By Lisa Lewis, Greene County Master Gardeners Intern
Each season brings its own beauty. This time of year with days noticeably lengthening, seedlings growing in a sunny window, and green shoots pushing through the moist soil has many of us chomping at the bit to get out in the garden.
Why do we feel so much better after a few hours or even a few minutes outdoors? Scientists around the globe have been studying this question. Studies have shown that taking a 30-minute walk around a garden or forest a few times a week results in fewer symptoms of depression and hostility as well as improved sleep. These nature walks spark feelings of vigor and liveliness, reduced physical pain, and improved blood flow to regions associated with relaxation and improved focus and learning. A 30-minute walk around town did not yield such strong benefits; being in nature is the key over and above exercise.
Other studies have found that simply having a hospital room with a view of trees rather than a parking lot reduced need for pain killers and shortened hospital stays. Classrooms with views of gardens and trees or even with just a few potted plants in them have higher test scores and graduation rates. Students in these classrooms experienced improved focus and attention, and caused fewer disruptive behaviors. Engaging in aromatherapy utilizing volatile compounds derived from trees and plants (think mint, spruce, lavender, citrus, etc) enhances production of the brain’s own calming chemical called GABA. Of course, when you are out working in your garden you are inhaling many of the same volatile aromatics used in aromatherapy and getting the same GABA boost.
Turns out that after ages spent living outdoors, nature is in our DNA. Researchers at the University of Virginia showed infants pictures so rapidly (30 milliseconds) that all that registered consciously was a flash of light. Pictures of spiders caused a spike in the amygdala and other brain structures that process danger and fear. Pictures of a pond and trees caused brain activity associated with relaxation and calm attention. This happened even though these babies had never seen spiders or ponds! A response to nature has become part of the genetic makeup of our brains.
There’s more! Scientists have found a substance in soil that is a natural antidepressant. When you work in the garden you interact with soil organisms called mycobacterium vaccae which stimulate the cells in the brain to produce serotonin, which makes us feel relaxed and happy. Sunlight hitting the retina causes neurons in the brain to produce dopamine which researcher Paul Meehan called “cerebral joy juice”. This “juice” satisfies us and gives us energy to take on new tasks.
As one science writer concluded, the positive nature effect on our physical, mental and thinking health is even bigger than the benefit of friends and family. So why has the amount of time spent outdoors plummeted by over half? Today, the average American spends only 7% of their time outdoors, including time walking from a building to the car. Our epidemic dislocation from nature reflects mistaken self-understanding. People consistently overestimate how much they’ll enjoy indoor pursuits and underestimate how much they’ll enjoy being outside. Forecasting errors like these unfortunately play a big role in how we choose to spend our time. As a result, we’re experiencing a growing generational amnesia of what it is like to be a part of nature.
But, the good news is that it doesn’t take much to reverse this. Your gardening effort, whether it’s a houseplant, a window box or patio tub, or the bottom 40 acres will boost your mood, immune system, resilience and creativity. Now that’s a lot of bang for your buck! So, get off your computer and out of the house – get your hands dirty in your garden to be a better, brighter and happier YOU!
