Gardening Your Way to Happiness as a Senior

Have you ever taken a moment to think about all the pleasure you get from a beautiful garden or a meal prepared with home-grown vegetables? Gardening is such an easy and fun activity, but most of us think we have to give it up as we age.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Gardening is a perfect activiy for seniors.

For many seniors, gardening is much more than just a hobby - it's a therapeutic escape that boosts emotional and physical health. With just a bit of effort, some seeds, soil, and sunshine, you can grow a vibrant oasis and reap the wellness rewards. The best part? Starting a garden is super cheap, and the benefits are priceless! 

Gardening gets you moving and breathing fresh air, which is great exercise for both body and mind. Just pottering around tending to your plants and digging in the dirt gives muscles and joints a gentle workout. The vitamin D from the sun is like a natural mood lifter too. Peacefully pruning and watering your flower beds is a meditation that melts away stress. 

Caring for a garden also provides a sense of purpose. When you nurture plants and watch them grow, it gives you a meaningful connection to nature. Seeing living things bloom under your green thumb is deeply fulfilling. Growing veggies and herbs that you can eat later adds fun productivity. The tasks involved in gardening encourage you to get outside your home and be active in a relaxing way.

In addition to the physical perks, gardening has powerful emotional benefits. It taps into fond memories of days past when you may have gardened with parents or grandparents as a child. Being around plants and flowers evokes nostalgia. Creating beauty through gardening is a creative outlet for self-expression when you arrange colorful blooms. Achieving gardening goals gives your self-esteem a healthy boost.

The social aspects of gardening are therapeutic too. You can join community garden groups to trade tips with fellow green thumbs and enjoy camaraderie. Gardening is a conversation starter when people ask about the plants in your yard. Showing off your garden's bounty with neighbors is a nice way to connect.

There are so many ways that you can explore this activity.  

• Container gardening is always popular
• Raised bed gardening is very rewarding
• Community gardening is beneficial and fun
• Patio gardening for small spaces

Whatever your circumstance, gardening is available to you and you might enjoy looking into this activity to boost not only your mental health, but also your physical health.  Our mothers used to tell us to "go outside and get fresh air and sunshine" and it turns out they were 100% correct.

So why not start cultivating your very own garden sanctuary? With just a small investment of time and money, you can grow a space for healthy aging. Gardening is a joyful journey that tends to your physical and mental well-being in the golden years. Get your hands dirty - your mind, body and spirit will thank you!

Resources:

(1) The Therapeutic Health Benefits of Gardening for Seniors

(2) Gardening for Seniors | Elderly Gardening Hobbies & Activities

(3) Therapeutic Benefits of Gardening in Your Senior Years

(4) Elderly Gardening: Growing Old Gracefully - Epic Gardening

(5) Gardening and Horticulture Therapy - Mind Science Centre