Let’s be honest: many of us don’t get outside as much as we should. Whether you work long hours on a computer or you spend too much time scrolling on your phone, it’s easy to get caught up in your online life so much that we miss what’s happening beyond our screens.
If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to put down your phone and spend some time outside, gardening is a versatile and grounding hobby worth exploring. Not only is it an excuse to get your hands dirty and soak up a little vitamin D, but it’s a source of creativity, inspiration, and a great educational opportunity. At LifeBonder, it’s no secret that we want you to try new things and learn more about the world around you.
So what are the benefits of gardening?
Sothy et al.’s article about home gardening, which was published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, states the numerous benefits of gardening, including how:
“Gardening […] increases creativity and inspiration; positively improves participants’ mental well-being, establishes trust and close connections, and increases cultural awareness; helps create a sense of home, cultural identity, and belonging; and provides a safe, encouraging place to acquire new knowledge while learning more about gardening.”
Gardens, big or small, offer you the opportunity to explore your creative identity and build something according to your values, culture, and passions.
A post by Janis Kieft for the National Garden Bureau also writes that gardening is an educational hobby that encourages you to learn as you go. Gardening provides an outlet for artistic expression, reflecting the gardener’s personal style and aesthetic. Whether you are planting vegetables around your home, or keeping flowers in your windowsill, gardening involves a lot of consideration of colour, shape, and size. Much like sculpting or painting a canvas, plants become your artistic material.
There are several different types of gardening you can try…
1. Backyard gardening
This is one of the most common types of gardening. You can utilize any green space around your home to plant your own ingredients, or arrange flowers, to enjoy with your family and neighbours.
2. Community gardening
Community gardens are shared spaces where people can try their hand at growing their own flowers or food. These gardens focus on connection over personal space, where people can come together to cultivate friendships as much as they cultivate the earth. Sothy et. al write that, “Research has shown that one of the most satisfying factors in gardening is the opportunity among the gardeners to share the produce with friends and colleagues.” Not to mention, these gardens become a source of food for those in your neighbourhood who may need it.
3. Kitchen Gardening
If you live in an apartment without a balcony or green space, don’t worry! Sothy et al.’s article also discusses another type of gardening which anyone with a kitchen can do. It’s called Kitchen Gardening (a perfect name, really). While there are many definitions of a “kitchen garden”, it essentially encourages you to utilize extra pots / bowls you have in your home and plant small vegetable seeds or herbs inside them, keeping them in the little extra space you might have in the kitchen. Then, you can eat what you grow!
If you’re interested in gardening, but you’re afraid that you might be lacking a green thumb… don’t be! Gardening is all about experimentation, and you can start small with plants that fit your abilities and your needs.
Here are 5 of the easiest plants for you to grow, even in small spaces:
- Green beans – this plant grows fast and produces food quickly, usually within 2 months after being planted as a seed.
- Basil – who doesn’t love basil? Snip off a leaf from a fresh plant (perhaps from your local grocery store), plant it in some water, and watch it grow in the sun!
- Tomatoes (especially cherry tomatoes) – these grow well on patios or other small spaces and can be used in so many dishes. Just remember to water them a lot!
- Strawberries – strawberries can be grown pretty much anywhere: in a pot, in a basket, or in the ground, inside or outside.
- Chives – like basil, this is another versatile ingredient that can thrive inside or outside, and perform well in small containers.
Rest assured, even if your garden doesn’t turn out exactly the way you want, the simple act of planting seeds and trying something outside your comfort zone is beneficial to you and your mind. Previously, we’ve written about the mental health benefits of spending time outside and how you can reconnect with nature. Check out that post here:
With LifeBonder, you can learn to maintain a balance between virtual and real life by becoming creatively inspired. Try planting your own garden today!
Sources
Kieft, Janis. “National Garden Bureau’s Top Ten Reasons to Garden.” National Garden Bureau, 2 June 2025, https://ngb.org/top-ten-reasons-to-garden/ Accessed 6 May, 2026.
Eng, Sothy, et al. “Healthy Lifestyle Through Home Gardening: The Art of Sharing.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine [Los Angeles, CA], vol. 13, no. 4, July 2019, pp. 347–50, https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619842068.
Photo credit for featured image: Jennifer Doig-Gatis @chefatheartlivingfree
Kelsey Gatis
Kelsey is a writer and aspiring journalist with a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing. She is currently studying for her MA in English, with courses focusing on culture, society, and history.
