In a recent study, discussed in an article on Science Daily, a group of healthy women were randomly assigned either to a gardening intervention or to an art intervention. The gardeners were taught how to plant seeds, and how to transplant and harvest edible crops.

In an outcome that will come as no surprise to gardeners or artists, measures of mental health improved in both groups. If you decide to take up artistic endeavors as a result of this study, please be aware that many materials can be toxic when inhaled or put on the skin, so do your homework before diving in. Gardening should not be an issue if done organically – and you may be able to eat the results!

Those of you who visited my office while I was still in New York know that I had a large collection of African violets, and I found caring for them very soothing. Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez always ended his week by watering the extensive collection of plants we had in the office. I think that any activity you enjoy can be valuable, and if you haven’t tried gardening, you might find it enhances your life.