Gardeners are almost always in motion, getting a moderate-intensity workout along with stress reduction. The many benefits of gardening are all over the news these days. Gardening has something for everyone, from schools to assisted living centers.

Here’s our top five most appreciated gifts from the practice of gardening:  (click here)

Members’ contributions for Benefits of Gardening

• Al Soares - Provides time for me to enjoy/play with my Boys (Boomer & Buster) while working in the yard. 
• Mark Worley - Gardening is a stress reducing, health improving, meditational message of the human spirit.
• Rachel Laforest - It's impossible to feel stress when I am viewing beauty in my garden. 
• Lois Wagner - 2 hours intensive gardening calorie burn = 1 cup Moose Tracks Ice Cream.
• Jan Jerabek - Gardening color makes me feel happy.
• Ruth Baylis - I love physical contact with soil, such as reaching into the soil to harvest my potatoes. Now I understand that common soil bacteria helps to boost my immune system and alleviate depression.
• Marilyn Koregelos - My benefit is downtime from my office...making my plants talk to me when they flower.  Happiness!!! 
• Georgia Richie-Lynch - For me Gardening is very calming and centering. My garden has been landscaped with a Zen Garden In mind. I Love Going Out There.
• Debbie Schryver - I know that the results of my hard work will make me so happy for years to come.
•  Lorraine Immel - Exposure to limited sunlight helps older adults achieve adequate amounts of vitamin D which benefits your bones and immune system. 
• Nancy Switzer - Gardening has helped keep me calm during these trying times. 
• Pam Martindale - Gardening is also a social event, a planting /weeding party!!
• Ann Beede: Gardening teaches how to nurture to grandchildren.
• Suzanne Walchli - Gardening lets you create a colorful and expressive work of art made of living things.
• Aggie Marsh - Digging in the dirt is more gratifying than cleaning a dirty house.