Digging in the Dirt Makes You Happy — Here’s Why

May 24th, 2017

By Carolanne Wright

Contributing writer for Wake Up World

“It came to me while picking beans, the secret of happiness. I was hunting among the spiraling vines that envelop my teepees of pole beans, lifting the dark-green leaves to find handfuls of pods, long and green, firm and furred with tender fuzz. I snapped them off where they hung in slender twosomes, bit into one, and tasted nothing but August…” ~ from Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

For anyone who has spent time cultivating a garden — vegetable, landscaping with ornamentals or a bit of both — there’s no question about it’s mood-boosting quality. Even a potted plant or two can have an uplifting effect. During my most bleak times in dealing with depression and bone-crushing fatigue, the simple act of caring for an outdoor plant by watering and plucking the dead bits has had a near miraculous effect, with a tangible boost in energy and overall brighter outlook. Whether this shift is attributed to the fresh air, slowing down to appreciate a bit of greenery or nurturing another living thing, the entire experience tends to border on the mysterious. Whatever the reason, one aspect is clear: gardening is strong medicine.

The Power of Soil-Based Organisms for Health and Happiness

Science has shown time and again that spending time in nature — along with playing in the dirt and gardening — has a powerful impact on our physiological and psychological health. Over the last decade, researchers have explored why soil microbes improve the nutritional value of our food and why rural children — like those who live on farms — are far healthier than their city-dwelling counterparts. Clean air, water, and fresh produce aside, one of the main factors for the health of farm-living kids boils down to soil microbes. As it turns out, these microbes help develop healthy human immune systems. Not only that, but soil organisms can boost our production of serotonin — a feel-good neurotransmitter that keeps anxiety and depression at bay.

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