Whether it’s because we’re spending more time at home, or thinking more about supply chains and shortages, more people took up gardening tools in 2020. Seed companies report increased demand globally, and a study out of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, reveals that almost 20% of Canadians grew food for the first time in 2020.
There’s some evidence that gardening can help reduce stress, increase feelings of well-being, and build community. Here are three recent stories that reinforce those ideas.
Community GardeningCommunities like Sudbury, Ontario, just went ahead and got their hands dirty. The Home Garden Project helped distribute free soil and seeds to hundreds of local households. The goal was to support mental and physical health during a challenging time, increase food security, and let citizens contribute to community wellness.
Ease Stress in the GardenIn an economically disadvantaged part of North England, researchers from three UK universities planted ornamental gardens in residential front gardens. Participants in the study reported lower stress, increased feelings of well-being, and greater happiness due to their newly blooming yards, and saliva tests indicated lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in those who…
