As someone creeping up on 80 and still feeling sprightly, I often reflect on how I’ve kept my body moving, my mind sharp, and my spirit young. Turns out, the secret isn’t bottled in a supplement or buried in a self-help book. It’s planted right outside in the garden.

My mother was a nurse and a bit of a health rebel for the 1950s. Instead of store-bought snacks, our sweets came fresh off the raspberry bush. She read Prevention magazine before wellness was trendy and kept us away from sugary cereal commercials as best she could. And though I’ve had my share of health hiccups—like that stint in a moldy school building—I’ve always returned to the garden for healing. It’s taught me things that no textbook ever could.

The Garden Prescription

Gardening isn’t just about growing plants. It’s about growing you. The moment I dig my hands into the soil, something in me loosens. My shoulders drop. My thoughts settle. Even pulling weeds becomes a kind of meditation (with results you can see). When you garden, you breathe deeper, move more, and connect with the seasons—and that’s a recipe for living well.

Do What Makes You Bloom

For me, that’s gardening with a purpose. I’ve helped start children’s gardens and shared seeds at Halloween. I’ve watched herbs flourish in pots perched higher than any rabbit could leap. Gardening makes me laugh, calms my nerves, and sometimes, lets me be a big kid again. Whether it’s growing pumpkins, tomatoes, or just stories to tell, the garden keeps me curious—and that keeps me young.

Laugh Loud, Weed Often

My dad loved quoting, “A merry heart does good like medicine.” I live by that. I may not be a master gardener, but the absurd beauty of watching a compost pile turn leftovers into life never gets old. If that doesn’t crack a smile, try lying next to your garden and laughing for no reason. Your plants—and your immune system—will thank you.

Sleep in Peace (and Maybe with Chamomile)

A well-tended garden leads to well-earned rest. After a day of weeding and digging, sleep comes easy. If not, a cup of homegrown chamomile tea—Peter Rabbit–approved—works wonders.

Eat What You Grow

Nothing beats the joy of pulling a chemical-free carrot from your own soil or snipping herbs from the windowsill. Eating what you grow isn’t just fresher—it’s better for you and for the planet. Even a few pots of tomatoes or greens can make a difference in your health and your grocery bill.

Move Like You Mean It

Gym memberships are fine, but I prefer planting, digging, and walking. Gardening turns movement into meaning. Shoveling snow becomes prep for spring planting. Walking the perimeter of your backyard turns into planning your next crop rotation. And every national park visit becomes a chance to marvel at what nature can do—and what you can recreate in your little patch of Earth.

Check In with Yourself (and Your Doctor)

Sure, see your doctor. But also check in with your compost pile—it might tell you just as much about your health. Seriously, find a prevention-minded practitioner who gets that food is medicine and that “meditation” isn’t just a typo for “medication.” (Though sometimes I think that typo might be divine.)

Stay Playful

Health isn’t just physical. It’s about wonder, too. Watch clouds and imagine they’re garden gnomes on parade. Lie under the stars and name constellations after your favorite vegetables. Share garden tales like The Selfish Giant or Rabbit Garden with kids—or just read them aloud to your tomatoes. Stay silly. Stay curious. Stay rooted.

Because in the end, growing a garden might just be the best way to grow a good life.

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About the Author: Larry Johnson is a lifelong advocate of gardening for health and happiness. He believes that every compost pile has a story, every seed holds a secret, and laughter is the best plant food. Larry shares his joyful gardening wisdom in GreenPrints and is currently working on a new book about living well by digging deep.

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