If there is one positive to come out of the coronavirus restrictions, it is that many of us rediscovered (or simply realized) the joy of gardening. We might have been confined to home but whether it was planting a veggie garden or tending to indoor plants, we were “getting our green on”.
And all of it is good for the soul, according to scientists, who say pottering about with plants improves happiness and emotional wellbeing as much as cycling, walking, or eating out.
A Princeton University study found that running or sports may provide more physical exertion, but gardening works better as an emotional pick-me-up.
Watch this video below for more plantita/plantito tips!
You will breathe easier
Those living in apartments/condominiums or townhouses can rest easy – you are not missing out. The clever folk at NASA discovered indoor plants do more than add oxygen to our environment, they can also help remove toxins. So much so that when researching the potential of life on Mars, NASA looked seriously at the possibility of using plants as natural air conditioning units. In an average 4m x 5m room, one plant can make your air 25% cleaner and five plants can make your air up to 75% cleaner, according to horticulture initiative Plant Life Balance.
Helps with Fitness (goodbye corona kilos!)
Aside from being relaxing and rewarding, gardening can help you lose weight and get a full-body workout. Handy if you have gained a few corona kilos. This is because it encourages the use of many motor skills, improves endurance and strength, and keeps you moving. According to the researchers from Harvard University, half an hour of weeding can burn up to 582kJ.
It is a Mood Booster
Gardening is an activity that brings pleasure and a sense of achievement. It can also be a self-soothing or distraction technique to help us cope with negative emotions like fear, sadness, and anger. Creating opportunities to experience joy and accomplishment can help us elevate our mood.
You will connect with Nature
Before COVID-19 we were probably too busy being busy to pay attention to the natural beauty around us. Attracting local wildlife is just one of the many benefits of having a good garden. It is lovely to see birds and bees visiting your garden!
Meet the Neighbors
Most of us had the chance to get outside, which meant chatting with neighbors. My neighbors always appreciate my garden, and even during my weeding days. Having a nice garden gives a good impression to your community. Plants give a welcoming and warm appeal to others which helps us to connect more to people.
Eat your greens
Growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs will encourage you to eat seasonally, add more variety to your diet, encourage you to prepare homemade healthy dishes, and learn to appreciate fresh produce. Do not expect immediate results, because establishing an edible garden is a long-term project – but well worth the effort if you want to give it a go!
The dress is from Mawarra Opportunity Shop
Do you have plants at home? How many plants do you have?
Will you consider having one?
Gardening is indeed a mood booster! It reminds us of our connection to nature, and helps us focus on the bigger picture.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right!
DeleteYou have a lovely garden. I am also fond of flowers and plants. Have a terrace garden in my apartment.
ReplyDeleteW have a small space at the back of the house, which I am thinking to build my own mini vegetation.
DeleteI love gardening with the kids. It helps them understand where our food comes from.
ReplyDeleteAnd also gives appreciation in many plants!
DeleteIt's cold where I am but I just started buying indoor plants for the first time and I love it!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did start having indoor plants. You can also have a makeshift nursery for your little vegetables.
DeleteGardening has been big for me in self-isolation too! It's been a long 9 months.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you are enjoying gardening, and making it part of your lifestyle. When things get back to normal, how gardening still be there.. you are now creating a new norm for yourself :)
DeleteI like the idea of meeting my neighbors through a hobby. I like to try my hand in planting, too, but I think I will plant vegetables for practical reasons.
ReplyDeleteVegetables are my next project! Good thing I have an Aussie grandma who will guide me to start. Yes, it is lovely to meet neighbors through gardening, especially when your neighbor had an amazing plants that are expensive in the shops, lol.
Deletewoow...absolutely spotted on & you really have green fingers, love how you grow your plants, so so lovely. I own a water money plants only, but on my office desk which I used to water it every morning when I arrived office. However guess my plant already died by now, have been months I did'nt water it due to lockdown & unable to be back to my office. So so sad when think about it...sigh... :( Gonna shop for a new plant when lockdown ended then. cheers, siennylovesdrawing
ReplyDeleteI can relate to you, also got money tree on my office desk that I received as a gift.. now it is dead. Oh I was heartbroken. When we moved into our current house, I also brought all my potted plants from the previous house. I will never leave them!
DeleteReally nice post! I bought an indoor plant this fall and I like how it helps me to remember to be present and to connect with nature. It helps me see the world a little differently!
ReplyDeleteMy plants helps me to relax, and relieves my headache.
DeleteI love the idea of planting your own garden so you can get fresh vegetables right from home!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a very relaxing activity. plus gives you fresh food on your table.
DeleteI am no Plantita, but I do see a lot of my friends becoming Plantitos and Plantitas during the pandemic. The pandemic has indeed brought the good with the bad.
ReplyDeleteThat is true, and it is the least that we can do in order for us to start to move forward, and found our own greenlight :)
DeleteGardening can be so relaxing! If I had the time I'd love to have a garden inside my house and outside.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. Leaving here in the regional area gave me an opportunity to enjoy gardening. Work doesn't complicate things coz it is all online.
DeleteI have done more yard work this year because of the quarantine. It's so nice to get in the yard and see the satisfying results.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly the feeling!
DeleteI want to garden so badly! I live in florida and have a sandy backyard so it makes things a little more challenging
ReplyDeleteI agree. You need to get premix soil then and make your on bedding soil.
Deletewow, I'm jelly, it's so beautiful .. you are handy!
ReplyDeleteThis stay at home period has afforded me with many opportunities but the one thing I miss is spending time with my plants. I really need to reconnect with nature closer to home. Reading your article is a good reminder that I should do so sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteYes, you should. It is rewarding!
DeletePlants are a great way to improve the quality of the air in your home. It helps with relaxation as well.
ReplyDeleteThat is true!
DeleteI love gardening and plants, but I live in an apartment. And even though I could have indoor plants, my cat keeps destroying them :D Love the photos; they look stunning!
ReplyDeleteawww that is strange! My cat never bothers my plants. But she did love to lounge on my fabrics.
DeleteAgree about plants around the house but we prefer to have none inside since it withers and die (3x we tried), however we love to see greens all around.. these plants have purpose too like taking out stress, minimize radiation and plain display. Just wondering why some plants are so expensive though? Anyway, thank you so much for sharing here, love this one for sure
ReplyDeleteYou can have a Chinese bamboo and peace lily. These plants grows in the water, and they are low maintenance.
DeleteAbout the plant costs, some of them are expensive - the source and scarcity of the plant adds to the costs. Another factor is the logistic costs (and import taxes!) especially when it is from other countries.
I used to love gardening with my grandma. She mostly grew flowers, but did have some basil plants and a blueberry bush. It was a lot of fun and something kids enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMy Aussie grandma also loves gardening, and she got her vegetable beds!
DeleteI don't have my own garden - and in all honesty, I doubt it could cheer me up; this year has been far too rotten.
ReplyDeleteaww cheer-up! If you keep yourself lurking in sadness, you will only wasting your valuable time in the dark. And I guess you don't want to grow old remembering those dark times.
DeleteGardening must be so nice! I never tried it myself, because I live in the apartment in the city but I do enjoy greenery in the local park (main source of joy and fun during the pandemic). By the way, I love your dress!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, local parks are always a joy! Sometimes, I do check the volunteers on how they maintain these many public parks.
DeleteI feel like this post is for me! In an ideal world I see myself surrounded by plants everywhere. It's amazing that there is actually a Princeton University study on the impacts of gardening too. You present some very valid points.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your most favorite indoor plant?
DeleteYou have a beautiful yard. I want more plants in and outside my house. It brings me joy to look at something beautiful while working or sitting outside on my porch.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky that our rental place have a beautiful yard and now I am maintaining it. Then I got heaps of potted indoors and outdoor plants that will be easy to transfer when we decided to move again :)
DeleteThis pandemic gives us more time to be at home and discover more of what we already have. Taking care of my plants and focusing on them these days made me divert the paranoia that the virus brought to us.
ReplyDeleteSame and and I love the benefits and happiness my plants gives me.
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