Cultivating Balance by Exploring Pinoy Garden Enthusiasts’ Experiences
Abstract
This study addresses the research gap concerning the experiences of Filipino garden enthusiasts navigating gardening responsibilities alongside post-pandemic work and family demands. While global literature highlights the therapeutic and psychological benefits of gardening, little is known about how Filipino garden enthusiasts manage their hobby amid the pressures of the new normal. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with eight purposively selected participants (four students and four professionals) to explore their lived experiences, challenges, and coping strategies. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) balancing work and gardening commitments, (2) gardening as a path to stress relief, and (3) cultivating responsibility and personal growth through plant care. Participants reported time constraints, financial barriers, and limited gardening knowledge as primary challenges but also emphasized the emotional satisfaction and stress relief they gained from nurturing plants. The study recommends the development of accessible gardening tools, educational resources, and time-saving innovations tailored to the needs of busy gardeners. Additionally, community-based support systems and online platforms could be leveraged to sustain gardening engagement and ensure the well-being benefits of this hobby are preserved even under modern pressures.
References
Adevi, A. A., & Martensson, F. (2012). Stress rehabilitation through garden therapy: The garden as a place in the recovery from stress. Urban Forestry and Urban Gardening, 12(2), 230-237. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2013.01.007
Adevi, A. A., & Martensson, F. (2013). Stress rehabilitation through garden therapy: The garden as a place in the recovery from stress. Urban Foresrty and Urban Gardening, 12(2), 230-237. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2013.01.007
Alayon, S. (2023, March 15). Gardening as a coping mechanism for Filipino librarians and library staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and their physical, mental, and emotional health status, anxiety, and ways of coping. From Library 20: https://shorturl.at/bIiZ0
Anderson, M. (2024, March 19). Gardening bloomed during the pandemic. Garden centers hope would-be green thumbs stay interested. From AP News: https://shorturl.at/ABISt
Cerda, C., Guenat, S., Egerer, M., & Fischer, L. K. (2022). Home Food Gardening: Benefits and Barriers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Santiago, Chile. Front. Sustain. Food Syst, 6. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.841386
Choudhury, N. A., & Saravanan, P. (2024). Identifying the Causes and Effects of Decision Fatigue through a Systematic Review (Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 68(1), 189-190. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/
Coyoca, m. P., Del Rosario, M.-A. B., Lazo, J., Calixtro, V. L., & Edaño, L. B. (2024). Impact of GArdening on Physical and Mental Health in the Midst of Covid-19 Pandemic. Indonesian Journal of Community and Special Needs Education, 4(2).
Creswell, JW, & Poth, C. (2025). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design (5th edition ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.
Delos Santos, J. A., Daiz, B. G., & Rosales, E. L. (2022). Coronaphobia and Coping among the Bereaved: The Mediating Role of Gardening during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of Nursing, 12(1), 13-233.
Dodge, Z. (2022, March 18). Garden supplies and landscaping costs increase amid record high inflation and supply chain issues. From KY3 the Place to Be: https://www.ky3.com/2022/03/18/garden-supplies-landscaping-costs-increase-amid-record-high-inflation-supply-chain-issues/
Estrada, E. T., & Roxas, M. V. (2019). Fifteen Shades of Green: A Cultural Portrait of Empowered Filipino Elderly Vertical Gardeners. Journal of Nature Studies, 18(2), 1-25.
Harding, D., Lukman, K., Jingga, M., Uchiyama, Y., Quevedo, J., & Kohsaka, R. (022). Urban Gardening and Wellbeing in Pandemic Era: Preliminary Results from a Socio-Environmental Factors Approach. Land, 11(4), 492. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/land11040492
Home, R., lewis, O., Bauer, N., & Stolze, M. (2019). Effects of garden management practices, by different types of gardeners, on human wellbeing and ecological and soil sustainability in Swiss cities. Urban Ecosystems, 22(1), 1--11. doi:10.1007/s11252-018-0806-2
Jennings, V., Larson, L., & Yun, J. (2016, February 5). Advancing Sustainability through Urban Green Space: Cultural Ecosystem Services, Equity, and Social Determinants of Health. Environmental Justice Research: Contemporary Issues and Emerging Topics, 13(2), 196.
Koay, W., & Dillo, D. (2020). Community Gardening: Stress, Well-Being, and Resilience Potentials. International Journal of environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 1-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186740
Marsh, S. (2020, October 31). Flower power: Covid restrictions fuel boom in plant and bulb sales. From The Guardian: https://shorturl.at/C5Ytl
Maury-Mora, M., Gomez-Villarino, M., & Varela-Martinez, C. (2022). Urban green spaces and stress during COVID-19 lockdown: A case study for the city of Madrid. Urban Fporestry and Urban Gardening, 69(March). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127492
Ong, A. S., Prasetyo, y. T., De Leon, L. S., Ayuwati, I., Nadlifatin, R., & Persada, S. F. (2022). Its Market Segmentation: Integrating Conjoint Analysis and K-means Clustering for GArdening MArketing Strategy. Sustainability, 14(24), 16718. doi:10.3390/su142416718
Pantiru, I., Ronaldson, A., Sima, N., Dregan, A., & Sima, R. (2024, January). The impact of gardening on well-being, mental health, and quality of life: an umbrella review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 13(1).
Powell, S. (2022, April 13). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gardening in the United States: Post-Pandemic Expectations. From American Society for Horticulture Science: https://shorturl.at/eGeVp
Rudolph, C. (2024, August 26). New MSU research shows gardening improves mental, social well-being. From Michigan State UnversityAgBio research: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/new-msu-research-shows-gardening-improves-mental-social-well-being
Sachs, A., Tharrey, M., Darman, N., Alaimo, K., Bashara, A., Beavers, A., & Litt, J. (2022). To me, it’s just natural to be in the garden”: A multi-site investigation of new community gardener motivation using Self-Determination Theory. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 3(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2022.100088
Schmutz, U., Lennartsson, M., Williams, S., & Devereaux, M. (2014). The benefits of gardening and food growing for health and wellbeing (1 ed.). Garden Organic and Sustain.
Sia, A., Tan, P., & Er, K. (2023). The contributions of urban horticulture to cities’ liveability and resilience: Insights from Singapore. Plants People Planet.
Soga, M., Gaston, K., & Yamaura, Y. (2017). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 5, 92-99. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.11.007
Sunga, A. B., & Advincula, J. L. (2021). The “plantito/plantita” home gardening during the pandemic. Community Psychology in Global Perspective, 7(1). doi:10.1285/i24212113v7i1p88
Thompson, R. (2018). Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening. Clinnical Medicine, 18(3), 201-205. From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334070/pdf/clinmed-18-3-201.pdf
Thomsen, P., Buhler, O., & kristoffersen, P. (2016). Diversity of street tree populations in larger Danish municipalities. Urban Forestry and Urban Gardening, 15, 200-210. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2015.12.006
TREES. (2022, December 27). Gen Z bought houseplants to improve mental health during pandemic; stress and dead plants result instead. From TREES: https://shorturl.at/jAdxL
Van Den Berg, A. E., & custers, M. H. (2011). Gardening promotes neuroendocrine and affective restoration from stress. Journal of Health Psychology, 3-11. doi:10.1177/1359105310365577
Vohs, K. D., baumeister, R. F., Sch eichel, B. J., twenge, j. M., nelson, N. M., & Tice, D. M. (2008). Making choices impairs subsequent self-control: A limited-resource account of decision making, self-regulation, and active initiative. Journal of Personality and SocialPsychology, 94(5), 883-898. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.94.5.883
Zhou, C., & Zeng, C. (2023). The Role of Horticultural Therapy in Promoting Physical and Mental Health. Research in Health Science, 8(3), 43. doi:10.22158/rhs.v8n3p43
