Why Does Gardening Make Us Happy?
a beehive in a garden with blackberries
It's spring and there seems to be some kind of compulsion to head to the garden center to buy things to plant. Following winter we can't wait to get outside and get our hands dirty. There is a human urge to dig in the soil. It makes us...happy.
If you are a gardener, or know one, you probably know that they are joyful when they are digging in the dirt. Actually the ones I know just seem to be more upbeat than the general population all the time. If you thought it was just because gardening was their thing, think again. The real reason might be a little thing called Mycobacterium vaccae.
What is mycobacterium vaccae?
It's a soil microbe that lives in healthy well aerated soil like that in a garden. It thrives in compost and on the forest floor. It can be inhaled when digging and tilling or while walking in the woods or through a field where we stir it up as we move.
If you needed another reason to work on your compost pile this is it.
Science is showing it helps depression and anxiety.
You can get a heat killed version as a mood boosting supplement from several companies, but digging in the soil is free and probably more effective. The outdoor version you encounter is alive and how humans have encountered it for thousands of years.
It indirectly increases serotonin by activating a specific group of neurons in the brainstem. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the brain by blocking stress “alarmins” that signal stress to the brain.
While I was writing this Zuby shared something relevant.
More Research Being Done
As I was researching articles for this post about gardening and mental heath I ran across quite a few articles about studies being done on mycobacterium vaccae in relation to tuberculosis. It is being studied for a wide variety of ailments and diseases.
Nature Prescribed as Therapy
The evidence, both scientific and empirical, for improved emotional health is so strong that in Sweden time in nature is often prescribed by healthcare professionals as a tie to overall wellness. It goes along with the Scandinavian concept of open air living.
In Japan forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is actively prescribed by doctors as a preventative health practice though it’s also deeply embedded in the culture.
Spring is the perfect time to plant a garden. Your mood will improve, you’ll create something beautiful, and get some exercise while you’re at it.
"Ask your doctor about gardening. Side effects include increased muscle tone, a decrease in depression, increased vitamin D, stronger bones, weight loss, healthier meals, fresh herbs, and a crop of tomatoes."