GARDEN RELEAF
26 Nov 2014
Be part of the inaugural Garden RELEAF event next March and get gardening while also improving your health and wellbeing.
Garden Centres of Australia (GCA) is launching the inaugural Garden RELEAF event on March 7 – 8, 2015, encouraging people to go down to their local garden centre and join in the fun-filled activities, and then go home and get gardening.
Funds raised will go to beyondblue to raise awareness of depression and anxiety, and assist people to get help if they think they may be experiencing symptoms of these conditions.
The Ambassador for the Garden RELEAF event is Johanna Griggs and the GCA is thrilled to have her involvement. Johanna is a well-known face for most Australians via her TV shows such as House Rules and Better Homes & Gardens. As well as being on the Board of beyondblue, she is passionate about gardening.
“I'm more than happy to be involved with this as I'm a big believer in how getting close to nature soothes the soul. I'm also a very keen gardener, who loves to get her hands dirty, so I love the concept of Garden RELEAF,” says Johanna.
GCA President, Karen Moad says “feeding your body healthy food and sleeping well are two things that most people aspire to, but a third, equally important factor should be included – making sure you have access to nature.”
With this in mind, around 100 key independent garden centres across Australia are taking part in the Garden RELEAF event. Take a look at the www.gardenreleaf.com.au website to see what is happening in your local area. There is also a chance to win a $4,950 travel voucher from Botanica World Discoveries.
Each of the garden centres will be running activities that people can enjoy over the weekend. There will be Mini Gardening for kids (for a gold coin donation to beyondblue) and all sorts of other goings-on including sausage sizzles, tai chi demonstrations, information about what to do in the garden as autumn sets in and much, much more.
A recent article published in the USA highlights the six unexpected health benefits of getting into the garden. They include improvements to:
- Stress relief and self-esteem
- Heart health and stress risk
- Hand strength and dexterity
- Brain health and risk reduction for Alzheimer’s
- Immune regulation
- Depression and mental health
These six points are backed by long term scientific research and show beyond a doubt that gardening is good for people’s health and wellbeing.
It’s not hard to find some gardening space in Australia. Whether people live in the inner city or the country, getting into the garden (or balcony or kitchen windowsill) and planting is something everyone should try to incorporate into their lifestyle.
For more information about the health benefits of gardening, or to find out more about the Garden RELEAF weekend, go to www.gardenreleaf.com.au
Photo: Johanna Griggs and Chair of beyondblue, Jeff Kennett.