Nature Heals

Updated 4/2025

This class is designed to teach participants the science of how time spent in nature helps to improve our physical and mental well-being. This class topic is part of the Nearby Nature priority of the Master Gardener program. 

If you enjoyed this class, please join us for another. Current and upcoming classes are posted on our website.

Class Handouts

• Slide Presentation (Slide print-out)

• Participant Class Handout

Related Handouts

• What is a healing garden?

• How Plants and Gardens Heal (U of MN Extension)

• 26 Reasons to Love the Healing Power of Plants A-Z (U of MN Extension)

• Nature Heals Bookmark (U of MN Extension)

• Sense-a-tional Gardening: Experiencing all five senses through plants (U of MN Extension)

• Your Brain in a Sensory Garden (U of MN Extension)

• Accessible Gardening (Jean Larson, Anne Hancheck, and Paula Vollmar)

• Healing Gardens (U of MN Extension)

• Plants Do That (NICH)

Online Resources

PRO-TIP: Google “site:edu healing gardens” (or site:gov) for research-based advice

• Center for Spirituality & Healing (University of MN)

• Therapeutic Landscaping Research Archive (Therapeutic Landscapes Network)

• Sensory Gardens (North Carolina State Natural Learning Initiative)

• Nature by Design: the Practice of Biophilic Design

• Universal Design (University of CA Agriculture & Natural Resources)

• University of MN Extension: Yard & Garden Website 

• University of MN Extension Ask A Master Gardener Tool

Videos

• Get your daily dose of trees (MN DNR)

Books

• The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv 

• Good Nature: Why Seeing, Smelling, Hearing, and Touching Plants Is Good for Our Health by Kathy Willis