It’s no secret that being out in nature and getting plenty of fresh air can work wonders for our health and wellbeing, and with gardening being a key way to do both, it’s not surprising that it has many studied benefits. What is it about community gardening specifically though, that is so good for us? In a series of three blog posts, we’re exploring how our participants believe that our community gardening projects, and food hubs, have positively impacted the local people that come along and participate. Following on from March’s post, which looked at how community gardening projects can benefit the social wellbeing of local people, this month we’ll hear how our participants feel their mental health and wellbeing has benefitted from our presence in their local areas.
The potential benefits of community gardening to mental health and wellbeing have been well discussed over recent years, with a report from The European Centre for Environment and Human Health stating that having studied 10,000 people across an 18-year period, they found that mental distress was significantly lowered, and wellbeing improved, when individuals had access to local green spaces where they lived. Another study found that living in areas with a higher level of green space resulted in lower levels of stress in men and women from deprived urban areas in Scotland. The Environemnt Evidence Journal (EEJ) linked such findings to community gardening projects more specifically when it noted that:
Some have argued that community gardening may have a role in reducing stress and promoting better mental health. This is thought to come about through various mechanisms but includes time spent in neutral spaces (i.e. those not associated with specific institutions) and the therapeutic nature of the activities. Positive engagement in worthwhile activities, such as volunteering for community benefit, may promote a sense of value and achievement, both are factors which contribute to enhanced sense of quality of life.
As an organisation we endeavor to create spaces that are neutral, and subsequently a place where local people can come to ‘get away’ from any difficulties or troubles they are experiencing in their daily life, even if for a short while. Our Community Chef, Tona Sonato, highlighted the importance of this:
Another element of this is creating an environment where people can enjoy and experience delicious and healthy food together, away from the tough realities of day-to-day life, in a welcoming and community-oriented environment.
Led by our Head Community Gardener, Steven Pike, our gardening projects serve as a non-judgemental environment that use an enjoyable activity to support participants to improve their skills and, importantly, confidence. Meanwhile, events such as our Community Picnics and Community Meals, work to bring local people together to enjoy a meal in that same neutral space, with the aim of reducing isolation and loneliness through fostering bonds and good rapport between attendees. The two project models {community gardens and food hubs) also work in symbiosis to reinforce the ‘field to fork process,’ which allows participants to reap the benefits of growing and harvesting produce in the form of a beautifully presented, delicious and healthy meal. Steven highlights that this gives the gardening process more meaning, stating that:
My ultimate favourite part is when you grow something that someone, such as our Community Chef, Tona Sonato, then turns into a dish that tastes fantastic. Just experiencing that process come full circle, tasting something that you grew in the garden, that is when the process is at its most meaningful.
This sense of meaning has the potential to inspire both the sense of value and achievement that the EEJ argued improves quality of life, and also hope for the participant, which the Nursing Times argued is an essential component of gardening:
Hope is an anticipation of a future which is good and which is based upon […] a sense of personal competence, coping ability, psychological well-being, purpose and meaning in life, as well as a sense of “the possible” […] There appears to be an intrinsic relationship between gardening and hope. The very action of planting a seed in the soil requires hope; by encouraging and in some senses almost imposing a sense of hope on to someone.
Value, achievement and hope then, are all fundamental to our mental health and sense of wellbeing, which the EEJ noted is also ‘strongly linked with employment and income, and community gardening may lead to the development of skills suitable to enhance employability.’ One of our former Growing Youth attendees recently secured a permanent job with Edinburgh Council. He worked with our Growing Youth Leader Wayne Shennan on projects such as the construction of the Natural Play Shed in the Murrayburn and Hailesland Community Garden, the conversion of a shipping container in the Willow Garden, and the installation of a rain water harvesting unit in the Calders Community Garden. Delighted with his new position, he stated the following:
Attending Growing Youth really helped me get the job. Wayne taught me how to use power tools which I really enjoy and I’ve gained lots of experience. I learned so much – not only about the practical skills but my social skills too.
Wayne noted the attendee’s growth in confidence throughout his time on the project, as well as that of other Growing Youth participants, particularly in those who returned to subsequent projects and were able to transfer their skills and experience to new team members by heping to lead sessions alongside Wayne.
The following responses are drawn from surveys carried out with local residents in Murrayburn and Hailesland, who formerly, and/or currently participant in our projects in the area, including the Murrayburn and Hailesland Neighbourhood Garden. They were surveyed to ascertain their experience of the community, how they felt our projects benefitted them on an individual and community level, and how they feel our projects could be improved or developed. All responses are anonymous.
How have you found the last 6 months, what helped you feel more positive?
Participant One: ‘I used the garden during furlough a lot and it really helped me forget about all my problems and I get a rush of adrenaline just walking through the gate. It’s worked wonders for me being part of this and has made a huge difference to how I feel, reacting to the seasons and keeping on top of the jobs needing done. I’m so happy with it and it’s a real need for my mental health and wellbeing and all my issues fall away when I enter the garden. Steve and Wayne are amazing and if I need to talk, no matter what they are doing, they just stop and listen to everyone which is brilliant. So open-minded, you don’t judge, never ridicule folk. You just listen and it’s so relieving and it’s so important […] it’s hugely comforting and lets you know you’re not alone and you don’t need to solve everything by yourself.’
What could we be doing differently, or that we’re not doing already?
Participant One: ‘My confidence in gardening has skyrocketed since I joined the garden. I knew nothing before and now Steve just gives me tasks and I just crack on and I love teaching and showing new people wee things in the garden. I’d never been able to do that before. I feel like I’m advancing and progressing […] I know so much now and I hadn’t realised that until new folk started joining the garden.’
What impact have SWEE’s projects had on your household and or your neighbourhood?
Participant Two: ‘I love that we can grow our own food, there’s nothing better than growing your own. Sowing the seeds, watching them grow, picking and eating […] To have that injection of lovely, bright, healthy food, it brings hope into the community. […] In a community like Wester Hailes the diet is poor, there is mental health issues. For people to even start to get better they have to eat well. It makes you feel good, clears your brain, lifts your mood.’
What is your experience of your local community, a good place to live?
Participant Three: ‘When people are part of the group in the garden you feel protected because everyone is very nice and I feel safe. […] I found Edible Estates a very positive experience because I started to feel less isolated.’
These responses demonstrate the potential benefits of community gardening projects to mental health and wellbeing, with improved confidence and skills, an increased sense of hope, and reduced feelings of isolation noted by participants. It is clear that participants feel an increased availability of, and access to green spaces, food growing, and community meals in their local area is essential to their mental wellbeing, and as such we believe that the further development of project models like community gardens and community food hubs are an essential asset to communities across Wester Hailes. Next month, in the final blog post of this series, we’ll explore how community gardening benefits physical wellbeing.
Other posts you might be interested in…
Climate Conscious: How Our Community Projects Help Tackle Climate Change
Team Interview: Steven Pike, Edible Estates’ Head Community Gardener
Team Interview: Alan Gordon, Edible Estates’ Community Engagement Officer