone, regardless of their background. Plants don’t care if you have depression, dementia, or a criminal record. They respond to the elements they need to survive and thank you by blossoming, growing taller, and/or producing food. 

Just like healthcare facilities, gardening programs lead to prisoners leaving institutions sooner, usually with a new set of job skills that can be used on farms, with landscapers, or in garden centers.

If you doubt the power of horticulture therapy, check out the universities and colleges, including Rutgers and Colorado State, that offer it as a degree program. On top of therapeutic benefits, it helps develop physical muscles and skills used in balance, coordination, and fine motor skills.

Once you discover that you’re part of a bigger universe with its own ebb and flow, it helps to keep your problems in perspective. Then you can blossom on your own.

Reference: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/03/health/sw-horticultural-therapy/index.html