Therapeutic Qualities & Benefits of Gardening:

Stress Relief in Current Times

Unfortunately, currently, all garden stores in Michigan are closed at this time by executive order of the Governor. I wasn’t aware that some states have kept their garden centers open by classifying them as essential businesses.

Why?

It is well explained in excerpts from the document below. The message is prepared by Sid Raisch (Horticulture Advantage) and Danny Summers (The Garden Center Group) and is made available to garden centers for use to promote their benefit and valuable contributions to the community.

shopping and gardening — Strolling through a Garden Center
*Photo: Greenhouse Product News*

Many of the medical professionals we see daily on TV are expressing serious concern in addition to the COVID 19 pandemic, the dangers of psychological stress weighing heavily on people everywhere. Whether it is being quarantined in the homes, lack of work, unpaid bills, or small businesses going under, the negative impact is taking its toll. What an opportunity for gardening to bring relief! Consider the benefits of remaining at home in your own garden absorbing sunshine and fresh air and enjoying the satisfaction of raising your own food. All that said – people need to purchase the plants, seeds, soil amendments, and other necessary planting goods from garden stores. We can hope and pray accommodations are made in those states that have closed garden centers, and that they will reopen them soon.

Below are clips from the document mentioned above and made available to garden stores for communicating to their customers and community leaders the value and benefits of gardening:

Securing Health, Wellness, and Peace of Mind in Our Local Community

“One way we can help each other and our communities be resilient and resourceful in these constantly changing and challenging conditions is to garden, and to support the local garden centers that sell food plants, seeds, and supplies.
Many local governments, as well as states such as California, Washington, Ohio, Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina, have explicitly classified garden centers as essential businesses because they are integral parts of the food supply chain, and especially now, for urgent need for the mental and physical health benefits that gardening offers. One of the few places it’s safe to be is in your own garden.”

Truly well said and if the message gets out, it should bring much-needed stress relief.