The benefits of a home garden are astounding. From lowered blood pressure to mood-boosting, the upside to going green will have you pulling on the garden gloves in no time. 

Nutrition 
Even a simple herb garden boosts the average diet. Studies show that vegetables consumed immediately after harvest have significantly higher nutritional content than those purchased at a market. In addition, produce grown organically at home means fewer trips to the grocery store.  

Stress Relief
The studies supporting the mood-boosting benefits of being around plants are compelling. Not only can gardening help lessen symptoms of depression, it can also boost self-esteem. The benefits of watching plants grow as a result of your own effort will increase happiness and decrease anxiety. 

Immunity Boost
Gardening in the sunshine can produce a significant increase in vitamin D absorption which directly translates to increased immunity and bone strength, and a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. 

Lower Blood Pressure
For those with high blood pressure, gardening can help relieve stress and anxiety, which can lower blood pressure. The benefits were also found to be impactful for folks tending to indoor gardens. As stress levels go down, stress on the cardiovascular system decreases as well. 

Increased Strength
Gardening encompasses a variety of different actions ranging from trimming and planting to shoveling and chopping wood. These movements translate to light to moderate exercise and employ nearly every muscle in the human body. Research shows that exercise from gardening also improves sleep! 

Support Addiction Recovery
Participants in this study were offered the choice of art therapy or horticulture therapy and the results showed that not only did the folks who chose gardening have a higher success rate in completing their addiction treatment program, they also reported a higher satisfaction rate. 

Community
Gardening can be a great opportunity to connect with others. Whether working on a neighborhood community garden, a school-based project or simply sharing tips and tricks with other gardeners in your area, the common connection of gardening is a sure-fire way to make new friends.