Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board, Inc.’s Post

🌱 Embrace the Power of Gardening for a Healthier You! 🌿 Spending time in the great outdoors has long been linked to greater health and wellness, and cultivating a green thumb can take those benefits to the next level. Gardening isn't just about beautifying outdoor spaces; it can profoundly impact our physical and mental well-being. 💪🧠🌞 As Melissa Rudy highlights in her recent article for Fox News Media, here's what gardening can do for you: 🌻 Physical Health: Activities like digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting provide exercise for all major muscle groups. Regular engagement in these activities can help burn calories, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Gardening is even recognized by the CDC as a qualifying activity for recommended exercise. 🌱 Boosted Immunity: Exposure to soil and plants introduces beneficial microorganisms, strengthening your immune response and overall resilience to diseases. Plus, spending time outdoors exposes you to natural sunlight, promoting vitamin D synthesis and supporting healthy bone and immune function. 🌻 Social Connection: Gardening provides an opportunity for social connection and community engagement. It can be a shared activity among family members, friends, or neighbors, fostering relationships and a sense of belonging. 🌿 Mental Well-being: Gardening has a calming and therapeutic effect, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It also stimulates the senses, enhances focus, encourages problem-solving, and fosters creativity. Witnessing the growth and transformation of plants brings a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and satisfaction. 🌱 Cognitive Benefits: Gardening is an opportunity to learn about plants, ecosystems, and the environment, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for nature. Research has even shown that it can improve brain nerve growth factors related to memory. 🍅 Nutritional Benefits: If you cultivate a vegetable or herb garden, you'll have access to fresh, organic produce, encouraging a healthier eating pattern and a greater appreciation for nutritious choices. Remember, starting a garden doesn't have to be daunting. You can begin with just a few plants in your hardiness zone. It's an opportunity to connect with nature, improve your well-being, and engage with a community of fellow garden enthusiasts. So, are you ready to start your journey to a healthier, more fulfilling life through gardening? Share your thoughts and experiences below! 🌿🌷#GardeningForWellness #HealthAndWellness #GreenThumbBenefits #CommunityGardening https://lnkd.in/esnEEnjj

🌱 Embrace the Power of Gardening for a Healthier You! 🌿 Spending time in the great outdoors has long been linked to greater health and wellness, and cultivating a green thumb can take those benefits to the next level. Gardening isn't just about beautifying outdoor spaces; it can profoundly impact our physical and mental well-being. 💪🧠🌞 As Melissa Rudy highlights in her recent article for Fox News Media, here's what gardening can do for you: 🌻 Physical Health: Activities like digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting provide exercise for all major muscle groups. Regular engagement in these activities can help burn calories, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Gardening is even recognized by the CDC as a qualifying activity for recommended exercise. 🌱 Boosted Immunity: Exposure to soil and plants introduces beneficial microorganisms, strengthening your immune response and overall resilience to diseases. Plus, spending time outdoors exposes you to natural sunlight, promoting vitamin D synthesis and supporting healthy bone and immune function. 🌻 Social Connection: Gardening provides an opportunity for social connection and community engagement. It can be a shared activity among family members, friends, or neighbors, fostering relationships and a sense of belonging. 🌿 Mental Well-being: Gardening has a calming and therapeutic effect, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It also stimulates the senses, enhances focus, encourages problem-solving, and fosters creativity. Witnessing the growth and transformation of plants brings a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and satisfaction. 🌱 Cognitive Benefits: Gardening is an opportunity to learn about plants, ecosystems, and the environment, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for nature. Research has even shown that it can improve brain nerve growth factors related to memory. 🍅 Nutritional Benefits: If you cultivate a vegetable or herb garden, you'll have access to fresh, organic produce, encouraging a healthier eating pattern and a greater appreciation for nutritious choices. Remember, starting a garden doesn't have to be daunting. You can begin with just a few plants in your hardiness zone. It's an opportunity to connect with nature, improve your well-being, and engage with a community of fellow garden enthusiasts. So, are you ready to start your journey to a healthier, more fulfilling life through gardening? Share your thoughts and experiences below! 🌿🌷 https://lnkd.in/ge4N-yec #GardeningForWellness #HealthAndWellness #GreenThumbBenefits #CommunityGardening

🌱 Embrace the Power of Gardening for a Healthier You! 🌿 Spending time in the great outdoors has long been linked to greater health and wellness, and cultivating a green thumb can take those benefits to the next level. Gardening isn't just about beautifying outdoor spaces; it can profoundly impact our physical and mental well-being. 💪🧠🌞 As Melissa Rudy highlights in her recent article for Fox News Media, here's what gardening can do for you: 🌻 Physical Health: Activities like digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting provide exercise for all major muscle groups. Regular engagement in these activities can help burn calories, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Gardening is even recognized by the CDC as a qualifying activity for recommended exercise. 🌱 Boosted Immunity: Exposure to soil and plants introduces beneficial microorganisms, strengthening your immune response and overall resilience to diseases. Plus, spending time outdoors exposes you to natural sunlight, promoting vitamin D synthesis and supporting healthy bone and immune function. 🌻 Social Connection: Gardening provides an opportunity for social connection and community engagement. It can be a shared activity among family members, friends, or neighbors, fostering relationships and a sense of belonging. 🌿 Mental Well-being: Gardening has a calming and therapeutic effect, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It also stimulates the senses, enhances focus, encourages problem-solving, and fosters creativity. Witnessing the growth and transformation of plants brings a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and satisfaction. 🌱 Cognitive Benefits: Gardening is an opportunity to learn about plants, ecosystems, and the environment, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for nature. Research has even shown that it can improve brain nerve growth factors related to memory. 🍅 Nutritional Benefits: If you cultivate a vegetable or herb garden, you'll have access to fresh, organic produce, encouraging a healthier eating pattern and a greater appreciation for nutritious choices. Remember, starting a garden doesn't have to be daunting. You can begin with just a few plants in your hardiness zone. It's an opportunity to connect with nature, improve your well-being, and engage with a community of fellow garden enthusiasts. So, are you ready to start your journey to a healthier, more fulfilling life through gardening? Share your thoughts and experiences below! 🌿🌷 https://lnkd.in/ge4N-yec #GardeningForWellness #HealthAndWellness #GreenThumbBenefits #CommunityGardening

The Holistic Health Benefits of Gardening: Nurturing Body and Mind Gardening is beneficial for both physical and mental health for several reasons: SECTION 1: Physical Health Benefits: 1. Exercise: Gardening involves a range of physical activities like digging, planting, weeding, and watering, which can improve cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility. 2. Vitamin D: Exposure to sunlight while gardening helps the body produce vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune function. 3. Improved Diet: Growing your own fruits and vegetables can encourage healthier eating habits and provide fresher, more nutrient-rich produce. 4. Reduced Risk of Chronic Conditions: Regular physical activity from gardening can help lower the risk of conditions such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. SECTION 2: Mental Health Benefits: 1. Stress Reduction: Gardening has been shown to lower cortisol levels, which helps reduce stress. The repetitive and mindful nature of gardening can be meditative and calming. 2. Mood Enhancement: Engaging with nature and caring for plants can elevate mood and decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. The sense of accomplishment from growing and nurturing plants can also boost self-esteem. 3. Cognitive Function: Gardening activities can stimulate the brain and improve cognitive function, particularly beneficial for older adults in reducing the risk of dementia. 4. Connection to Nature: Spending time outdoors and connecting with nature can foster a sense of peace and well-being, promoting mental clarity and relaxation. 5. Social Interaction: Community gardening projects can provide opportunities for social interaction and build a sense of community, combating feelings of loneliness and isolation. Overall, gardening provides a holistic approach to enhancing physical fitness and mental well-being, making it a highly recommended activity for people of all ages. THE TAKEAWAY: Why gardening is so good for you? Gardening can be a workout, a meditation and an opportunity to socialize. It gets you moving: * Shoveling mulch and pulling weeds can count as moderate-intensity physical activities. * Gardeners tend to report higher levels of physical activity overall, and there’s evidence that they have better cardio-metabolic health. It also does wonders for your mental well-being. *Some studies report that gardening lowers people’s scores on anxiety and depression measures; * other research has found increased confidence and self-esteem. #PhysicalHealth #MentalWellbeing #StressReduction #OutdoorActivities #HealthyLifestyle

Wellness Gardens: The Gardening Trend of 2024 That Will Transform Your Life

Pandan Leaves 🍃 and Property 🏢 While strolling with my newborn baby earlier, I passed by the herb garden. This is the second residential property that I know of that has a herb garden as a facility. As a plant mom and a mother who spends time in the kitchen, I always appreciate herbs that can enhance the taste of my cooking. So when I saw pandan leaves today, I had so many ideas, especially for kuih that I want to make for my family: onde-onde, seri muka, ketayap. Then I thought, more residential areas should have their own herb gardens. It’s very appealing! But, in the eyes of the real estate market, this is how I see herb gardens: 𝑪𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: Growing your own herbs can save residents money on grocery bills, as fresh herbs can be expensive when purchased regularly. 𝑬𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒔: Herb gardens contribute to a greener environment by reducing the need for herb packaging and transportation. They also support biodiversity by attracting pollinators. 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈: Shared herb gardens can foster a sense of community as residents come together to tend to the garden, exchange gardening tips, and share their harvests. 𝑨𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆: Herb gardens can enhance the overall aesthetics of the property, providing a pleasant and fragrant atmosphere. 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔: Having a herb garden can be educational for children and adults alike. It can teach residents about gardening, plant care, and the uses of various herbs. 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆: Residents don't have to worry about maintaining a separate herb garden in their own outdoor space, making it more convenient for those with limited gardening experience or space. However, it's essential for property developers and managers to ensure that the herb garden is well-maintained, safe from pesticides or chemicals, and accessible to all residents, including those with disabilities. Additionally, clear guidelines should be in place to prevent overharvesting or damage to the garden. Overall, residential properties with herb gardens can offer a unique and attractive feature that aligns with sustainable living and a focus on well-being. //Do you like any kuih or food made of pandan leaves?

🎯My Target market group by the numbers🎯 1. **Hobby Gardeners/DIY Enthusiasts**: Approximately 71.5 million households [oai_citation:1,Gardening: One of the Most Popular Hobbies in America](https://lnkd.in/ekj23sAn). 2. **Urban Gardeners**: Over 18,000 community gardens (assuming an average of 50 members per garden, this estimates around 900,000 people). 3. **Sustainable Living Enthusiasts**: Over 45 million Americans participating in eco-friendly activities. 4. **Health and Wellness Seekers**: The wellness economy is worth $4.5 trillion globally (though exact numbers in the U.S. are unspecified). 5. **Educators and Schools**: 25% of U.S. schools have a garden program, impacting millions of students (assuming 130,930 schools in the U.S., 25% equates to approximately 32,732 schools. If each school impacts an average of 500 students, this estimates around 16.4 million students). 6. **Tech-Savvy Gardeners**: The smart home market, which includes gardening technology, is projected to reach $135.3 billion by 2025. 7. **Pet Owners Interested in Pet-Safe Gardening**: 67% of U.S. households own a pet (assuming 128 million households, this estimates around 85.8 million households). 8. **Millennials and Gen Z Gardeners**: Millennials make up about 29% of all gardeners, while Gen Z represents 44% of new gardeners (estimating from the 71.5 million gardeners, Millennials and Gen Z combined could be around 37 million gardeners). 9. **Homesteaders**: The number of homesteaders is not precisely quantified, but it's a growing community. 10. **Preppers**: Approximately 3.7 million people in the U.S. [oai_citation:2,Gardening Statistics in 2024 (incl. Covid & Millennials) | Garden Pals](https://lnkd.in/ekTDzS53). 11. **Culinary Professionals (Farm-to-Table)**: This trend is widely recognized and growing, with significant participation from culinary professionals. **Estimated Total Number of People**: To get an approximate number, we need to avoid double-counting people in overlapping groups. Here's a rough estimate: - Hobby Gardeners/DIY Enthusiasts: 71.5 million - Urban Gardeners: 900,000 - Sustainable Living Enthusiasts: 45 million - Health and Wellness Seekers: 16.4 million students - Pet Owners Interested in Pet-Safe Gardening: 85.8 million households - Millennials and Gen Z Gardeners: Partially included in the 71.5 million gardeners - Preppers: 3.7 million - Homesteaders: No precise number - Culinary Professionals: No precise number but a significant portion **Consolidated Estimate**: Since there's overlap (e.g., some gardeners are also sustainable living enthusiasts or pet owners), let's conservatively estimate that combining all these groups gives us around 100-120 million distinct individuals in the U.S. market. This estimate is rough but indicates a substantial and diverse market.

“Over the course of the day, I planted my summer haul of annuals (a riot of reds, purples and yellows), transplanted some fall-blooming mums and pulled a Montauk daisy that had grown too big for the space. A neighbor took the daisy off my hands, and in return gifted me some iris and lamb’s ear that he needed to thin out of his yard. For me, gardening is a workout, meditation and opportunity to socialize with my neighbors all rolled into one. And while I’m admittedly biased, research backs up some of my observations that gardening can have real benefits for your mind and body. Shoveling mulch, pulling weeds and lugging around a watering can all qualify as moderate-intensity physical activities. And gardeners tend to report higher levels of physical activity overall, compared with non-gardeners. Some studies report that working in a garden lowers people’s scores on anxiety and depression measures; other research has found increased confidence and self-esteem among gardeners. Many people also report feeling a sense of meaning and purpose when they garden, which is an important contributor to well-being. Working with plants, people kind of see where they fit in the world, they see why they’re valuable because of the cause-and-effect relationship that plants so visibly articulate. In addition, gardening, especially in community or allotment gardens, can help people build social connections and combat loneliness. They’re fostering social connection. They’re getting more involved. If playing in the dirt isn’t your thing, just being outdoors in a natural environment can provide stress relief and help people recover from mental fatigue; being in nature activates the mind and senses in a way that takes your attention off other things.” #communitygardening #seedexchange #getoutdoors https://lnkd.in/emJSvgJE

Cultivating Hope: A Call to Create Environment-Friendly Gardens In the current landscape of global challenges and disheartening news, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. As we navigate these turbulent times and extend our efforts to help those in need, it's crucial to carve out moments for self-care. Amidst the chaos, there exists a therapeutic haven that often goes unnoticed—the simple act of gardening. Gardening, far beyond being a mere pastime, offers a sanctuary for relaxation, rejuvenation, and a unique connection with nature. It is also a powerful means of fostering bonds with our loved ones and neighbors. If you find yourself yearning for a green space to call your own, consider the untapped potential in the yards of your grandparents or neighbors. What makes this call to action even more compelling is its universality. Regardless of whether you reside in a sprawling house or a compact apartment, the concept of cultivating an Environment-Friendly Garden transcends the limitations of space. It aligns with the collective endeavors of thousands of individuals nationwide—and globally—who are actively participating in the gardening movement for the betterment of our climate. So, why should you embark on this journey of creating an Environment-Friendly Garden? Here are some compelling reasons: 1. Personal Well-Being: Gardening is a therapeutic activity proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and promote mental well-being. 2. Community Bonding: By involving your neighbors, grandparents, or even children, you create a sense of community and shared responsibility. Your decision to embark on this gardening journey is not just a personal endeavor—it's a statement of resilience, hope, and a commitment to leaving the world a better place than you found it. So, will you join us in this movement? Let's cultivate hope, one garden at a time. With green aspirations,

**Wickes see growth in gardening projects benefiting mental health** In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, Wickes reflects on the impact their Community Programme is having on wellbeing projects in schools and local community. Wickes reveals that since their community programme started, 45% of the wellbeing projects have been provided with gardening products to support mental health. These therapeutic outdoor spaces are making a real difference in their local communities. Since 2022, Wickes has donated over 40,000 products to help transform or improve spaces to benefit the wellbeing of children and adults. Donations to charities like UK Men's Sheds Association (UKMSA) are among those who are supported by the programme. UKMSA encourages its members to make, repair and repurpose by coming together to work on a variety of projects for their community. Through these activities, they hope to improve wellbeing, reduce loneliness, and combat social isolation. It is becoming increasingly important to provide mental health facilities in the community, and frequently products are donated to charities like The Garden Army this one in East Grinstead. The Garden Army is a horticultural therapy service which allows people to seek outdoor therapy through the means of gardening. To continue providing this valuable service in the community, they rely solely on donations. As part of their development on the farm for the volunteers there, they needed a kitchen on their grounds to help members learn how to cook the vegetables they grow. Wickes provided them with the new kitchen they needed to provide this enriching experience. Tom Morphew, founder of the Garden Army said: “As a farmer, I took for granted how important it was for me to be outdoors and through my experiences, I learnt about the positive impact farming and horticulture can have on people’s wellbeing. Hence the birth of the Garden Army. We bring people together and enable them to share knowledge and experiences from gardening to cooking. That’s where the need for a kitchen came from as we realised that many people coming to the farm didn’t know what to do with the food they were going home with.” Sarah Steers CMIOSH, Co-chair of the Wickes Wellbeing Network said: “Every year, we are seeing an increase in community projects requesting support for wellbeing projects, particularly gardens. Regardless of age or gender, mental health can affect anyone. Through our programme, we’re glad to help these groups and play a part in supporting communities’ wellbeing in the UK.” Link to article in comments.