Human Health

Just like the soil, our guts are a prosperous microbiome, full of good bacteria that help us maintain our health. And like soil health, we have to feed our gut flora with good foods to help them thrive. But instead, we are destroying our inner ecosystem with heavily processed foods that have little to no nutrients. Well-grown, home-cooked meals may take time and energy, but it is an important investment into your long term health.  

Approximately 95% of our Serotonin is made in the gut. The Endocrine cells in the lining of your gut are largely responsible for hormone regulation, in order to communicate hunger, nausea, etc. Because of this, what we put in our bodies and how we care for our gut biome directly influences our long-term happiness. We crave diverse, balanced, wholistic diets. But because of many over-farming and under-caring practices, we have fostered a steep decline in nutritional value in our food. 

Other Research Resources:

Intestinal serotonin and fluoxetine exposure modulate bacterial colonization in the gut

Microbiology (GUT BIOME) Ologies Podcast episode with Dr. Elaine Hsiao (by Alie Ward)

Hearts pumping! Lungs working! Blood flowing! It's no new fact that a good workout is extremely beneficial for your health. Thankfully, working outdoors in a garden can provide its own free workout while doing what you love. Ever lifted a large bag of wet soil? Or planted a tree? Dug out a garden? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about!

SOME of the benefits of being active at all ages include: 

• Strengthening your bones and muscles to prevent damage

• Reducing your risk of some cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease

• Maintaining hormone balance, which in turn helps mental health and cognition

• Increasing energy levels throughout the day

• Improving quality of sleep (which has its own long list of benefits!)

• Regulating weight gain or loss

• 
  

Have you ever stepped into the sunshine on a beautiful day, and felt the warm spring air brush away all of your troubles? There's some science behind that! Sunlight exposure has been connected to improving cognitive and emotional function, through the conversion of UV B radiation into Vitamin D. 

Other research resources:
Understanding Nature and Its Cognitive Benefits

40-second green roof views sustain attention: The role of micro-breaks in attention restoration

One of the most important skills we hold is problem solving, and pattern recognition. Thankfully, gardening is all about Trowel and Error!

 No idea why your poor tomato plants are turning yellow? Take a look at the sunlight, the watering, the soil, possible pests, and use those factors to determine what is causing the issue. Putting kids out in the garden can instill very important logical thinking capabilities for the future, and teach them how to observe their surroundings as it relates to their goals.