Women find therapy in gardening and farming especially following COVID lockdowns
Women find therapy in gardening and farming especially following COVID lockdowns
One unexpected effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an increase in the number of women who are taking up gardening and farming. The benefits are not surprising.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people's lives in many different ways. One unexpected effect has been an increase in the number of women who are taking up gardening. Because of the lockdowns, many people spent more time at home and gardening became a popular pastime that offered a range of benefits. Multiple studies have shown that gardening has been associated with greater well-being and happiness.
One reason more women are gardening—and even raising livestock— is that it provides a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. Gardening can be a very relaxing and therapeutic activity, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety. It also provides a sense of accomplishment when you see your plants grow and thrive. Another reason more women are gardening is that it offers a way to be self-sufficient and eat healthier. With many grocery stores experiencing shortages and people looking for ways to avoid going out in public, growing fruits and vegetables has become a great way to ensure that you have fresh produce on hand.
I look forward to starting my garden in early spring. This year, I planted tomatoes, corn, eggplant, sweet bell peppers, red peppers, and herbs of all kinds. I am already thinking about the delicious dishes and salads I will prepare with my fresh vegetables. I incorporate eye-catching art in my gardening that everyone notices and enjoy. My garden is a place of tranquility. It’s a place to get away from everything to meditate and relax.
Local gardeners Paulette Sims, Michelle Muse, and Debrina Baham say gardening and even raising livestock are therapeutic.
Paulette Sims embraces gardening. Gardening never interested her. Her passion and appreciation for gardening began by watching her uncle Leon Dunn, her father, and her grandparents. In New Orleans, her dad always planted greens and vegetables. Sims's maternal grandparents were farmers. The hours they spent tending to their plants amazed her. Born and raised in the city, she had no gardening experience and she never imagined working in a garden. But she decided to give it a try. She was surprised by the therapeutic benefits of gardening.
A visit to Muse 3 Farm in St. Helena, Louisiana is a delightful inspiration for anyone considering gardening. Several Muse brothers and their wives run the farm and raise goats, cows, rabbits, lambs, and chickens. Michelle Muse is particularly skilled at working with these animals and takes great care to ensure their well-being. Muse 3 Farm's mobile chicken coop is unique. Michelle's coop is not only functional but also artistic. It is a beautiful addition to the farm and adds to the overall charm of the place. Eve Muse's butterfly garden is a must-see the farm.
Debrina Baham started gardening with her father when she was a teenager in New Orleans. To this very day, she doesn’t allow living in the inner city to stop her from having a garden and chickens. “In the summers we use to drive to the county and visit my uncle’s sugarcane farm and always brought back a cane of that delicious homemade syrup,” said Baham, a mental health professor. After a long and exhausting day at work, the first thing she does when she gets home is take off her shoes and walk in her vegetable garden. It is therapeutic and feels recharging to be in her garden with her laying hens and vegetables, she said.
No matter what your background is, you can try gardening. Maybe you'll find a new hobby!
By Antoinette Harrell, Contributing writer
