May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while everyone’s experiences are unique, maintaining a healthy mind is an important part of our overall health and well-being, as it affects how we think, feel, and act. Taking care of mental health can look different for everyone, whether it involves spending more time with friends and family, forming a new hobby, exercising more, or speaking with a counselor – there are many tools to help build positive mental health. One of the strategies for better management of stress or trauma recovery can be awareness of self, and reflecting on inner emotions that are experienced throughout the day.
“Inside every one of us is a garden, and every practitioner has to go back to their garden and take care of it” – Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh
One way to tend your inner garden is to tend to a physical one! Today is National Garden Meditation Day, celebrated every year on May 3. It is the practice of taking time out from one’s hectic routine and going to a garden, picking a nice spot, and then meditating to relax your mind and body.
At the Catherine McAuley Center, the Community Garden creates opportunities to learn new skills, practice self-care, and form meaningful connections. Clients, residents, and community members can learn about and grow their own plots of produce, and take time to relax in nature.
Garden groups at CMC: Q & A with Kristin Bratton, Director of Women’s Services
Helping residents and clients access nature in a hands-on and inclusive way, Director of Women’s Services, Kristin Bratton shares about the programs at CMC that encourage women, adult learners, and refugees and immigrants to enjoy gardening and reconnecting with themselves and nature. Kristin, a longtime gardener and Master Gardener intern, loves Gerber daisies, carrots and potatoes, but has yet to grow a zucchini that she’s satisfied with.
What is your personal experience with gardening?
I started gardening as a tiny tot with my mother and grandmother. It has been in my family on a small scale of backyard gardening. I’ve grown my own garden for close to a decade, but CMC was able to provide professional development for me to become an intern as a Master Gardener. Master Gardeners utilize and rely heavily on the sciences like botany and other sciences, and apply researched knowledge to gardening. I’ve been able to share that knowledge with my clients so they can accomplish their goals in gardening.
How did the garden program get started?
It started over 5 years ago, first focusing on helping clients and residents become more food secure. Now things have shifted to take on more of a therapeutic approach toward gardening, and with the help of the Master Gardeners program, CMC was able to install raised beds for residents and clients. We currently have 7 women who are set to participate this year!
What are the benefits of therapeutic gardening programs?
Physical activity creates endorphins, getting Vitamin D from sunlight, and the grounding aspects of the grass, soil, the trees. Having our hands in the soil exposes us to good kinds of microbiology. Gardening lowers blood pressure and when you’re gardening, you can focus on the now rather than the future or past goals. You’re helping life and you are seeing it first hand!
What is your hope for the gardening group?
My hope is to practice hands-on mindfulness, for it to become an automatic practice to see nature as a grounding tool. I want clients to find pleasure not just from gardening, but from the food that they grow and prepare into satisfying and beautiful dishes.
What are ways that anyone can experience more meditative peace in gardening?
You don’t even have to be actively gardening! Start by engaging your senses, smelling, touching and listening, becoming grounded and present.