Last month, my biology class visited the Green Academy’s garden. It was at the end of class and everyone was feeling exhausted and low on energy. We pet chickens in the coop and sat in silence, enjoying the peaceful nature. Interestingly enough, I started to feel rejuvenated and less stressed about my day.
From writing, typing and sitting in class all day, many students are likely to develop anxiety during the school day. According to a study published in Pediatric Exercise Science, adolescents spend an average of 7.5 hours a day sitting, mainly in school. As reported by NPR, researchers found that sitting still for too long is linked to a higher risk of depression among teens. However, this study also found that just an hour of light physical activity every day can reduce the risk of depression by around 10%. Gardens are a great way to get light physical activity daily, especially if you have one at home that you can visit whenever you please.
In the article, “Let It Grow,” by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, it emphasizes how another problem besides sitting all day is that as cities become more crowded, people are detaching from traditional farming, which has led to a decline in access to fresh fruit and vegetables. This can prevent children from getting their necessary nutrition. At-home gardens help counter this by supporting healthy eating. According to the article, “when children spend weeks or months growing their food, they feel proud and connected to it, which is key to trying new dishes with an open mind.”
In addition to trying healthier dishes, working in a garden can also provide another form of physical health: exercise. According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, while tending to a garden you perform functional movements that can mimic whole-body exercise. For example, you perform squats and lunges while weeding. You also carry bags of mulch and larger supplies which will work large muscle groups. Even using a push mower and digging can count as physically intense activities.
Along with physical health, gardens can also improve mental health. According to KY Ready Set Grow, working in a garden encourages cooperation, communication and problem-solving, which leads to a healthier social environment. These interactions can significantly decrease individuals’ feelings of loneliness and isolation, hence improving students’ mental health.
The Harvard Graduate School of Education also claimed that the natural outdoors setting provides a tranquil atmosphere that sharply contrasts with the conventional classroom. Other research indicates that human interaction with nature can reduce cortisol levels–a primary stress hormone.
You may be wondering, “If gardens are so great, why can’t I just go to the one at my school?” At Woodside, the main way to access our garden is if you are in grade ten or above, and are in Woodside’s Green Academy classes. The garden actually belongs to them; they use it to learn about specific green careers, water and aquaponics, and how to embrace sustainable communities. However, if you are too busy, or are in the ninth grade and can’t join, these classes are no longer viable. Students can come during class, but only if their teachers have scheduled an appointment with Davina Ortiz, who runs the Green Academy.
Teachers often find it difficult to fit visits to the garden into their curriculum as they rely on their Smart Boards and other in-class resources. The school’s garden is also very expensive to maintain and if anything in it gets broken, like the bee hives or chicken coop, the Green Academy has to pay for it. The garden also contains living organisms like the chickens, which students cannot be trusted without supervision.
Due to these reasons, the school’s garden may not be the best option for students who want to spend more time in nature. However, gardening is still very useful for mental and physical well-being. Because of this, an at-home garden is essential for students. I own my own garden, and I have noticed it is quite simple to put one together. If you have more space in a backyard or front yard, all you need are some wood planks, nutritious soil, digging tools, water and vegetables and you are set up for a successful garden. You can plant some vegetables like tomatoes or cucumbers in the summer, and in the winter you can plant some fruits like strawberries. It is also nice to decorate your garden with flowers, which can add a little sunshine to anyone’s day.
If you find yourself with less options for a garden outdoors, you can grow plants inside as well. Though it is not as not effective as going outside, you still will receive multiple benefits and a feeling of accomplishment. Indoor gardens don’t take up as much space and can be started with just a couple of vases or containers with soil and seeds.
Though it is unfortunate that not every student can access the school garden, with a little effort one can create a personalized garden at home.
