How can gardening become a healthful activity?

It is.: Gardening can be light to heavy physical activity, where caloric burn averages 400-500 kcal per hour. But for most people it is enjoyable and that makes a key difference for many people. The analogy is this: pleasurable physical activity versus "exercise, " is like the difference between sex and artificial insemination. If its fun, you will do it naturally. But the health benefits are documented.

You can dig it !: From keeping you active, to conjuring good child memories of playing in dirt, to creating a sense of accomplishment, gardening can be wonderful for body, mind, & spirit. A few more reasons: 1) Gardening is great for your hand function (study in HortScience,2009); 2) same study found it helps burn calories & gardeners were more physically fit; 3) it fights depression. (Ref. ArthritisToday,6/2013)