What moving stories! Thank you all for sharing. Like everyone, I have had my share of griefs and stresses and I do believe that when I was teaching and having to work endless hours under great stress, gardening saved me. There is a wonderful healing power in being in touch with nature and earthy reality, in pure air and with the scent of earth and plants in your nostrils, doing physical work. It restores you to the basic meaning of life.
It's been good to share these things on the forum and to know that some of us have had breakdowns, depression, grief and whatever else and how gardening has been an instrument in healing and recovery, it's beautiful isn't it.
Helmsley Walled Garden in North Yorkshire is a lovely place to visit (with a smashing cafe) and is a charity providing Horticultural Therapy. This is such a wonderful cause making a huge difference to people's lives.
I recently read a doctoral thesis about three groups of pensioners. One group did their usual thing, the second formed a social club and the third formed a gardening club. As far as I remember the gardening group were the happiest, even if they were dragged unwillingly to the allotment, once there they were so glad they'd turned up.
I'm thinking of vlunteering as a gardener at a local National Trust house. (I go away a lot so am hesitating). I should think the learning curve, the contact with plants and the earth and the social contact would all be healthful.
Well done, Verdun. And you still had time to make that glorious garden! I heard someone say the other day 'Don't spend too much time thinking. Take your attention off yourself and go and help someone else.'
Reading all the way through this thread this morning, I found it quite sad to see how many of us have found it necessary to find solace in our gardens Depression and all that goes with it is so much more prevalent than I had imagined. It was, however, so uplifting to read how much being in the garden had helped everyone.
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Natures healer
What moving stories! Thank you all for sharing. Like everyone, I have had my share of griefs and stresses and I do believe that when I was teaching and having to work endless hours under great stress, gardening saved me. There is a wonderful healing power in being in touch with nature and earthy reality, in pure air and with the scent of earth and plants in your nostrils, doing physical work. It restores you to the basic meaning of life.
A garden is the best alternative therapy! xx
I recently read a doctoral thesis about three groups of pensioners. One group did their usual thing, the second formed a social club and the third formed a gardening club. As far as I remember the gardening group were the happiest, even if they were dragged unwillingly to the allotment, once there they were so glad they'd turned up.
I'm thinking of vlunteering as a gardener at a local National Trust house. (I go away a lot so am hesitating). I should think the learning curve, the contact with plants and the earth and the social contact would all be healthful.
Well done, Verdun. And you still had time to make that glorious garden! I heard someone say the other day 'Don't spend too much time thinking. Take your attention off yourself and go and help someone else.'
Hello. The name of my pictures : See the hope!
P.S.:my tomato seedlings today-only 2 days after sowing.
Reading all the way through this thread this morning, I found it quite sad to see how many of us have found it necessary to find solace in our gardens Depression and all that goes with it is so much more prevalent than I had imagined. It was, however, so uplifting to read how much being in the garden had helped everyone.
Thank you for sharing.