As someone who has struggled with depression in many seasons of life, here is my take on how gardening has improved my overall wellbeing. Going from full-time career world to becoming a first-generation stay-at-home mom left me feeling lost. I knew I was making the right decision alongside my husband, but I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I desired a hobby or project that was measurable and productive. Being able to include my children in this hobby was a major bonus!

My husband and I saw so many people learning how to live off the land, growing food, raising chickens, and other homesteading ventures. We decided to build two raised garden beds and plant seedlings. Watching the plants grow became such a joy for me. Of course, there are times of defeat when you face the challenges of summer droughts, air quality issues, brutal humidity, persistent pests, and just the business of life. But that’s all part of the project! Seeing flowers I planted in a hanging arrangement blossom, plants bear fruit that we then included in a meal, and being able to connect with others pursuing this hobby, has hands down significantly improved my mental health.

Not only does the project aspect of gardening help me cope with depression, the actual benefit of getting backyard food and flowers is a major endorphin releaser. As a stay-at-home mom, I can’t always get to the store so I am trying to continue learning how to grow more and more right at home. I love going right outside in the fresh air and sunshine to pick tomatoes for a dinner salad or peppers for taquitos.

I’m a mom of three ranging from ages 18 years to 9 months old. Our toddler helps pick the tomatoes and our teen has cooked meals with our peppers. The entire family can play a role in gardening. This is a huge plus for me. We all want our kids to spend more time outside and away from screens, right? Start a garden!

As a new homemaker, I am also learning how to be wiser with our spending. Starting a garden can be an initial investment but in the long-run, you end up saving money. We didn’t buy cherry tomatoes all summer!

All of this to say, my answer is a loud and clear YES. Pursuing the hobby and skill of gardening, even with ZERO experience, like me, opens a whole new world of joy. Not to mention, seeing the details in the beauty of God’s intentional creation is truly breathtaking. 

Interested in starting a garden? Download my free 6-step guide: First-Time Gardener Blueprint to learn more!