Growing More Than a Garden
This summer, after several seasons of
neglect, I finally decided it was time to tackle my backyard. I cleaned up
overgrown areas, expanded garden beds, and generally put much more time and
effort into the space than I had in years. As I worked, I was reminded how much
I enjoy being outside and how rewarding gardening can be. It also got me
thinking about the unexpected benefits that come from gardening, many of which
have very little to do with the plants themselves.
When I first moved into our house in
Chaparral, there was a bit of landscaping, but aside from getting rid of the
weeds threatening to take over the lawn, I didn’t really care that much. Over
time, I started to make a bit more of an effort, but it wasn’t until I took
part in the build day for the community garden that I really started to take an
interest. I am from a farm, and gardening was just a part of life, not a part I
particularly enjoyed when I was growing up. With that in mind, my mother was
quite surprised to hear that I had signed up to help with the build and was
hoping to rent a plot. The reality, however, was that I was less interested in
the actual gardening than I was in being part of a community.
Being from a rural area, I am used to
seeing people I know every time I go into town. My kids used to find it weird
and somewhat annoying how long a quick errand could take because I was always
stopping to chat, but I loved it. I also grew up in a place where people came
together to make things happen. As a kid, I cleared tables and did dishes at
the annual Fall Fair turkey dinner, watched my dad help build the town’s
curling rink, handed out strawberries at our Canada Day parade while riding my
bike dressed as Strawberry Shortcake, and was often involved in club activities
that included community service.
These days, it sometimes feels easier to
find things that divide us than things that bring us together. That is probably
one of the reasons I was drawn to the community garden. Even though I knew very
little about community gardening and didn’t exactly have pleasant memories of
gardening itself, volunteering for the build day was an easy choice.
Build day was everything I hoped it would
be. I met new people and, for the first time in Calgary, felt a sense of
community I had been missing. At the end of the day, we were proud of what we
had accomplished and optimistic about what it would become.
After that, I rented a plot and joined the
committee. My gardening knowledge slowly grew along with my interest. I learned
about companion planting, square foot gardening, hoop houses, and soil health.
For a few years, I was able to plant by the end of March and have a lush bed by
mid-July. Looking back, I became a gardener almost by accident. I had shown up
for the community, and the gardening followed.
While our garden group never again came
together quite the way we did on build day, we still have work bees and
projects around the garden, and you can often run into one or two other
gardeners while watering your plot. Those small interactions may not seem
significant, but they are part of what makes a community feel like a community.
Over the years, I have come to realize that
community may have been what first drew me into gardening, but it is only one
of many benefits. Along with fresh vegetables and new friendships came
improvements to my physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of
life.
Gardening Keeps You Active
This one is fairly obvious, but gardening
is a good way to be more active and burn calories. This added activity can help
lower blood pressure and improve sleep. You can get even more activity if you
include walks around the neighbourhood to admire other gardens and gather ideas
for your own.
Gardening Relieves Stress
Anyone who has taken out their frustrations
on a patch of weeds knows how cathartic it can be. For some, it is calming to
focus on the straightforward task at hand. For others, it is the satisfaction
of seeing immediate progress. When there are so many things happening in life
beyond our control, methodically attacking weeds with my digging knife can help
restore a sense of calm I sometimes didn’t even know I needed.
Gardening Helps You Get the Vitamins and
Hormones You Need
Gardening gets us outdoors and into the
sunshine. Yes, we need to protect ourselves. Skin cancer runs in my family, and
I have already had a few run-ins with it. That said, sunshine still provides
important benefits. Vitamin D helps promote bone strength and supports the
immune system. Studies also suggest it may help reduce the risk of a variety of
cancers.
While I know from experience that spending
time outdoors lifts my spirits and helps me sleep better, science has an
explanation for that as well. Sunlight helps the brain produce serotonin, which
boosts mood, while the contrast between daylight and darkness supports
melatonin production, helping us sleep more soundly at night.
Gardening Helps Support Your Memory and
Mental Health
In Korea, researchers have found increases
in memory-related nerve growth in the brains of individuals suffering from
dementia after only twenty minutes of gardening. In the Netherlands and Norway,
programs known as Green Care allow people struggling with mental health and
substance-use challenges to spend time engaged in activities such as farming
and gardening. Early studies have shown positive changes in participants’
overall health, self-confidence, ability to cope with problems, sense of
responsibility, physical health, and social skills.
So, while I may not have understood the
full impact of volunteering at the community garden all those years ago, it is
a decision I have never regretted. What started as an opportunity to connect
with my neighbours led to a hobby that keeps me active, helps me manage stress,
and gets me outdoors. Perhaps most importantly, it reminded me that even in a
world where we often focus on our differences, shared projects and green spaces
still have a remarkable ability to bring people together.
Contributed by Jolene Ottosen
If you are interested in joining us in the
garden next season, we would love to hear from you! Please email us at
[email protected]
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