23 Best Reasons Why Gardening Is a Good Hobby

Ever wonder why gardening is a good hobby? Gardening offers many health and well-being benefits. Some may not realize how much it can improve their lives. It reduces stress, boosts mood, sparks creativity, and provides food.

Explore the top benefits of gardening and discover why it’s more than just a pastime. It’s a lifestyle that can make you healthier and happier.

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7 Key Takeaways on Why Gardening Is a Good Hobby

1. Gardening is more than just a hobby. It’s a lifestyle choice that can improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
2. Homegrown fruits and vegetables provide key nutrients. They promote healthier eating and a balanced diet.
3. Spending time in the garden can lower stress levels. It can also improve mood and overall mental well-being.
4. Regular gardening helps us live longer and healthier lives. It does this by boosting immunity and activity levels.
5. Gardening fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and continuous learning opportunities in botany and horticulture.
6. Gardening can be a social activity. It fosters connections and builds community through shared interests.
7. Gardening promotes sustainable living. It involves composting and water conservation, supports biodiversity, and fights climate change.

Why Is Gardening a Great Hobby?

Gardening is one of those hobbies that everyone should do. It has many benefits, from physical and social to mental health benefits. It creates a positive impact on one’s well-being.

Here are many of the top benefits of gardening that you may not know about.

1. Gardening Makes It Easy to Access Healthy Food

Gardening doesn’t just provide delicious food, it also gives you access to healthy food. Gardens can be full of nutritious plants like vegetables and fruits. They provide us with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. And since they’re close to our homes, gardens allow us to enjoy fresh produce year-round.

The availability of fresh produce in gardens encourages healthier eating habits. This leads to a more balanced diet.

A study found that home gardening is linked to eating more fruits and vegetables. It is also linked to having a lower BMI (body mass index). People who garden tend to eat more of the healthy foods they grow (source).

2. Gardening Reduces Stress Levels

Gardening is a great way to relax and de-stress. It can improve your mood, lower levels of stress, and reduce depression or anxiety. Planting, tending, harvesting, and sharing food can create a soothing rhythm. It eases stress.

Studies show that gardeners have much less cortisol (a stress hormone) than those who don’t garden. Those who gardened daily showed well-being scores of 1.84 higher and stress scores of 1.68 lower (source).

3. Gardening Helps You Live Longer

Many studies show that gardening has physical, mental, and social benefits. These can greatly extend lifespan and improve quality of life as we age.

Gardening can help you live longer. One reason is that it makes you more active. Exercise boosts your immune system, prevents heart disease, and fights cancer.

Spending time gardening outdoors can also help your body get more vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D is important for brain, bone, and gut health. Not getting enough vitamin D is linked to dying earlier (source).

4. Gardening Makes You More Creative

Gardening is a creative outlet. It requires you to think up new ways to use space creatively. It allows you to experiment with different plants, designs, and techniques. It fosters a spirit of discovery.

You can create beautiful flower beds, planter boxes, and vegetable gardens. You can design a garden that no one else has ever seen before.

5. Gardening Gives You Something to Do During Winter Months

Winter can be difficult for some people. Many find themselves bored during these cold months. Indoor gardening provides a fun alternative to watching TV or playing video games.

Gardening is a great way to stay physically fit during the winter. It involves lots of walking, bending, lifting, and stretching. These physical activities keep your muscles toned and ready for spring.

• Learn about the Health Benefits of Indoor Plants

6. Gardening Can Be a Community Activity

Gardening increases community involvement. You’ll meet new people when you start growing plants. People love talking about their gardens, and they always have advice to give.

Gardening creates social connections. They can lower stress, improve resilience, and provide support in hard times. Community gardening fosters a sense of belonging. This can lower the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Consider starting an urban farm if you want to participate in community projects. Urban farms are becoming more popular worldwide. They’re a great way to unite communities while providing fresh food for everyone.

7. Gardening Is Educational

There are so many things you can learn from gardening. It teaches you about botany, horticulture, science, math, and much more.

For example, if you’re interested in learning about science, you can do many experiments. From planting seeds to using compost in gardening, you can learn a lot. You learn how to care for living things, such as plants.

Studies have also shown this. Students who garden at school score much higher on science tests. This is compared to those who do not (source).

8. Gardening Is Fun

Gardening is a fun hobby for those who enjoy getting their hands dirty. One of the best parts about gardening is that you can make it even more enjoyable. You can do this by incorporating games into your routine.

For example, when planting seeds or bulbs, you can challenge yourself. See how quickly you can dig holes and get everything planted. You can also make toys, such as birdhouses and wind chimes.

You can even post pictures of your garden on social media. When friends see your photos, they’ll be impressed by what you’ve accomplished.

9. Gardening Boosts Immunity

If you’ve ever had a cold, you know how much easier it is to recover if you can stay inside and rest. But if you’re constantly exposed to germs, you’re putting yourself at greater risk for illness.

The good news is that gardening can boost your immune system. Studies show that people who grow their own vegetables and herbs get sick less. This is compared to those who don’t.

Gardening and being around soil bacteria can boost your immune system. They do this by activating serotonin in the brain and infection-fighting cells. Eating vegetables grown with these soil bacteria can help improve immunity. Just being around them can, too (source).

10. Gardening Helps With Brain Health

Studies show that people who spend time outside tend to perform better mentally. This happens because exposure to sunlight improves brain health. Sunlight helps improve blood flow to the brain, which increases oxygen levels. Oxygenated blood flows through brain cells, helping them function properly.

Your brain is constantly working when you garden. When you spend time outside, you exercise your mind by thinking about how to make your garden thrive. You’re thinking about what plants you want, how you’ll grow them, and how much time you need to spend doing this.

Gardening helps with brain health by enhancing mental skills such as:

• Problem-Solving Skills – Gardeners often need to find solutions to issues. This includes pests, plant diseases, and unpredictable weather. This need improves their problem-solving skills. This mental workout keeps your brain sharp and improves your memory.
• Strategic Planning and Organizational Skills – Planning a garden layout and crop rotation helps you build skills. You learn to plan and organize. It develops strategy, too. This helps people use resources wisely and plan for the future.

Elderly people benefit from gardening. It’s good for their brains. It helps with memory and behavior issues in those with dementia (source).

11. Gardening Is Good For Your Skin

Gardening has been proven to help with skin health. Research shows that spending time outdoors boosts vitamin D levels in your body. Vitamin D speeds up cell growth, making your skin look younger.

GGardening activities can give the skin a natural glow. They do this by getting the heart pumping. Digging holes and weeding do this, too (source).

Plant-based skincare products made from fresh, organic ingredients grown at home can also provide numerous benefits for the skin.

12. Gardening Provides a Sense of Purpose

Many people feel like they have no purpose in life. They think they’re wasting their daily lives doing nothing. Gardening may be just the thing. It will give you a reason to look forward to it.

When you work in your yard, you’re doing something useful. You grow food, beautify your home, and provide shelter. You can plan ahead to see what kind of plants you want to grow. When you plant flowers or trees, you’ll enjoy seeing them bloom yearly. This gives you a sense of purpose in life.

You can also use gardening as therapy. You’ll feel fulfilled knowing you helped provide for yourself.

13. Gardening Connects You With Nature

One of the best things about growing a green thumb is being connected to nature. We all need to connect with nature from time to time. Gardening makes you appreciate all the beauty around you. It inspires you to create beautiful gardens and makes you aware of the natural world.

Spending time in the garden helps you get closer to Mother Earth. Plus, you’ll appreciate the greenery’s beauty more after spending time in touch with nature.

14. Gardening Provides You Exercise

Gardening requires a lot of physical exertion, but it’s not hard work. The physical tasks involved in gardening help build muscle strength and endurance. This includes digging and lifting.

Your muscles are used constantly while you’re tending to your plants. You burn calories as you water, weed, fertilize, and harvest crops. A 154-pound person can burn an average of 330 calories per hour through gardening. This is similar to playing golf or dancing (source).

Gardening can provide a sense of accomplishment and reward. It also involves physical movement. This makes it a fulfilling form of exercise.

15. Gardening Increases Your Home’s Value

Gardening is an excellent hobby because it increases the beauty and value of your house. Curb appeal is important. Potential buyers will be impressed when they drive past your home if you have a nice-looking yard with a beautiful garden.

Houses with well-maintained, beautiful gardens are valued higher than houses without one. People who live in these homes also tend to sell faster.

16. Gardening Is Great for Meditation Time

Meditation is used to clear your mind of distractions, and gardening offers a way to do so. You don’t need to sit and meditate; you can ‘meditate’ while weeding, watering, pruning, or harvesting. This allows you to relax and focus on breathing to clear your mind.

You’re exposed to nature and its beauty when you work outdoors. You’re also surrounded by plants and flowers, which give you a sense of calmness and peace.

17. Gardening Teaches You Patience

Gardening teaches patience. It does so through stages of planting, nurturing, and harvesting. Here are key insights that highlight how gardening teaches patience:

• Waiting for Seeds – Ordering seeds and waiting for them to arrive requires a lot of patience. Excitement builds until the package arrives.
• Planting – When you plant seeds, you must wait until they sprout before you see results.
• Harvesting – Gardeners must wait for their plants to mature before they can harvest them. This teaches the value of patience.

Gardening teaches patience through setbacks and unexpected challenges. These include crop failures and slow growth. It emphasizes resilience, learning from mistakes, and accepting nature’s pace.

18. Gardens Offers Endless Gifts

Gardens provide a never-ending supply of wonderful gifts. You can enjoy beautiful flowers that brighten your home and bring joy to others. Herbs can add flavor to your cooking. Fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden are tasty and healthy. You can even make an apple pie using your own apples!

Gardens also give you seeds and cuttings to share with friends and family. Gardening is a rewarding hobby. Each season, your garden offers new and delightful surprises.

19. Gardening Can Be a Side Business

Do you love gardening or enjoy being outdoors? If so, consider starting a side business. You can sell what you grow. There are plenty of ways to earn money from your garden.

You can sell extra fruits and vegetables at local farmer’s markets. Also, consider offering plants to nurseries and garden centers. Another option is to make homemade products from your harvest and sell them. Examples are jams, jellies, and pickles. 

You can also offer gardening services. These include planting and maintaining gardens for others. You can also sell seeds and cuttings online. Gardening can be a fun way to make extra money while doing something you love.

20. Gardening Is a Family Activity

Gardening is a great family activity, especially if you have kids. It teaches children about nature and other important things, such as:

• Responsibility and Teamwork – Children help you with gardening. They pick weeds and pull them. They also plant seeds and water them.
• Gratitude – Watching plants grow and change can make us appreciate nature’s beauty. It can also make us feel thankful.

Gardening can also connect generations. It shares knowledge and experiences with them and strengthens family bonds.

21. Gardening Offers Financial Savings

Gardening is a cheap hobby. It needs a few tools and materials. So, it’s accessible for budgeting families. You don’t need expensive equipment or a large outdoor space. Gardening can be done in pots, containers, or small plots.

Growing your own vegetables and herbs can reduce grocery bills. It provides a cost-effective way to enjoy fresh produce. It offers cheap access to nutrient-rich foods. This helps people eat better and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

22. Gardening Encourages Sustainable Living

Gardening promotes eco-friendly practices like composting, reducing waste, and conserving water. It helps you connect to nature and take care of Mother Nature.

By growing your own garden, you contribute to a healthier planet. This is because plants absorb carbon dioxide. This helps reduce the effects of climate change.

Gardens also attract a variety of wildlife. This includes birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. This connection to nature helps promote biodiversity in your area. It creates a balanced and thriving ecosystem.

23. Gardening Creates a Sanctuary

Gardening can transform your yard into a relaxing space. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place to escape daily stress. Your garden becomes a sanctuary. It’s where you can relax, unwind, and enjoy the calming sights and sounds of nature.

Spending time in your garden allows you to reconnect with yourself. It lets you take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s a simple pleasure that offers a quiet escape right in your own backyard.

Gardening Is a Good Hobby Final Thoughts

Gardening offers many benefits, making it a wonderful hobby for anyone. It teaches patience, promotes sustainable living, and provides a sense of purpose. It also improves physical and mental health, increases your home’s value, and creates a peaceful sanctuary.

Whether you want to connect with nature, save money, or simply enjoy fresh produce, gardening has something to offer. If you haven’t started yet, now is the perfect time to discover the joys and benefits of gardening.

Check out these other articles to get started with gardening if you haven’t already:

• Why Pest Control Matters
• Best Robot Lawn Mowers
• Soil Guide
• Guide to Starting a Vegetable Garden