Our kids have been gone for some time, the grandkids are getting a lot older so my wife and I decided to take down the monsterous swing set and jungle gym in the yard and replace it with a garden. We got the 24 by 8 foot frame up last weekend and the bride is working on getting the top soil ready. It’s a nice release. We had a bunch of great veggies in a bunch of plastic totes on the deck last year so it was time to move up. And today I find out it’s good therapy, so go ahead and plant some flowers or veggies in your backyard—it’s good for you. A study from the University of Exeter and the Royal Horticultural Society found 71 percent of people who used their backyard reported good general health, compared to 61 percent of those who did not use their yard. This difference was similar to the well-being gap between the highest and lowest income groups. The study also showed those who spent time in their yard were significantly more likely to report greater physical activity levels and higher psychological well-being than those who did not. The benefits held whether people spent their time gardening or just relaxing. Study co-author, Professor Alistair Griffiths, adds, “This work adds to the increasing body of scientific evidence on health benefits of gardens and gardening.” The benefit? The lettuce will always be good!
(UK Telegraph)