living well | GARDENING & HEALTH
Gardening Your Way to Better Health By Pamela A. Keene | Photography courtesy of Jordan Crossingham Brannock and joegardener.com
Playing in the dirt has many health and therapeutic benefits – from healthier eating to a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind. Whether you love digging in the dirt or simply enjoy strolling through a woodland garden, connecting with nature can work wonders in your daily life. “From improving your physical health to taking a break from the stresses of life, getting back to Mother Earth brims with benefits,” says Joe Lamp’l, national television host and creator of joegardener.com. “People who garden are generally more physically active, plus many gardeners I know seem to just be happier and more centered. Maybe it’s because they are so connected to nature.” 18 DeSoto
From growing houseplants to creating food gardens for family and friends, people who garden seem to find their own niches. Some like to putter with potted plants; others go all out with home greenhouses, large food plots with raised beds, or focusing on collections of similar plants, such as hydrangeas, hellebores, or ferns. Green and Growing Lamp’l cites an article from Colorado State University’s Cooperative Extension Master Garden Program’s
