McDowell High School students can get a jump start on learning to nurture plants, and therefore their brains, by joining the Garden Club.
According to an article from The Ohio State University, gardening simulates the brain which can reduce the risk for cognitive decline. Regular gardening can reduce the risk of dementia by 50%.
Carly Gilbert and Fiona Hillen decided to join the gardening club and have learned a lot from it.
Through the Gardening Club at McDowell High School, new friendships and tighter bonds between people are created.
Alison Allaman, the advisor of the Garden Club, said, “Students in the gardening club work together to complete tasks during tutorial as well as after school.” Collaborating while doing a fun activity is sure to make friendships bloom and it is shown in the students.
“I think it helps us bond, like when we’re looking for roots for specific seeds together,” says Hillen. Hillen enjoys working with her friends as well as making new ones while digging in the soil. The social gardening community built within the club is something special to her that she looks forward to every week. Social interaction is important for everyone. Talking to other people can help someone calm a tired mind and learn new ideas.
It has also been shown that gardening can reduce stress. Gilbert, who is in the Garden Club at McDowell, claims that gardening is “very stress-free, relaxing, and very fun.” Hillen agrees saying that gardening makes her feel “very peaceful and connected to nature.”
There is a scientific explanation for this. Gardening, which is a physically intense activity, is a form of exercise; and just like any other form of exercise, it can help reduce stress. The Mayo Clinic Health System states that gardening has been shown to lighten mood and lower cortisol levels, which helps with stress and anxiety. Exercise also releases endorphins that naturally improves mental and physical health as well as reducing depression risk.
Gardening can be a laborious task. From doing squats and lunges while weeding, carrying heavy bags like mulch around, and digging, raking and pushing a mower will be physically intensive for the entire body. All this maneuvering can help people get some movement in for the day. According to the CDC, a person could burn up to 165 calories from just 30 minutes of gardening. Being an active person is good to keep one strong and healthy so gardening could be a simple way to do that.
“I would like students that join to enjoy learning about the world around them. We have lessons on maintaining the pollinator garden, cooking with plants, growing indoor plants and how to arrange plants for personal enjoyment,” Allaman said.
Hillen said that Gardening Club stimulates her brain and gives her time to be with her friends. Gilbert says she has learned many important things and now her plants at home are thriving.
Anyone interested in joining McDowell Garden Club, can see Allaman in room 4-210 for a pass to come to meetings that are held during tutorial on Thursdays and after school on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:30.
