"The degree that we come to understand other organisms, we will place greater value on them, and on ourselves" - E. O. Wilson
Gardening & Health
Humans have a natural connection to nature. This connection was defined by ecologist E.O Wilson as Biophillia.
Biophilia - the innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes. From infancy we concentrate happily on ourselves and other organisms. The degree that we come to understand other organisms, we will place greater value on them, and on ourselves.
When we surround ourselves in nature, and allow our thoughts to focus on the natural world around us, a sense of awe and wonder are evoked. This natural expanse has the ability to inspire, bring peace and heal.
For adults and children, our time spent in nature is becoming less and less, which is having a significant impact on our health. The World Health Organization has said, we need to promote active, healthy lifestyles if we are to curb the burden of disease. No country can afford to maintain current levels of care against the epidemics of obesity and depression.
The current generation of children is the first for 200 years predicted to have a lower life expectancy than their parents. This is partly attributed to children being kept indoors, with caregivers wanting to reduce kids exposure to perceived threats from the sun, strangers and natural elements.
Children learn through play, imitation and experience. Most children like to take calculated risks when they are playing, but they do not set out to fail or hurt themselves. The majority of children seek a level of challenge that they are developmentally capable of achieving.
Allowing children to play freely in nature inspires curiosity, allows them freedom to explore, take risks and feel a sense of accomplishment. This unplugged outdoor play will help counter the increasingly sedentary lifestyle many young children face.
Gardening is one way to re-connect with nature, in our own back yard. Gardening allows us to create our own natural escape from our busy lives. It provides us the opportunity to physically connect with the earth and engage with the living organisms, that help us survive and thrive. This connection has a calm healing power. It has the ability to alleviate stress, slow the minds racing thoughts and bring us back down to earth. Gardening also reminds us that we are not the most important inhabitant of the earth. We are not above nature. We rely on nature, and are a part of nature.
