Gardening and horticulture are real therapies for our body and soul. Gardening make us recovering our roots, take some fresh air and enjoy the sun and nature. Taking care of a garden is a 100% healthy activity!

Mental and body health

Horticulture therapy could be used as an extension of classic treatment for people suffering of mental disorder.

Gardening reduces stress and improves mood. The nature environment helps to relax and make us forget the daily anxiety. A Netherlands study supports this fact. They proved that gardening help to lower levels of cortisol, the hormone related to stress.

Also, according to some other researches, horticulture therapy may reduce the depression symptoms, lower the risk of developing dementia, improve self-esteem and control emotional or behaviour problems.

Physical activity

For the people suffering from chronic pain, the elderly or people with any kind of disability, gardening is a perfect low-impact exercise. This activity makes all muscles work slowly and smoothly.

Fresh food

Horticulture is a source of fresh and healthy food. Also it is not surprising that gardeners eat healthier and consume more fruits and vegetables than the other people.

Learning life

Gardening is also a learning process about how to deal with the daily responsibilities. A garden needs a lot of care: planning, observing, budgeting, working everyday... Gardening is like life, we need to face a lot of problems but also we obtain a lot of beautiful fruits.

HORCANIC is aware of the countless benefits of gardening. Put your hands in the ground is a therapy that has proven its effects. But HORGANIC go a step further. Through this project HORGANIC also improve social skills of its target audience. These skills will enhance learning and integration of this weakened public.

You can obtain more information reading the following articles: Why gardening is good for your health, Can Gardening Help Troubled Minds Heal?, Planting a brighter future: how a mental health facility uses gardening as a therapeutic tool.