The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. – Alfred Austin

Gardening has many health benefits. Among them STRESS REDUCTION.  A garden can also put us in a better mood as it helps us achieve better mental health and reduce depression. A garden gets you outdoors to get sunshine, exercise and get your blood moving. According to some researc the physical activity associated with gardening can help lower the risk of developing dementia. Growing your own food ensures you are eating the freshest food available. No more guessing how long it will last or how old something is. Some foods (like apples) are stored for months before being sold.

A garden is a living thing that can bring joy and good health to the person who tends it…

Excerpt from MY FRIEND THE GARDEN by Fernand Lequenne:

“The simplests peasant, the lowliest gardener, knows deep inside himself that the earth is not only the true source of man’s life but also his pedastal. The those who don’t like to dirty their hands think about this: Let them consider themselves a little like the sacrificial priest, hands red with sacred blood; let them think earnestly about the office they wish to fulfill.Then having learned to repress their fears, let them carefully wash their hands; they will then feel like the purest of men.”

He also said:

“If you really want to draw close to your garden, you must remember first of all that you are dealing with a being that lives and dies; like the human body, with its poor flesh, its illnesses at times repugnant. One must not always see it dressed up for a ball, manicured and immaculate.”