topic Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic? in Staying well

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Spearmint — Sat, 13 May 2017 14:56:08 GMT

I'm attempting to grow some of my own food as I really like the idea of being self sustainable.

Being outside, connecting with nature, watching my plants grow and produce food over time brings about a sense of peace and purpose.

Does anyone else find gardening helps with depression/mental illness?

What are you all growing?

I'm still a beginner, I spent months watering a plant that turned out to be just a weed haha.

I have some capsicums getting nice and fat, also I have planted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and cabbage seeds a couple of weeks ago.

🙂

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

geoff — Sat, 13 May 2017 17:12:41 GMT

hello Spearmint, a good post because it's always something that is mentioned to help with depression, for me I only found sitting on a ride on mower helpful, while I also was happy painting the outside windows, where I could just get up and start painting them again, even though they didn't need to be. Geoff.

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Quercus — Mon, 15 May 2017 13:53:48 GMT

Hi Spearmint,

Yes gardening is the best kind of therapy I think.

I don't tend to grow veggies though I like trees. Fruit trees and ornamental trees and pretty much anything I can grow long term. I've just cracked some sandalwood seeds in a vice today and potted them up. Probably the wrong time of year but I don't care. I love growing things from seeds I find on a walk or cuttings from friends. There is a lot of joy in watching something grow over months and years.

What is your favourite thing in your garden so far? At the moment I'm enjoying my tiny little agapanthus seedlings I'm growing up for a family member.

Have you read the thread Kanga's virtual garden? Maybe you'd enjoy it too.

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

startingnew — Tue, 16 May 2017 05:57:17 GMT

hi everyone

while im not much of a gardener myself i do love gardens and the many different aspects of nature

im a drawer and when i draw i get most of my inspiration from nature. 🙂

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Guest_128 — Tue, 16 May 2017 09:16:06 GMT

Hi ya,

watching my garden grow is more enjoyable then my kids!

my plants don't speak back to me.😂🤗🌻🌽🍉🍓

Then get chooks,they are such funny things.🐣

Later

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Guest_128 — Thu, 18 May 2017 07:58:26 GMT

Hey Spearmint,

hows the garden going.

Later

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Spearmint — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 06:11:23 GMT

Sorry for the late reply, been trying to keep more occupied.

Maybe it's not necessarily gardening that's therapeutic but just being outside in general. In nature and in the sunshine, I've heard that not getting enough time in the sunshine can make depression worse.

My garden is going well so far, I've picked a few capsicums and they were so good! So fresh.

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Guest_128 — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 06:38:20 GMT

Hey good to hear from you,

Its rain at Michael ne ATM,which is good as we nearly ran out of water last week and had to buy some in.

I had an awesome vegie garden bout as big as 2 tennis courts,we loved watch the produce grow and we had immense pleasure giving it to family. It's a bit sad now as we have issues from the Raff with spilt milk so to speak. So for now I have my delightful chooks and white duck in there.

I go stir crazy if I'm inside for to long and find much more pleasure outside (I do go crackers if it's windy.)

I love all my other plants,I have bullnose veranda all the way around.

I am forever cutting,trimming,feeding,watering them. I like the artistic shapes of plants.

Do you have other plants?

Later

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Mr_Walker — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 07:36:27 GMT

Yes I do! I only recently got into gardening when we bought our house - never bothered when we were renting.

Enjoying the nice weather, nurturing and watching things grow, the bugs, birds, peace and quiet, the sense of achievement...

Glorious!

(I'm not very successful with veges but we have fruit tress and lots of bulbs and flowers)

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Quercus — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 06:46:11 GMT

Hi Spearmint and anyone reading...

Woohoo you were on to something with the idea of gardening as therapy!

Check this out...

www.beyondblue.org.au/media/media-releases/media-releases/nurseries-and-garden-suppliers-hold-garden-releaf-weekend-to-raise-funds-for-beyondblue-and-promote-gardening-for-wellbeing

Awesome!

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Quercus — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 06:50:37 GMT

By the way I probably should point out it was a 2015 event. I got all happy thinking it might be this year (I can dream huh).

On a different note my Mum gave me a new succulent plant which had proceeds to Beyond Blue. I was pretty stoked. Two passions in one potplant.

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

startingnew — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 08:08:38 GMT

thats wonderful Nat! 🙂

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Jacaranda72 — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 00:43:54 GMT

I inherited a rose garden when we moved to this house 14 years ago. I’ve learned how to prune and care for them and get so much pleasure in watching their cycle through bare branches in winter to the magnificent first flush of blooms in November. I sit on my front verandah and look at them all like old friends! I have reds, whites and pinks.

Succulents are my next favourite plants. So easy to grow and I like browsing second hand shops for interesting pots to put them in.

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Quercus — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 15:17:04 GMT

Hello Jacaranda 😊

Your rose garden sounds lovely. Which is your favourite?

I like how you write about cycles. I get the same satisfaction watching the changes on my plot of land throughout the year. Right now it is orchid season. I've found donkey orchids, green hoods, cow slips and spider orchids (red, pink and white so far). Soon the blue leschenaultia will flower and then the pinwheel sundews with their carpet of tiny orange flowers.

There is something about natural cycles I find reassuring and peaceful.

Which succulents do you like best?

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Jacaranda72 — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 00:23:22 GMT

Hello Quercus

thanks for telling me about the flowers you love. I don’t know the names of the roses in my garden! I probably could find out but I just enjoy them anyway. I have a bank of white icebergs which also run all across my front brush fence. Then in front of those I have large bush roses in deep red, light pink, dark pink. You have to walk through or past the roses to get to my front door and they are very admired! Such beauties.

As for the succulents, I planted a large shallow bowl with about 15 different types. Again, it’s out on the front veranda so I can see it every time I go by and it’s a talking point when visitors call around. It reminds me of aquarium coral - all different colours, shapes and textures.

My favourite succulent is the string of pearls. It is so strange to see those green balls! It’s like weird hair or seaweed!!

I’m having a real low patch lately - changing meds and trying to come to terms with anxiety. These forums are helpful to share thoughts with people who understand. Hope you are traveling well.

Best wishes

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Quercus — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 02:59:57 GMT

Hi Jacaranda 😊

String of pearls are awesome. I love how they look in flower. So unusual.

If you cross paths on the social threads with a member called CMF she loves succulents too and makes homemade succulent terrariums. Perhaps a new project in the garden will help get you through this low patch?

Do you find getting out in the sun and fresh air helps you too? I'm going to go cut firewood and stack it today. The physical work for some reason always helps me feel safe if not better.

It's nice to meet you here. Always lovely to have more garden lovers to chat to in my mind. I hope this week looks brighter for you.

Nat

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Marchaaika — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 13:10:06 GMT

I also find gardening quite therapeutic, but lost the motivation to pursue the hobby, along with most others, for the past few years. I almost forgot how wonderful it could be, until my mum asked me to completely redo the garden bed in her front yard this past winter as she no longer has the mobility to do it and it was in quite a sad state.

It turns out that she has done me a huge favour and has reignited my enjoyment of gardening, tending to plants and watching them flourish and flower, and spending time outdoors in the sunshine. I find it almost meditative in a way, and very relaxing. I now also have my own growing collection of potted plants around my patio. When I am having trouble coping it is a great outlet and distraction.

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Quercus — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 06:16:36 GMT

Hi Marchaaika,

I'm glad you rediscovered your green fingers and garden passion.

I suspect gardening is like many other hobbies... Sometimes we need to change it up or it gets a bit stale.

But the sunshine and physical work is lovely.

What did you end up doing to revamp the garden bed?

Lovely to meet you.

Nat

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Panther101 — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 09:10:42 GMT

As a 30yr old guy who had had a mild form of OCD throughout the teen years and has progressively got worse through my adult years to exploding this year... i absolutely ADORE gardening. I am at my happiest and calmest when gardening. Ironically i don't care how dirty my hands get or how rough my skin gets because im actually doing something and what i am doing is all i can think about.

Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

Quercus — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 14:46:47 GMT

Hi Panther101 and thank you for sharing your story with us. That made me smile.

I feel the same about the dirt and hard work (it's all just part of the charm of gardening).

What sort of things do you like best? I seem to collect cuttings and seeds and experiment with propagation. It is very rewarding and low cost.

I'm curious... What is it about focusing on the gardening tasks that helps you with your OCD?

Nat