Earth, sun and shovel: the secret of good mood that our grandmothers know

Despite fatigue after digging potatoes, fertilising, watering and trimming bushes, many people feel satisfied and calm. As it turns out, this is no accident: there is a scientific basis for this phenomenon.

A discipline called horticultural therapy uses gardening as a means of supporting people with various mental health difficulties. According to Karen Haney, a horticultural therapy instructor at UCLA Extension, plant and soil activities help people cope with emotional stresses.

Occupational therapist Sarah Thompson of Idaho notes: all it takes is devoting 20-30 minutes to gardening a few times a week to feel the effects - reduced stress, improved mood and overall emotional recovery.

Why gardening works

Gardening is more than just a walk in the fresh air. It requires attention, care, decision-making, and watching plants grow and develop. This approach makes the process more meaningful than simply relaxing in nature. The result is a sense of achievement and control, especially important for people suffering from anxiety or depression.

In addition, contact with the earth helps the body through the microbiome: the soil is home to bacteria that have been found to have a positive effect on the production of serotonin, the "happiness hormone." And being in the sun activates the production of vitamin D, which also improves mood.

Scientific evidence

A study from the University of Colorado at Boulder confirmed the benefits of gardening. Participants who were given access to plots and seedlings reported lower stress levels, stronger social connections and increased fibre intake - factors that improve not only mental but also physical health. They also had increased levels of physical activity by 42 minutes per week compared to a control group that did not garden.

Similar conclusions were reached in a study by the University of Exeter and the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain: gardeners' well-being was found to be comparable to residents of more affluent neighbourhoods on many measures.

Benefits for all

Gardening is universal: it doesn't depend on age, physical condition or plot size. It helps develop strength, flexibility, balance and cognitive skills, including creativity and problem solving. It also promotes social integration and gives a sense of belonging.

As Sarah Thompson summarises, "Deep down inside, we gardeners have always known this. Now we have the science to prove it."