by Trina Tobey, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer
If someone asked you, “Why do you garden?” what would you say? Maybe you would respond that gardening makes you happy and keeps you healthy. If you did, you would be correct. There is a plethora of research showing that gardening is great for your mental and physical health.
Researchers have conducted meta-analyses on the benefits of gardening. They found that gardening is linked to significant reductions in depression, anxiety, social isolation, and Body Mass Index (BMI) (Howarth et al., 2020; Soga et al., 2017). They also found that gardening increases life satisfaction, mental well-being, physical activity, and quality of life (Howarth et al., 2020; Soga et al., 2017). There are so many studies showing these and other physical and mental health benefits of gardening that gardening is being prescribed by doctors and therapists.
When you are gardening, you are moving your body and eating the highly nutritious fresh whole foods that you grow. The increased physical activity and fiber intake has been linked to a decrease in cancer and other chronic diseases (Lancet Planetary Health, 2023). Gardening is a source of both exercise and healthy food.
You’ve probably heard about the link between the diversity of the microbiome in your gut and your physical and mental health. Exposure to soil while gardening exposes you to healthy bacteria that improve your gut microbiome, thus improving your physical and mental health (Brown, 2021). Additionally, you have a microbiome living on your skin. Exposure to microbially rich soil instantly increases diversity of the microbiome on your skin as well (Gronroos et al., 2017). A diverse microbiome on your skin improves immune function reducing the risk of immune-related diseases such as allergies and asthma (NCBI Bookself, 2025).
Forget what your mom taught you and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!
Dopamine is the feel-good chemical released in the part of your brain called the reward system. When you harvest vegetables in your garden, dopamine is released giving you a “harvesting high” (Newsonen, 2024). Additionally, when you eat the delicious food you grown, you get another hit of dopamine. Harvesting food from your garden and then eating it gives you a double hit of pleasure.
Working outside in your garden also gives you ample exposure to sunlight. Sunlight has been found to improved mood, sleep, and cognitive function (American Psychiatric Association, 2025). Additionally, the increase in Vitamin D from sun exposure decreases risk for chronic health conditions and improves cardiovascular health (Wu & Wei-Liang, 2022). Just remember to wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.
Gardening improves your mental well-being by increasing the diversity of your microbiome on you skin and in your gut, activating your reward system, and giving you ample exposure to sunlight. Time in the garden also improves physical health through physical activity, supplying fresh and highly nutritious whole foods to your diet, and increasing your exposure to healthy bacteria and vitamin D.
With all of these benefits of gardening, maybe community gardens could replace trips to the hospital?
References
American Psychiatric Association (2025). Bright Light Therapy: Growing Evidence Beyond Seasonal Depression. Psychiatry.org. https://psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/bright-light-therapy-beyond-seasonal-depression
Brown, M. D. (2021). Habitual gardening and the human gut microbiota. IDEALS. https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/items/121268
Gronroos, M., Parajuli, A., Laitinen, O., Roslund, M., Vari, H. Hyoty, H., Puhakka, R., & Sinkkonen, A. (2018). Short-term direct contact with soil and plant materials leads to an immediate increase in diversity of skin microbiota. PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6436432/
Howarth, M., Brettle, A., Hardman, M., & Maden, M. (2020). What is the evidence for the impact of gardens and gardening on health and well-being: a scoping review and evidence-based logic model to guide healthcare strategy decision making on the use of gardening approaches as a social prescription. BMJ Open. https://bmjopen/10/7/e036923.full.pdf
Lancet Planetary Health (2023). Community gardening associated with reduced cancer risk and improved well-being. CU Boulder Today. https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/01/05/scientific-reasons-you-should-resove-start-gardening
NCBI Bookself (2025). Microbiomes and the Soil-Human Health Continuum. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/books/NBK609362
Newsonen, S. (2024). Why does gardening feel so good? Psychology Today. https://psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-path-to-passionate-happiness/202404/why-does-gardening-feel-so-good
Soga, M., Gaston, K., & Yamaura, Y. (2017). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis. PubMed Central. https://pms.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5153451/
Wu, S. & Wei-Liang, C. (2022). Moderate Sun Exposure is the Complementor in Insufficient Vitamin D Consumers. Frontiers in Nutrition. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.832659/full