Beyond the Bloom: The Deeper Value of Gardening
- Katrina Wright
- May 28
- 3 min read
By Katrina Wright, Horticulturist & Community Grower
This article explores the lesser-known, but equally powerful ways that gardening can enhance our wellbeing and connection to the world around us.
A Quiet Antidote to the Indoor Lifestyle
Modern life is lived largely indoors, and it’s taking a toll. According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of adolescents and one in four adults worldwide aren’t getting enough physical activity. In many parts of Europe and the UK, people spend up to 90% of their time inside.
Gardening invites us back outdoors, without the pressure of performance or gym routines. Even light gardening tasks like weeding, watering, or sowing seeds increase movement and can support muscle tone, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. But perhaps more importantly, being outside also means exposure to sunlight, which helps the body synthesise vitamin D, vital for:
Strengthening bones and teeth
Supporting immune function
Regulating mood and energy levels
The Microbial Connection: What Soil Does for the Mind
Soil is alive. In just one teaspoon of healthy soil, there can be billions of microorganisms, including bacteria that are currently being studied for their effects on mental health. One of these microbes, Mycobacterium vaccae, has shown potential to stimulate serotonin production, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, sleep, and digestion.
This might help explain why digging in the soil, sowing seeds, and even inhaling that earthy scent after rain often leave people feeling more grounded and emotionally uplifted.
Emerging research suggests regular contact with soil and gardening activity may:
Alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety
Improve resilience and stress tolerance
Boost overall emotional wellbeing
Colour, Scent, and Harvest: How Gardens Stimulate Joy
When we see a ripening tomato, smell crushed basil, or run our hands across lavender, something shifts in us. These sensory moments don’t just feel good, they trigger biochemical responses. Many garden sights and scents are known to stimulate the production of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with reward and motivation.
This may trace back to our evolutionary past. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors relied on recognising ripe colours, fragrant clues, and edible shapes to survive. These instincts are still hardwired into us, making gardening feel both nostalgic and satisfying on a primal level.
Dopamine helps:
Boost motivation and memory
Regulate emotional responses
Encourage habit-forming, positive behaviours
Some garden-grown foods can naturally support or trigger dopamine production, including:
Beetroots
Artichokes
Avocados
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds
Raw cacao or dark chocolate
The Garden as a Natural Mood Regulator
In addition to dopamine, gardening activities can support serotonin levels through both physical movement and exposure to nature. Serotonin is associated with a calm, stabilised mood and is heavily influenced by nutrition.
Many plant-based foods naturally support serotonin production via tryptophan, an essential amino acid. These include:
Leafy greens like spinach and kale
Mushrooms
Peas and soybeans
Broccoli
Seeds and nuts
Regular exposure to green spaces also helps to reduce levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. Over time, this can improve sleep quality, regulate appetite, and support hormone balance.
The Physical and Emotional Impact of Gardening
Engaging with nature on a regular basis, even through modest gardening tasks, can result in a cascade of benefits. Studies show that just 120 minutes a week spent in green spaces can improve overall health and mental wellbeing, regardless of age or background.
Regular gardening may help:
Support cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure
Improve mobility and joint function
Regulate sleep cycles and appetite
Build confidence and self-esteem through nurturing care
Reduce social isolation when gardening in shared or community spaces
Protecting What Heals Us
Healthy soil takes time to build up, to a century for just five millimetres of topsoil. Yet this fragile layer is under constant threat from overuse of chemicals, industrial development, and poor land management.
By gardening in ways that support biodiversity, composting, reducing synthetic inputs, mulching, and planting pollinator-friendly species, we not only improve our personal wellbeing, but help restore the wider ecosystem.
More Than a Hobby
Gardening is not just a pastime. It’s a deeply human act, of healing, nurturing, reclaiming autonomy, and reconnecting with rhythms we’ve become distanced from.
Whether you're growing rocket on a windowsill or building raised beds in your local green space, you're investing in something bigger: your wellbeing, your soil, your community, and a slower, more connected way of life.
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