Gardening
Nature’s Grace Gardens is for all those who wish to create, build, and sustain a natural environment aligned with our mission. The benefits of physical gardening are many. Research suggests that engaging in gardening’s physical activity not only boosts immunity and lowers inflammation but can also increase levels of growth neurotrophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which are essential for promoting neuroplasticity and improving cognitive function.
A sensory garden is a garden that has a collection of plants that are appealing to one or more of the five senses – sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. Opening your senses to your surroundings can be a form of mindfulness that unblocks pathways of energy, helps to reconnect our body and mind to the nature world, that promotes peace, healing, and rejuvenation. Science tells us that engaging with nature and nurturing plants can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Research has shown that gardening can improve mood, increase physical activity, and enhance overall mental health. Benefits include higher quality of life, sleep improvement, increased hope, happiness, reduction of symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety (Ainamani et al., 2021). The soothing sights and sounds of nature can alleviate stress. Research has shown that exposure to green spaces can lower cortisol levels, reduce blood pressure, and promote relaxation. Strolling through a park or sitting beneath a canopy of trees can work wonders for calming the mind and body.
Sensory gardens are for all people to enjoy. While often thought of as places for children, many senior living communities have built sensory gardens for their residents as a way to help them improve physical fitness, health, and mood, along with relieving stress and boosting cognitive ability. The concept is not just for gardeners, but for everyone to come together to build, create, maintain, and enjoy.
