What was key for many was a short film wrapping up a 6-year research project on human health and gardens, and how everyone in the vid talked about how much better they felt when gardening. The research - first papers out soon - quantified these health and wellness benefits.

I wanted to get up on that stage and share my observation that, on RMG, there are much more exclamation points and smiley emoticons when people describe gardening, community gardens, sharing their bounty, swapping plants. I didn't gat a chance to share but I didn't need to, as that was obvious to all in the room.

Dan

I like working in my garden, I even like staring out the window at it. Each time I leave the house or come back to it, I find myself smiling while staring at my plants.

Isn't a smile supposed to release serotonin? Our dog handlers, who really helped with one of our more "rescued" dogs, told us that. It helps when we smile at our dog, it makes him smile more! I even smile at just the idea of going out to pop weeds!!

Thanks for sharing this.

J