Monday, March 7, 2011

Some benefits of Dirt

It is time to get out and start digging in the dirt again. After flooding rains yesterday and gusting winds today I will just have to wait. I have always started planting my vegetable garden in mid-March so I am really inching to get to work and prepare the soil for planting. The snow-peas, lettuce, carrots and beets are my first seeds to be introduced into the spring soil. But there is so much more to be gained from gardening then a harvest of delicious life-enhancing foods… harmony. After this very snowy, cold winter I could really use the reunion with the fertile mother earth and all her gifts.

There is just something about working in the soil of mother earth that can bring you into harmony with your world. Many gardens already know the stress reducing benefits of working with dirt and plants but it has gone farther then that. School principals stated that after a day where the students have been working on gardening projects that there are fewer disciplinarian problems. Students are observed working more cooperatively with others during and after these projects. Similarly convects given the opportunity to work in landscaping and gardening project also showed a decrease in hostile behavior.

It is really magical how the earth can give each different seed just what it needs to be a whole and complete food with its own special set of nutrients to give. Likewise the earth can give people the peace and harmony within so that they can be whole and complete with so much to give. So start making your plans to shed the winter stress by getting out in the dirt.