Being outside in the fresh air and sunshine is a great way to lift your spirits and de-stress. Indeed, gardening has been demonstrated to help reduce the risk of depression. If you have a lot on your mind, gardening might help you focus on something that will make you happy. Gardening is also fun! You get to use your brain and hands at the same time. There are many types of plants that require different skills to grow. Some need careful planting while others do well in large groups. Still other plants don't like anything stuck in the ground, so you must watch out for snakes when you're digging. Finally, some plants are poisonous, so be sure not to eat any of them. But gardening isn't just about flowers and vegetables. You can grow project ideas too! For example, if you live in an area with heavy snowfall, you could plant a garden that provides food during other seasons. The winter bulbs we put in our yards come up in spring with bright colors and beautiful flowers. In summer, they provide shade and help prevent erosion from water runoff. In fall, they turn color and become part of the landscape. This is only a few of the ways that gardening helps us feel better about ourselves and our world. If you're interested in growing your own food or plants for projects, try starting with something small like a planter or window box.