The Therapeutic Power of Gardening

SUE STUART-SMITH, PSYCHIATRIST: Yes. Well, it’s no surprise, really, that people have been turning to nature in such a big way in response to this crisis. And if we look at history, it’s a recurring theme. During wars, following wars, following natural disasters, we need to turn back to the land. And nature’s powers of restoration and national beauty is very sustaining to us. So, it’s something that’s happened before many, many times over. And, as you mentioned, the pandemic has opened up the divide, the social and economic divide, between those who have gardens and those who don’t, because, for people who have them, they have been able to appreciate their gardens more than ever before. And I hope that, in some measure, that might lead to an understanding of how restorative gardens can be for mental health and, you know, lead to things like horticultural therapy being taken a bit more seriously.

AMANPOUR: Yes, well, let me just ask Ron, because I want to get back to the psychology and statistics with you in a second, Sue.

STUART-SMITH: Yes.

AMANPOUR: But I want to ask Ron, who’s joining us now from Los Angeles. Ron, you called yourself the Gangsta Gardener. And it’s — you know, you have done something in L.A. that probably nobody did. You have turned verges and highways and various land into thriving gardens. Why did you decide to do this? What sort of led you to that place?

RON FINLEY, “THE GANGSTA GARDENER”: Real simple, beauty in, beauty out. And how are you? Because people think health is just what you put into your mouth. And it’s not. Health is your environment. Health is what you see every day. Health is, can you smell beauty? Can you look at beauty every day? So, that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to beautify my community.