A few months into sustainable agriculture and I have noticed that everyday after class I am always feeling happy and refreshed. So, I thought it would be interesting to see if this was true for the rest of the class. How does working on the farm impact our mental health?
Personally for me, the farm helps me relieve my stress during the school day. After sitting in classrooms all day worrying about tests and grades, it's great to take a break and be outside to focus on taking care of the farm and our beds. Simple acts such as planting seedlings or weeding my bed make me feel so much calmer. Grace Willens, a sustainable agriculture student, agrees that the farm helps her de-stress, "being out on the farm helps me relax in between classes." Zoe Stakowski appreciates how the farm offers a hands on learning environment, outside of the classroom, "The farm gives our minds a break from the stress of school, even though we are still learning!" Sam Jackson further proves my notions by stating, "I love being outside for a period everyday. It is a nice regeneration time and is fun to work on something that you can see improve over time."
Scientific research also reinforces my notion. "Gardening shows us that we are but a small part of nature, and getting over such feelings of insularity and self-absorption is an automatic antidepressant," says Malati Jagasia, a child psychologist based in Mumbai.
Overall, I think it's clear that being on the farm is quite beneficial both so our education and our mental health.
So with that, thank you Sustainable Agriculture!
- Ines S
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