Abstract
Abstract
Evidence suggests that gardening can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of people experiencing mental health difficulties. There is currently a lack of research exploring the potential public health benefits of gardening among nonclinical populations. Therefore, the aims of this paper were to explore the relationship between allotment gardening and well-being from the suburban allotment-holder's perspective. Six suburban allotment gardeners were interviewed to elicit their personal experiences of allotment gardening and its impact on their well-being. Transcripts were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) with seven main themes emerging: fundamental importance of growing and valuing food; physical and mental protection; feeling connected to people, place, and time; pride, mastery, and control; pleasure of being in nature; problem solving, learning, and accepting; acting on values. Parallels were drawn between these themes and psychological models of well-being and motivation. The research suggests that allotments are flexible environments that may enable people to meet a wide range of individual needs, enhancing well-being. They may be a particularly valuable resource for the promotion of well-being in urban and suburban areas, where people may feel detached from nature and a sense of community. Key Words: Well-being—Allotments—Community gardens—Hierarchy of needs—Health promotion.
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