Growing your own food has many benefits for your health, frame of mind, environment and wallet. It gives you a constant supply of fresh, nutrient filled vegetables and fruits, while also reducing your environmental footprint.

Moreover, gardening is an activity that requires a lot of physical activity and burns more calories than walking. Adding to that, it is a social activity that provides you the opportunity of interacting with other people in community gardens.

1. Save Money

Many people find they are able to save money by gardening. This is due to the fact that the initial investment into a garden is generally cheaper than purchasing vegetables at the grocery store.

This is especially true for the more expensive vegetables, such as tomatoes and melons, as well as large quantities of other vegetables that would otherwise be purchased regularly.

It is also possible to save money by using a vertical garden, which allows you to grow your plants up instead of out. This type of garden can be a great option for people who have back or knee problems, as it eliminates the need to bend down.

2. Fresh Food

Gardening produces fresh, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables that are free of herbicides and pesticides. They also taste better, as they’ve spent less time in transportation and storage.

During times of food price volatility, drought, and natural disaster, gardening is one way to ensure families have a supply of healthy, affordable foods. In countries such as Tajikistan, where civil war and drought have impacted families’ ability to access food markets, home gardens are an important supplement to household food security and nutrition [6].

The benefits of eating fresh produce go even further than money saved. The nutrients from the food you grow can actually promote better health and help prevent disease.

3. Boost Your Mood

Gardening is a good form of exercise that keeps you physically active. From squatting down to weed to pushing a wheelbarrow, gardening tasks require full body movements and can help build muscle strength in your arms, legs, back, abdomen and chest.

Research has shown that gardeners experience mood-boosting benefits similar to other types of exercise like walking or cycling. This may be due to the fact that working with your hands helps you de-stress, and the act of cultivating plants stimulates the brain to release serotonin.

In addition, spending time in the sun increases your vitamin D levels which can improve your mood and slow down cognitive decline.

4. Exercise

Gardening engages every major muscle group of the body as you bend, stretch, lift and shovel. It also helps improve dexterity and balance.

Adding to the benefits of exercise, gardening is also great for the mind and spirit. Taking pride in growing your own food, flowers and shrubs stimulates the “feel good” hormones serotonin and dopamine while decreasing stress levels by lowering cortisol.

Digging, spading and raking can burn 186 calories per one-half hour – that’s comparable to skateboarding or playing softball. The aerobic part of gardening can even boost your heart rate into the exercise “zone.” Thrive also notes that working in the garden requires concentration, which enhances memory and learning.

5. Social Interaction

Gardening connects us to a wider community and helps combat negative health impacts caused by loneliness. It can be as simple as talking to your neighbors while you’re outside working on the lawn or sharing tips with a gardening group online.

In fact, researchers have linked gardening with a range of positive social changes, including enhancing food security and livelihoods, women empowerment, and sustainable development in post-conflict situations. However, further research is needed to understand the exact nature of these socio-cultural impacts. In this study, time spent gardening was significantly positively correlated with the following “benefits of gardening” scales: Restoration, Attachment, Physical, Social and Identity.

6. Environmentally Friendly

From the modest family garden to massive public parks, the act of gardening has important repercussions on the landscape, the soil, rivers, and atmosphere. Fortunately, when it is done in a responsible way, gardening can have numerous environmental benefits.

Plants absorb carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants, while their roots help bind soil together to prevent erosion during heavy rain or on sloped ground. Plants also help to deflect noise pollution by absorbing sound waves.

Natural methods of gardening, such as composting, keep the soil healthy and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Additionally, planting native species helps limit the spread of invasive weeds and wildlife.