Green your way to better health

Someone once wrote "Gardening is a matter of
your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets
used to it."

By Eliza Ong

Gardeners Aren’t Born; They’re Cultivated

I will confess readily that, for the better part of my life so far, I hadn't had any green thumb to speak of. On one memorable occasion, I actually managed to kill a miniature cactus, much to the consternation of the loved ones who had gifted it to me in the wishful hope that the hardy little thing would stand up to my willful disavowal of its existence…

In recent years, however, our family has taken to gardening with what I can only describe as a vengeance. Never mind our lack of an actual garden, not to mention my notoriety for once having ignored the most tenacious of plants to its doom. The balcony of our home is now home to a dozen planters and pots, such that one can barely see out the balcony window for the profusion of pandan, aloe vera, orchids, etc, all clamouring for their share of sunlight.

This turn of events had not originally been my idea. But as the saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em - and so I did. My transformation from cold-blooded cactus killer to full-fledged gardening hobbyist is still a work in progress, but I’ve certainly learned a fair bit in the meantime…

The Perks That Come In Spades

Gardening, on the surface, appears highly mundane. Dig deeper, though, and you will uncover its material benefits, which bloom in abundance. (Puns intended – I couldn’t help myself.) For one, it provides a meaningful connection with nature, something which has always been prized by those who subscribe to holistic health practices. There’s even a term for it: biophilia, or the love of living things, was coined by Edward O. Wilson, Harvard naturalist and Pulitzer Prize winner. His theory holds that we humans have a natural affinity toward nature, being part of nature ourselves, and that regular exposure to nature, by way of flowers and greenery, has the power to recharge and restore our inner energy.

Hard-boiled sceptics may scoff at such tree-hugging talk, but there is good science backing it up. More than two decades ago, Science magazine published a study that found evidence of the healing powers of nature. Out of two groups of patients who were recovering from gallbladder surgery, the group that looked out at a view of trees experienced a variety of health benefits. They stayed for significantly shorter periods in the hospital, they had fewer complaints, and they even required less pain medication, than the other group – who had looked out at a brick wall. Recent studies have also shown that even pictures of nature had similar positive effects on convalescents. If this phenomenon sounds vaguely familiar, think back to the last time your tired, overworked eyes rested idly upon the random shrubs lining our roads. Multiply that relaxing effect a few times over, and you’ll start to see why gardening can be so very refreshing to the mind and body.

Many gardeners find great satisfaction in the more tangible and literal fruits of their labours. Some friends of mine find great joy in sharing the mangoes off the little tree in their backyard when they are in season. If you live in a flat as I do, fret not: you can still cultivate edibles. Fellow believers in home-cooked meals will agree that raiding one's own planters for pandan leaves (for agar-agar flavouring) and spring onions (for fried rice garnish) is far more satisfying and convenient than trundling down to the market for a fifty-cent handful of either. The juice and grated sap from a couple of fat aloe leaves make for a refreshing drink when mixed up with iced water and a dash of lime; I can also attest to the same plant’s powers for soothing and healing minor blemishes such as pimples and mosquito bites.

Bad Back Optional

To return to the pithy quote with which I began: it is not actually compulsory for one’s back to suffer in the pursuit of gardening. For retirees and older folks, gardening can be a rewarding activity with which to remain active in mind and body – but can also pose a strain to arthritic joints and gimpy backs. A little more awareness of the body’s limits, though, will make for a more comfortable experience. For instance, bending at the knees rather than the waist will avert back pain from weeding a section of soil. Similarly, suspending potted plants from ceiling-mounted hangers or placing them on shelves will make them more accessible than if they were merely lined up on the floor. The more athletic can even incorporate squats and lunges into their daily gardening rounds.

Like most hobbies, gardening comes in a wide range of intensities. Digging and planting, for instance, are far more strenuous than weeding and watering. And caring for plants in a plot of land is a very different investment of time and energy than that of tending bonsai. Few have the patience to take on the full gardening spectrum; just as long as you enjoy relating to nature, there will doubtless be a gardening activity that will suit your ideal level of engagement.

My own green thumbs are still a long way in the making. Most days, it’s all I can do to remember when it’s my turn to water our plants, and I definitely struggle to understand the purposes of the different potting mixes we use. I do, however, experience an odd surge of pride when I arrive home to the sight of light purple orchids waving happily in the evening breeze. There’s definitely hope for me yet…