Gardening, it turns out, is not only good for the rabbits, woodchucks and other woodland creatures that reap the reward of our labors; it's good for us. The benefits below come to you from Karen Weintraub and the Boston Globe.
■Light lifting, bending, and twisting helps keep old muscles strong and limber (though consider raised beds if you’re over 60 to avoid back strain).
â– The social aspects that are often part of gardening are good for mental health and building social skills.
■The sensory stimulation  the sights and smells of the garden  can be good for people whose senses have dulled with age, as well as soothing for patients of any age.
■The satisfaction of watching something you’ve planted grow and flourish can be liberating for anyone whose ill health makes them dependent on others.
■People are more likely to eat vegetables they’ve grown themselves  who couldn’t stand to eat more fresh, whole foods without added sugar, fat, or food colorings?
â– And we seem to be hard-wired to benefit from being exposed to nature. Even a houseplant has been shown to improve the quality of life for someone who is shut in.