Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth, heralding new life and hopes for the season ahead. Many people look to spring as an opportunity to get back outside and enjoy nature, embracing life through sports and recreational activities, while others choose to grow a garden or give their space a good clean and refresh. No matter what the avenue, the sense of relief and rejuvenation does the human spirit good and adds significantly to individual and community mental well-being.

One of the most rewarding activities spring brings is the ability to grow a garden. There is nothing quite like being able to grow a fresh patch of cut flowers or a vegetable garden that brings a beautiful bounty to your life and hopefully to your kitchen table. Planting and tending to a garden offer numerous benefits including building mindfulness, creative expression, routine and structure to the day, as well as increasing our connection to nature. However, starting a garden can be intimidating and, in some cases, costly. Don’t let the financial strain of getting started get in the way. One avenue to pursue to reduce the potential cost of starting a garden and to increase biodiversity is to check out local Seed Libraries. A seed library is a community-based resource where individuals can borrow seeds for free, similar to how they borrow books from a traditional library. In Central Ohio, there are several options in Westerville, Bexley, Pataskala, and Chillicothe where you can borrow from local seed libraries, as well as borrow books to learn how to make your garden.

No matter what the activity, give some time and thought to how to grow mental well-being this spring and build it in as a daily practice. As always, The Ohio State University Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to help. Reach out via email to eap@osumc.edu, or by phone to 800-678-6265 to get connected and start growing through what you go through.