Why should I get my hands dirty?

Do you remember as a child, the hours spent mixing dirt and water and making those crazy, delicious mud pies? Or the time you went down to the local creek and dammed up a pool getting yourself so covered in mud that you probably weren't allowed in the house without changing clothes? Fast forward to today when I challenge you to remember the last time you got your hands covered in dirt, let alone smeared with mud. We currently live in a culture of cleanliness, sterilization and purification. Now, don't get me wrong. Those things have their place, for sure. I, for one, would definitely want to know that my dentist had washed his hands and put on his gloves before they went in my mouth.

But I'm here today to put in a plug for giving yourselves and your children permission to get your hands in the dirt on a regular basis. Research has it that there are really important microbes in soil that actually make us feel better. Recent studies have shown that a bacterium found in soil, mycobacterium vaccae, can activate the release of serotonin in our brains, which in turn can diminish feelings of anxiety and increase feelings of well being. Now that is really good news! Gardening has always been therapeutic for me as I believe it is for the great number of people who call themselves gardeners. And now, with this recent research, we can add one more reason that being in the garden is beneficial for your health. Not only is it a creative outlet, it is also a stress reducer. Fresh air, aromatherapy from the scents of flowers and trees, soil microbes that support our happiness and just the blessings of connecting with the earth in a direct way, all promote our overall health and well being. So go ahead, go out and get your hands dirty!