It’s no wonder I became a permaculturist. My relationship with both of my grandparents seemed to always revolve around plants. On any given day my brother and I could be found playing outside in one or the other's tropical yard, while family outings often meant visiting botanical gardens. Both grandfathers loved photography, and plants were always a star subject.

Then, I grew up. Life became busy with high school, college, and a career. Stress and anxiety worked their way in, as they do for many people. Then, for the first time in my life, I experienced profound loss, only a couple of years apart. Yet even as both my grandfathers approached the end of their lives, nature was always there as some organic, carbon-based glue between us. 

Nature is Nurturing

Cherished memories still surface, like my paternal grandfather, his mind a blur and unable to recall the scientific names he used to know like the back of his hand, giving me palm seedlings and plant cuttings from his wheelchair. And my maternal grandfather on the porch, watching hummingbirds and bees visit all the flowering shrubs he had planted years before.

As a sort of natural response to the stress and anxiety I was feeling, Nature worked its way back into my life in a bigger way than I could have ever imagined and boosted my resilience. This is largely the influence of my grandparents – whether they were aware of it or not, in giving me a love of nature they gave me stress relief, mindfulness, and happiness. 

Research shows that regardless of age, nature can boost physical and mental health and well-being. For family caregivers and those needing care, time in nature is a critical stress-taming ally. A simple walk together in a park, a pause to look through a window, or a moment outside to look at the tree right in front of your home can be an act of caregiving and self-care all at once.

Now, as a permaculturist, I garden and am growing an urban food forest at my own house, and I remember both grandfathers joyfully. Beyond the mental and physical benefits, nature helps me be more at peace with life and death. 

Green Care is Self-Care

Growing research underscores how green care is an effective alternative therapeutic approach with psycho-social benefits. This is true for a variety of health conditions, including dementia. Related to horticulture therapy, green care involves directed interactions within natural settings. While this approach to care is in its infancy in the US (the UK is investing heavily in this area), it can be somewhat easy to implement on your own using the steps below. Don’t have access to a green space? Container gardens, even small ones, allow you to bring the outdoors in. Visit your local garden or home improvement store, or explore online retailers like My Garden Box. 

Here are 5 simple garden-themed ideas that bring joy and healing, and how each can infuse more of the outdoors into your family caregiving.

1. Sprout Some Seeds

A sprouting seed is magical no matter how often I’ve seen it happen. Placing a tiny packet of biological information in the soil, and trusting that nature knows exactly what to do is a wonder I find extremely comforting. Seeing the small sprout and its subsequent growth is also so satisfying to watch.

Start an indoor herb garden with your loved one. Plant some seeds together, and keep track of them over the next few weeks. If your loved one doesn’t have time, space, or the ability for potted plants, plant them at your own home and together check on the seedlings every time they visit. You might even transport your small herb container when you visit your loved one to show them the progress.

2. Get Dirty

Getting your hands dirty in the garden connects us to Earth and can make us happier. The benefits don't stop there. Gardening can help you feel accomplished as you experience the mental meditation of focusing on a single task. Time outside can lower your blood pressure and boost your mental resilience. Even the ridiculously simple act of smelling fresh earth has proven benefits. 

Family caregivers might work on planting seeds or transplanting plants together by creating an easy DIY kit: purchase a variety of mini-succulents or cacti (or ask for cuttings from a fellow green thumb), purchase growing medium or soil from a local nursery and a larger container that is still portable. Transplant the little plants into the larger pot, arranging them in any way you like. Include other features like tiny rocks or little figures. Not only will you get your hands dirty, but also a lovely element of creativity.

3. Harvest Food

Harvesting food straight from the source helps me to feel grounded in my place on Earth, and to recognize how closely I depend on it for my needs. It is also very satisfying when it comes from a tree I planted myself years before. 

If you have a fruit tree or garden at home, when your loved one visits, get them involved. Maybe they can hold the basket for some mangoes, help pick peppers and tomatoes from a wheelchair-accessible raised bed, snip some fresh herbs, or even wash the day’s bounty in a sink or bowl – the opportunities to participate are endless with a little bit of creativity. 

If your care recipient is mobile, visit a U-pick farm together. Where I live in Florida, there are blueberry and strawberry farms a short car ride away. It's a good idea to verify accessibility in advance to ensure the activity is fun for all.

4. Water Plants

Humans seem to be wired for care. If people are suddenly more dependent on others than before, watering plants can be a meditative and relaxing act of care. Plant care is an opportunity to attend to and care for something else. I end up staring intensely at my plants for ages when I water them.

If dexterity or mobility challenges prevent you from tending to your garden outside or on the windowsill, hydrate potted plants with smaller, lighter watering cans, cups, or a mister. This sort of task is easy to do while seated at a table, whether inside or outdoors. It is also another activity that can be a way to get out of your head and mindfully into the physical present moment.

5. Practice Mindfulness in Nature

Plants don’t need us, but we can reap the benefits of being in their presence daily. When you pay attention, Nature can be found at lunch at a restaurant, outside your home, on a walk, sitting on a park bench, or even on a car or train. 

Whether it’s for five minutes or 50, the goal is the same: take a few deep breaths, observe the leaves blowing in the wind, notice the insects on a flower, catch the scent of lily, orange blossom, or freshly cut grass. Listen carefully for the birds and insects chirping and feel the rush of wind on your skin. Practicing such careful observation can help you feel grounded and offer a sense of calm in a world filled with stress and distraction.

Photography by Heather Martin.

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