By: Rachel Wu
I began my very amateur gardening journey three years ago with a few succulents I bought on clearance at Home Depot. At the time, I was ecstatic to be taking care of these fleshy little beings solely because my parents refused to let me get a pet. Since then, I have grown to appreciate the multifaceted benefits of gardening, and other students should be able to enjoy them too.
Spending time gardening not only distracts you from social media but is psychologically enriching; gardening allows you to slow down and spend time absorbing the details of your surroundings. Watching insects crawl in their natural habitat, noting the intricate designs of a flower’s petals, and feeling pride after managing not to kill a plant, are all incredibly rewarding feelings.
In a society where obligations seemingly follow us everywhere through the expectation of perpetual availability via email, the opportunity to appreciate small moments in a vacuum away from stress is an underrated luxury. For students who often worry about inconsequential things, the ability to value nature at this deeper level reminds us that we are a tiny part of something that is so great. Surprisingly, feeling somewhat small and insignificant can help us put our worries into perspective and encourage us to spend more time finding our purpose. Some amount of stress will always prevail, but gardening can be a grounding tool. Simply digging around for vegetables or watching hummingbirds flock to your plants can remind you that sometimes, all you have to do is show up to enjoy yourself.
While the school garden is not currently open to all students, helping out in a school or community garden can be a simple way to start gardening, and there are a myriad of positive effects. Gaining exposure to a wider variety of fruits and vegetables through gardening can increase students’ willingness to eat them through adulthood; an International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity study finds that a school gardening intervention leads to an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption in school-age children. A Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics study reveals a similar finding with college freshmen as the subjects, crucially indicating that gardening also affects the eating habits of late-adolescent people, not just younger children.
Participation in a school or community garden builds a sense of community and encourages social development. Students receive positive reinforcement and can readily see the results of their work in the garden; being able to watch a tomato ripen or dig out potatoes can affirm the idea that hard work does lead to results. Having ownership of a project that succeeds directly boosts students’ self esteem. Through time spent in the garden, students can also connect with people from different generations and backgrounds, whether it be a teacher, classmate, or parent, all brought there by the common goal of contributing positively to the environment.
When thinking of traditional hobbies teenagers have, gardening does not exactly come to mind, but it is worth more attention than it receives. Students can grow socially and emotionally alongside peers, teachers, and parents as they beautify the community around them, and they gain healthier attitudes towards fruits and vegetables that will stay with them for a lifetime. Most crucially, the psychologically rewarding nature of putting hard work towards the successful growth of a plant yields feelings of self-confidence and contentment, providing a much-needed break of the pressure from the outside world.
