More than veggies, gardens produce Joy and Smarts!

Have you ever wondered why people get HAPPY when they get their hands in the dirt? For years I have found it remarkable how the garden can change people's moods. Just the other day we had a perfect example of this. The interns arrived in the garden in a funk.  It had been a long emotional day; and they were feeling it. The tone was quiet and somber. We divied up our tasks for the day and got to work. A couple of us went to the old garden for a while and when as we were walking back to the annex garden, I heard singing and laughter. Two interns were joyously turning compost and singing together! Just fifteen minutes in the garden and the mood had entirely shifted. According to the latest issue of organic gardening, a 2007 study in the UK linked this phenomenon to a little soil organizm called Mycobaterium vaccae, which decreases anxiety and increases serotonin, the "happy hormone".  Now, however, a new study from Sage Colleges in Troy, NY, has linked this same little organism with accelerated learning. When we are stressed and anxious, we don't learn as well, so increasing serotonin levels not only makes us happier, but helps us learn new information and produce results we want faster! SO, if you are feeling stressed, or overwhelmed or just have a big test coming up, go out and spend some time in the garden, it might help! Or, if you don't have your own garden, come join us in ours.... anyone is welcome to join us for our garden workdays Tuesday 1-5 and Thursday 3-5.  You'll be humming a happy tune when you leave, or your money back :)