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Gardening as therapy: how time in the soil helped a brain‑injury survivor recover and serve others
Summary
On the Paid Leave podcast, Dr. Ivette Ruiz links gardening and green space to measurable mental‑health benefits and describes using her farm to help others recover, reduce medication use and build community connections.
Dr. Ivette Ruiz told host Nancy Barrow that returning to gardening during the COVID pandemic was a turning point in her recovery: "I just started going outdoors and started just messing with the soil," she said. Ruiz said research convinced her that green environments can reduce depression, lower blood pressure and accelerate healing; she began inviting others to her property as part of a therapeutic approach that blends practical skills and emotional support.
Ruiz described the therapeutic model as intentional and evidence‑informed, saying she did research before expanding the farm into a volunteer space and that participants frequently report reduced medication needs and improved mood. She emphasized accessibility, noting the farm delivers food to homebound people with mobility challenges and adapts tasks for those using walkers or wheelchairs.
