Gardening is one of the main activities Google identified as a hobby for boomers.

According to the article “Dig into the benefits of gardening” on the Mayo Clinic’s website, gardening can provide these benefits:

Increase your exercise

Gardening is a good form of exercise when you perform movements that imitate whole-body exercises like squatting, lunging while weeding, and carrying bags of earth, mulch and other supplies that work large muscle groups. Raking, digging, and pushing a mower also increase physical activity.

Time to enjoy nature

Being outdoors is also great for mental health. Gardeners tend to breathe deeper, and it helps to clear out the lungs, improves digestion, and increases oxygen levels in the blood. It has also been shown to reduce heart rate and muscle tension. 

Helps with social connection

Gardening brings people together and strengthens social connections. People in gardening communities tend to be willing to share their expertise and time with fellow gardeners. Community garden plots have become popular, helping to bring together people with diverse backgrounds to work on a common goal. These social connections help lower stress and provide support during difficult times in life. 

Sharpens your brain

An article published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health states that gardening provides a healthy workout for your brain. Researchers in a study found that when they measured brain nerve growth factors related to memory, the participants, all seniors, had their levels of brain nerve growth significantly increased after they created a vegetable garden.

Of course, arthritic knees and hips deter some boomers from participating in gardening, but it should not stop them from taking time to “stop and smell the roses.”

In my upcoming book, College Life of a Retired Senior, I’ve included an entire chapter titled “Flora, Fauna and the Seasons,” which focuses on gardening. Quote: “As a child, I had the special chore of tending the flower garden. The garden stood immediately in front of the house and was divided into four sections, demarcated by smooth pumpkin-sized stones. My brother and I whitewashed the stones every Easter and Christmastime.”