Plants bring us closer to nature

Imagine trying to teach a child about the laws of nature, how the ecosystem is one big cycle of giving; then a spark hits you to plant plants that attract insects.

These insects will help pollinate, and the child can visually see the entire process occur in many ways.

Planting flowers bees are attracted to will help increase pollinators especially because they are on a steep decline due to the ways in which we use our open land in the 21^st century.  

Many industries use pesticides, insects are not pollinating like they used to because of this.

When you plan and tend to your garden with the child, she will grow to understand that she exists as one with every living, breathing species she interacts with, and plants are a big part of the process.

Many of us live in urban areas with tall building – there are trees and parks scattered across our landscape, we feel more satisfied in neighborhoods with accessible green spaces. It has also been said that patients in hospitals that integrate plants as part of their furnishing recover quicker, yes plants!

Just think of how relaxed you feel when out in nature camping or taking a walk on a farm, or in forestry area? Or when you fill your home with indoor plants or while gardening outside – you naturally feel one with yourself because you are interacting with nature which is alive and healthy for your spirit because humans are nature themselves.   

Once we have a mutual respect for plants, we will understand that they are here to assist us. We will go out into the wild to be surrounded by tall trees, we will listen to the gentle waves of the ocean, we will admire the sun gleaming on us, we will hike & camp more.

Our plates will be filled with more vegetables, and we will even create mini natural spaces in our offices, we will notice that the places we visit such as restaurants are bringing in more natural greenery for our goodness.  We will keep our plants alive for sure!

A study done by sciencedirect.com, says “There is an increasing evidence that gardening provides substantial human health benefits.”

There is an evolutionary psychology theory called the biophilia that states that since our ancestors existed in natural spaces and their survival depended on food and water found in nature, we have a natural craving for natural spaces – in other words; it is in our genes.

Another theory that says that nature brings back positive memories of our childhood, when we revisit those places as adults – we feel warm and calm inside.

Suppose that eco therapy would be a great word to describe the effects of nature on our mental state because experience a feeling of higher life satisfaction when surrounded by nature. Just because we experience nature for free when we step outside every day, does not mean we need to disregard it.