Whether tending to a backyard plot, growing herbs on a balcony or participating in a community garden, you can enjoy meaningful improvements to your overall well-being through gardening. Here's how: 

Physical health benefits

Gardening is a low-impact form of exercise that helps maintain mobility, flexibility, and strength. Tasks like digging, planting, watering and weeding involve gentle movements that can improve cardiovascular health, enhance hand strength and coordination and promote joint flexibility.

Mental and emotional well-being
Spending time in nature has been shown to lower cortisol levels and reduce stress. Gardening offers a sense of purpose, which is especially important for older adults who may be navigating retirement or experiencing social isolation.

Social connection
Gardening can also be a deeply social activity. Community gardens, gardening clubs and shared horticultural projects offer older adults opportunities to make new friends, share knowledge and stories and feel connected to a community.

Gardening is more than a hobby – it's a meaningful lifestyle choice that supports aging well. It strengthens the body, nourishes the mind and uplifts the spirit. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just getting started, planting a seed today could yield a garden of benefits tomorrow.

A Matter of Balance

Learn practical strategies for reducing your fear of falling, changing your environment to reduce risks and increasing your activity level to prevent falls in this group discussion class.

You'll learn to:

• View falls and fear of falling as controllable 
• Set realistic goals for increasing activity  
• Change your environments to reduce risk factors
• Use exercise to increase strength and balance  

May 29 - July 17

Days: Thursdays
Time: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Oak Crest, Spring Lake Park
Class Leaders: Carla Steinbring and Morgan Schultz
Provider: Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities