Go Play in the Dirt…It’s Good for You!

After living in Arizona for 17 years, I was able to move back to the Midwest in 2023. My new house came with a few large planter boxes in the front yard. I was so excited to see if I had a green thumb! I decided to try my gardening skills the following Spring. I had moved in August and needed to get settled into a routine before trying out a new hobby. I planted a few flowers I knew would survive the cold spells that happen in early Spring in this part of the country. Within a few weeks, I had a lovely garden full of blooms! I was so happy with my flowers and the pure joy I received from the entire process: going to the nursery to pick out the flowers, getting all the gardening supplies, digging in the dirt, getting my hands messy and being mindful of where I was planting which flowers.

 

The next Spring, I was given a tomato plant as a gift, and was told, “put it in your front yard and water it daily.” It was maybe 8 inches tall when I planted it that May. I had never grown vegetables before in my life and didn’t know what to expect. Each morning, I watered it and talked to it (yes, I talked to it, giving it encouragement to grow). It grew little by little, not producing any tomatoes. By the middle of July, I was getting discouraged, wondering why I had no fruit from my labors. I was told not to worry, the tomatoes would arrive in due time and they would be bountiful. Fast forward to mid-August— my tomato plant was about 4 feet tall and equally as wide! It took over my entire planter box and my lovely flowers that were in the front, were drowned out. Within a week of its dramatic growth spurt, I had my first tomatoes to harvest! I was overjoyed! Let me tell you, there is nothing better than a tomato straight from a garden! For the next six weeks, I had more tomatoes than I could handle. I ate them daily, gave them to neighbors, and took them to church. I now have more recipes for tomato uses than you can imagine!

The experience was so rewarding — all Spring and Summer, I enjoyed going outside for a few minutes and tending to my little garden, and reaping the rewards of my dedication! As I was thinking about what to write for this article, I learned that June is gardening month and great outdoors month. What a perfect combination to focus on as Summer arrives and we can enjoy time outside, and with much longer daylight hours.

 

Get Out There!

Getting outside and getting dirty is actually good for you—here are the benefits, per Psychology Today.

• Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Gardening lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Just 30 minutes in a green space can significantly decrease stress and help you feel calmer.
• Mood Enhancement: Physical activity in the sun increases the production of serotonin and dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals and playing in the dirt is fun!
• Mindfulness and Presence: Tending to plants encourages a flow state, pulling attention away from digital stressors and toward the immediate sensory experience of the garden. It provides daily structure to your routine, as well, knowing that you need to spend a few minutes outside each day to care for your plants.
• Sense of Accomplishment: Nurturing a plant from seed to harvest builds self-esteem and provides a tangible sense of purpose and pride.
• Cognitive Health: Regular gardening is linked to improved memory, better concentration, and a lower risk of dementia, particularly in older adults.
• ADHD Symptom Relief: Spending time in naturalized settings has been shown to reduce the severity of ADHD symptoms and improve focus in both children and adults.
• Acceptance and Resilience: Gardening teaches a “growth mindset” by showing that mistakes are learning opportunities and some factors (like weather) are beyond our control, which helps combat perfectionism.
• Social Connection: Community gardens serve as “social glue,” breaking down barriers and reducing loneliness through shared goals and knowledge-sharing with neighbors. Find one in your community and make growing your dinner a group effort!
• Physical Exercise: Tasks like weeding, digging, and raking provide low-impact, full-body exercise that burns as many calories as a gym workout, contributing to better overall mental health.
• Improved Nutrition: Growing your own food leads to a diet higher in fiber and nutrients, which is associated with a lower risk of developing depression. Nothing tastes better than a ripe tomato from your own garden!

 

What will you do this season to help improve your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being?

Try gardening…start small and pick one vegetable to grow…I did and this year am expanding my garden to add green beans and peppers!

Go play in the dirt in your bare feet and be 7 years old again and proud of your accomplishments! After all, a little dirt won’t hurt!

 

Amy Tilley, PsyD. has 20 years in the mental health and addiction recovery field. Her clinical interests include working with young adults and adults diagnosed with co-occurring conditions.

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