GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Stop your pottering and start your planning because Garden Day is happening on Sunday 15 October and everyone is invited to be a part of SA's biggest garden party - in their own garden!
Besides being good fun, a garden party and being in our gardens offers numerous health benefits - mentally and physically.
Reap the health benefits
Study after study shows that gardening does much more than simply calm the mind and strengthen the body: it can reduce the risk of dementia (and sharpen the ol’ memory in general), speed up recovery after illness, jumpstart our endorphins, and even boost heart health.
This may explain the key role gardens have played in healing throughout history, from Egypt and Mesopotamia to Persia and Greece - and many hospitals today. In the UK, the health service actually supports “green social prescribing”, where nature-based activities are recommended as part of a mental and physical wellness programme.
Garden Day offers an easy way to do a bit of that ourselves.
And did you know that getting your hands dirty in the garden can increase your serotonin levels?– Contact with soil and a specific soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, triggers the release of serotonin in our brain according to research. Serotonin is a happy chemical, a natural antidepressant and strengthens the immune system.
Event organiser and one of this year's Friends of Garden Day Hannes Maritz and his wife Tina will be in the garden on Sunday, 15 October picking fresh herbs and veggies for a picnic with their children.
“Gardening has enriched our family life, as it really helps to show our kids devotion and how to care for something and watch it grow,” says Maritz. “It teaches patience and respect for nature. We can see how our kids value the produce more if it comes from our garden.”
Planting seeds for life
Half the fun of gardening is getting to eat what you grow. But the positive effect a sun-warmed strawberry has on children has been proved to ripple throughout their lives. One study found that students involved in hands-on school gardening programs developed an increased snacking preference for fruits and vegetables.
In addition, being responsible (for anything) pays big dividends in our lives at any age. Taking time out of our day to do the small things like nourish and water plants – even if it’s a little cacti on a windowsill or next to your bed - provide us with a sense of purpose and worth.
Teachers and parents alike now recognize how crucial responsibility and confidence can be in a child’s ability to grow and learn.
Besides being good fun, a garden party and being in our gardens offers numerous health benefits - mentally and physically.
Dig in this Garden Day
If you own just one plant, you're officially a gardener, which is why absolutely everyone is invited to celebrate Garden Day. It could be in your garden, on your patio, in the backyard, or simply in your living room surrounded by your favourite house plants.
And when we say party, we mean whatever a party is to you. Think lazy lunch, a tasty picnic, a family braai, cocktails with friends, or tea with your bestie. And it doesn’t have to be lavish or over the top (unless you want it to be). Just get everyone to bring a little something along to add to the festivities.
You doing Garden Day exactly how you want to is what it's all about. All we ask is that you wear a flower crown - the official symbol of Garden Day, and share your celebration with us by tagging #GardenDaySA on social media. We really want this day to be the ultimate garden party experience for all garden lovers, plant parents, and everyone in between.
Find all the Garden Day news, updates and inspiration at @GardenDaySA on all social media platforms and on www.gardenday.co.za Share your Garden Day moments with the Garden Day team via their dedicated WhatsApp line on +27 71 206 1749.
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