Presenter

Loryn Crutchfield

Campus

Springfield Technical Community College

Sponsor

Reena Randhir, Department of Biology, Springfield Technical Community College

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A82, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Can gardening become the new antidepressant? Gardening as a way to sustain ourselves has become a dying art throughout our world. With an uptick in interest due to the pandemic and rising cost of living, it is proving to be more beneficial to our health and our environment than one initially thought. Throughout multiple experiments, researchers had proved the health benefits of participation in a sustainable community garden. Through online research of my own I can conclude that gardening does have positive psychological health benefits, including a strong connection with nature, volunteerism, a feeling of inclusion, an overall change in demeanor, and education about various agricultural skills. The research also showed some physical health benefits including, creation of a “green gym” by using agricultural equipment and labor, and having access to a healthier diet creating a lower BMI in many of the participants. The qualitative research, conducted throughout the United States and United Kingdom, evidenced a positive incline of the participant’s mental, emotional, physical and social wellbeing while engaging in a community garden. They help the environment by sustaining biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions by providing a local food supply and by reducing urban heat island effects. Through these findings, it can be concluded that there are many positive outcomes for a community garden, a nuanced understanding and many reasons why it should be more prevalent within our everyday lives. 

Keywords

Agriculture, Physical Health, Psychological Health

Research Area

Medical Sciences

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