How Gardening Supports Mental Health

In a world that moves fast, full of screens, schedules, and stress, the garden offers something rare, and quiet. The simple act of putting your hands in the soil, tending to plants, and watching life grow can do wonders for the mind and spirit. Gardening isn’t just about growing food; it’s about growing peace, patience, and presence.

At the Ridgecrest Community Garden, we’ve seen how time in the garden helps people reconnect with nature, with others, and with themselves. Science backs this up: gardening lowers stress hormones, boosts mood, and improves overall well-being. But beyond the data, anyone who’s spent an hour among plants knows the truth, and that is gardening simply makes you feel better.

The Healing Power of the Garden

Reduces Stress and Anxiety
The rhythm of gardening—digging, watering, weeding—naturally slows the body and calms the mind. Being outdoors and connected to nature lowers cortisol levels, easing tension and helping you feel grounded.

1. Encourages Mindfulness
   Gardening teaches you to pay attention: how the soil feels, how the leaves change, how the air smells after watering. This mindfulness helps shift focus away from worries and toward the present moment.

2. Builds Community and Connection
   Gardening with others, whether at home or in a community space, fosters a sense of belonging. Shared work, laughter, and conversation help reduce feelings of isolation and increase joy.

3. Boosts Physical Health and Mental Clarity
   Light physical activity like planting and watering increases endorphins. Fresh air, sunlight, and movement all support a clearer mind and more balanced mood.

Herbs That Soothe the Mind and Soul

Beyond vegetables and flowers, herbs are some of the most powerful plants for emotional and mental well-being. Their scents and medicinal properties can calm the nervous system, improve sleep, and promote relaxation. Here are three beautiful herbs to grow for mental health support—especially well-suited for Ridgecrest’s climate.

💜 Lavender – Calm and Clarity

Known for its soothing fragrance, lavender is a natural stress reliever. Studies show that its aroma can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and even lower heart rate.

• How to grow: Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained soil—perfect for our desert environment.

• How to use: Dry the flowers for tea or sachets, make a calming oil, or simply brush the leaves to release the scent.

🍋 Lemon Balm – The Mood Lifter

A gentle member of the mint family, lemon balm has a bright citrus scent that uplifts the spirit and calms nervous tension. It’s often used in herbal teas to ease anxiety and support restful sleep.

• How to grow: Prefers partial sun and regular watering. It’s easy to grow and spreads quickly.

• How to use: Brew fresh leaves for tea, or crush them between your fingers for an instant mood boost from the aroma.

🌿 Sage – The Purifier

Sage has long been used in many cultures for cleansing and clarity—both physical and spiritual. Its earthy, grounding scent can help focus the mind and clear emotional heaviness.

• How to grow: Sage loves the sun and tolerates dry soil, making it another desert-friendly herb.

• How to use: Use fresh leaves in cooking, dry them for tea, or bundle them as a natural air purifier for your home.

Practicing Stillness Through Guided Meditation

Meditation is essential to our health and wellness. Our minds are racing throughout the day, and are full of wanted and unwanted thoughts. It is important for us to practice stillness meditation to slow down our thoughts, and become one with the present moment. The world is forever moving as we progress through different thoughts, scents, movements, and emotions. With the world moving so fast, everything we come across, and the forever changing emotions we are constantly feeling can cause confusion. Stillness meditation helps creates balance, and helps us connection to our divine selves. When we engage in stillness meditation, we are closing down our speech, and resting our body to help our mind come to a rest. This does not necessarily mean that we will have a moment of complete silence, nor does this mean we will be able to make ourselves come in to a complete stillness. We have to simply allow it to happen.

Being still physically will help us to allow internal stillness. Once the flow of our internal selves come to a state of stillness, we will be able to have a sense of heightened concentration. When this is occurring, you may have thoughts and emotions that will occur. Be present. Welcome your emotions and become the observer of your thoughts. In that moment, you will feel a sense of oneness. Stillness meditation can increase your awareness and consciousness. Also, it will allow you to enter a deep relaxation.

Watch this video as Ms. Wang guides us through a stillness meditation practice.