Mud, glorious mud
Gardener’s glow
I must confess that my gardening know-how extends little further than an appreciation of pretty flowers and a few strawberry bushes I once planted. However, if I can do something that will make me feel happier, learn something new and end up with some homegrown produce, I figure it’s time to up my game and start growing.
It turns out the gardener’s glow is about more than sunshine and physical activity (though they play an important role). The secret lies in the soil, and the serotonin-boosting bacteria it contains. Research shows that when we inhale the microbe M. vaccae from soil, it increases levels of happiness hormones in the same way as an antidepressant.
On the rare occasions I do some planting,
