COMMENTARY | Gardening and its therapeutic value on the mind and body is as old as well, dirt. NPR reports that the long-standing practice of Horticultural Therapy is something professionals in various capacities of healthcare are paying closer attention to again. They are not alone.
As well, an article at KTRK-Houston points out the Harris County Juvenile Department has stepped away from boot-camp style rehabilitation. And, yes, along with one-on-one counseling and learning life enhancing skills, there is gardening.
I believe gardening is an excellent way to instill in youth the notion of responsibility and nurturing. Hopefully, it helps to nurture a healthy self-esteem, too.
Oh, and with this calmer approach to rehab, the article notes, juvenile repeat offenders have decreased from 25 percent to 20 percent. With the state of the economy, lack of jobs, and the social evils kids are dealing with, I’d have been impressed if the drop was 1 percent.
The awareness that gardening produces curative effects is rather ancient. However, many people associate the scientific angle of the effects of gardening with Benjamin Rush.
Back in 1798, Rush, known as the “Father of American Psychology,” documented an improvement in condition was noted when “mentally ill” patients were gardening or in a garden setting.
That probably sounds like a modest discovery by today’s standards. But not really if you consider that according to the NPR article, scientists today are still not absolutely sure how gardening specifically affects the brain.
Professional horticultural therapists do know that gardening promotes energy and stamina, improves coping skills and motivation, and reduces anxiety and tension. It also improves problem-solving and planning skills, and can inspire hope.
If you participate in caring for a community garden or belong to a garden club, that’s considered social horticulture. Through gardening, this is a great way to interact and share a passion with like-minded people.
I’m thrilled that gardening is being utilized as an effective, non-invasive healing tool. Horticultural Therapy is gaining strength at hospitals, in youth outreach programs, prisons, schools, and nursing homes. It’s been an ongoing practice at VA facilities since the return of WWII veterans.
Despite the astounding amount of modern knowledge we have accrued; we should not be so quick to turn our backs on the simple things in life that work. As a passionate gardener, I admire and appreciate this anonymous quote: “You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.”