The Garden Media Group has released its annual Garden Trends Report for 2018 … this year focusing on gardens as "Nature's RX for Mental Wellness."
Quoting the WHO, the report says anxiety will be the number one health issue by 2030, but as most gardeners know, gardens are the place to slow down, relax, and relieve stress … the prescription for mental and physical wellness.
According to the report, this is the first generation of gardeners who cannot rely on past scientific records to tell us what to expect in the way of climate, but we can plant weather-resilient plants, wind-resistant gardens, install rain gardens to soak up excess water, and do more indoor gardening.
Other insights:
Plants these days are happy in communities, so we should think of the garden as a social network, and plant those cultivars that work together in harmony.
Gardens don't have to be perfect. Practice Wabi-Sabi, an ancient Japanese tradition that celebrates imperfections in life. Re-purpose old garden items that age with time, tolerate a few weeds in the lawn, and plant natives that attract birds and pollinators.
Grow your own protein, like quinoa, corn, kale, millet, and other edible plants. And also grow some purple foods like eggplant, plums, beets and black raspberries that have a wealth of anti-oxidant properties.
Download the full 2018 report here.
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