Growing with the Garden: The Mental Health Benefits of Gardening

Did you know that gardening can be deeply therapeutic?

There is growing evidence that contact with nature has measurable benefits for both physical and mental health. One of the simplest and most rewarding ways to connect with nature is through gardening—and the mental health benefits are truly remarkable.

Time spent tending to a garden combines movement, fresh air, sunlight, and mindfulness. It offers more than just a task to complete; it becomes a sensory experience that grounds us in the present moment.

Whether you're planting seeds, pulling weeds, or simply observing what's growing, gardening can help reduce stress, regulate mood, and improve focus. There’s also something profoundly satisfying about engaging in slow, purposeful work and seeing the visible results of your effort over time.

Gardening Promotes Well-Being in Simple, Natural Ways:

• Physical movement improves energy and boosts mood

• Sunlight exposure supports vitamin D levels and sleep regulation

• Connection to the earth grounds and calms the nervous system

• Nurturing life offers purpose and hope

• Mindfulness in nature increases emotional clarity

Walking through your garden and noticing new blooms, fresh growth, or subtle changes in colour and shape can be a powerful reminder that growth takes time—and that even the smallest changes matter.

Just as plants grow with sunlight, water, and care, so do we.Nature and nurture shape our personal development, too.

Tending to a garden is a beautiful metaphor for tending to your own life.It’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency, attention, and compassion.

As a counsellor in Winkler, serving the Pembina Valley area, I encourage clients to find simple, accessible ways to support their mental health—and gardening is one of them. Whether you're growing flowers, vegetables, or simply enjoying a few potted plants on a balcony, the act of nurturing life outside of yourself can have lasting benefits inside yourself as well.

🌿 Take time to slow down, touch the earth, and watch something beautiful grow—within and around you.

Lana Marinho Bezerra Alencar, M.A. Counselling

Associate Professional Counsellor, PACCP #769MB22

Specializing in women’s struggles, relationship dynamics, and family wellness.