Stone: Mindfulness in nature and the garden

Many would say we live in a fast-paced society.

Our schedules are full, sometimes running from one thing to another.

In a gardener’s world that could be driving from garden centers to greenhouses, gardens to arboretums, and plants swaps and exchanges to plant sales.

And then we add in family and their commitments, work, meetings, volunteer opportunities, sports, and even more — no wonder it feels like we are racing from here to there. It could be described horticulturally as growing at the pace of kudzu, the vine that is commonly referred to as the plant that ate the South and is moving north. It can grow an astonishing 60 feet in a single season.

Do you agree that as we age, time seems to go faster and faster?

Spending time in nature, or in the garden, can be a way to purposefully slow down and enjoy. Weeding for me has always been therapeutic, and the beauty of a garden or nature is simply the best. The one thing that I have noticed is you can be outdoors, but really think about the space that surrounds us, and the amazing interactions. That is when mindful practices are most beneficial. The intention is what is important — try it next time you are outside in the garden, going for a walk in the neighborhood, or enjoying one of our many parks.

Did you know that there have been numerous studies to show the health benefits of being outdoors and the added benefit of exercising including a simple stroll or walk, maintenance activities like planting, pruning, weeding, or mulching? Recent research has paid an increased attention to the healing effects of both mindfulness training and exposure to nature, and research at the intersection between environmental psychology and meditation science seems to be a growing field (or landscape) — both literally and figuratively.

So what is mindfulness? Our Family Consumer Sciences (FCS) program at Ohio State University uses this quote by Jon Kabat-Zinn to describe what mindfulness is. “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”

Just last week, Patrice Powers-Barker, our FCS Educator in Lucas County, hosted a program at the Glass City Enrichment Center on Mindfulness in Nature. She highlighted a series of our Mindful Wander signs that encourage people to purposefully get outside and enjoy as part of the program.

The series of signs direct you to pause, breathe, and notice, while asking these simply but direct questions:

What are the three things you can smell now?

What are the three things that you can feel right now?

What are the three things you can see right now?

What are the three things you can hear right now?

What are the three things you are thankful for?

Want to dig deeper to learn more about mindfulness and how it can be incorporated while experiencing nature, or simply being in your garden?

Follow the “Live Smart Ohio Mind and Body” blog at: livesmartohio.osu.edu . There are also several OSU Extension fact sheets: Introduction to Mindfulness; Stress Coping Methods; Eating Healthy During Stressful Times; and Helping Children Through Stressful Times.

Maybe you are looking for a book to enjoy while you are outdoors this summer, or curled up indoors on a rainy day? Check out Patrice’s list of favorites about mindfulness in a blog post On the Bookshelf – Mindfulness .

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recommends mindfulness practice to complement medical treatment to help reduce anxiety, chronic pain, depression, insomnia, and stress. Ohio State’s Center for Integrative Health and Wellness offers free mindfulness recordings for personal use through the OSU Wexner Medical Center , and you don’t even have to be a Buckeye fan.

Just like learning any new skill like gardening, cooking, swimming, or even riding a bike, mindfulness takes time and practice. Consider listening to a download for a few times before you decide it’s not for you. Once you’ve discovered some of your favorite ways to practice mindfulness, keep it up — and being outdoors is a great way to incorporate mindfulness in what you are already doing.

Now get outside, and enjoy the outdoors whether it is raining, or the sun is shining. Can’t wait to hear about your mindful moments in nature, the garden, or your landscape.