Dirty hands, happy soul

Getting one’s hands dirty in the soil and growing food is grounding and nuturing. Psychology Today and CNN reported that gardening can be beneficial for mental health, and a study in ScienceDirect found it causes “reductions in depression, anxiety and body mass index,” and increases “sense of community.” And The Yisrael Family Farm is definitely all about empowering community—and growing vegetables, of course. It hosts a free event called Why Grow Food? on Sunday, December 2, with farmer Chanowk Yisrael discussing the history of urban agriculture, sustainability and the importance of food sovereignty. Plus, the farm uses #majorherbalert and #majorseedalert tags on social media, and if that doesn’t make you smile, your face might be broken. Show up at 1 p.m. at 4505 Roosevelt Avenue, or go to the Fruitridge Community Collaborative garden (4625 44th Street) on December 9, 10 a.m.-noon to feed the soil and your soul for the farm’s monthly Second Sundays open-house farming event.