I've often said that gardening is my therapy, and now there's science to back it up.

Antidepressant microbes in the soil - who would have guessed?!
http://www.gardeningknowhow.co...

I know it works. Before I retired when I would come home and have a bad day the first place I would go is to the gardens and pull weeds. It always made me feel good.

Yes! Lots if dirt, soil, perlite, peat etc, and empty pots! My gardening security blanket!

I just like to play in the dirt.

Yes getting dirty is good. I had a major clothing dry cleaning bill because many times I was so angry when I got out of the car after work I did not even go inside and change. I went straight to the garden and attacked the weeds.

My daughter would look out the window and say "You had a bad day" I will talk to you when you come inside.

@Cinta

Pulling weeds can really help you work out frustrations. I cleared a nice size patch of yard when my best friend was near the end of her cancer battle. Tearing up the yard was much more productive than punching the wall.

I have one quibble with that article:

>> "Soil microbes have been found to have similar effects on the brain and are without side effects and chemical dependency potential.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy http://www.gardeningknowhow.co...

I'm glad they said "without chemical dependency potential".

Anyone who knows a gardener knows that gardening is severely habit-forming and outright addictive.

If it is a non-chemical dependency, does that make gardening an organic addiction?