Soil-the good stuff

Summer is here-lock down is easing, and life is getting busier. My redeployment has ended and I am back with my old team, in my old office, and it's great-but not the same. How can it be, when every person on the planet practically, has been affected in some way by Coronavirus. We are all in another state of flux.  Cinemas, restaurants and churches are reopening. Do we want to move out of our newly imposed comfort-ish zone and start 'mixing' again? Things are changing but this time it is us who makes the rules, set the boundaries within boundaries. Head frying? Maybe slightly-but I have a suggestion! 

Go outside, start digging, planting, weeding, and see how you feel after a little while. If you can't get outside, ask someone to help you plant up some seeds inside. There is something about soil, working with it, what it gives to plants, that makes us feel better. Any gardener will agree with this-and even if you are averse to getting your hands dirty, just working with soil is a good stress reliever. 

I was sent a link recently by a GardenForGood follower, which is titled, "How dirt makes you happy". It talks about recent research into soil, and the science behind most gardeners'  love of working in the garden and the stress reducing, mood lifting effect it has.  A bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccae has been found to mirror the effect on our neurons, that Prozac would have. These microbes in soil are also being investigated for improving cognitive function, Crohn's disease, and rheumatiod arthritis. I find this fascinating but not surprising-gardening is officially good for you!!

I have just come in from weeding the raised veg beds-they are looking tidy, and weed free, but they also look great because the plants stand out against the backdrop of rich, dark soil. A good tonic before I have to hit Asda....Maybe a wee prescription of gardening would be more effective, and a lot cheaper than many of the drugs that are used at the moment-any thoughts?