It may come as a surprise, but doctors are actually prescribing two hours a week in nature, whether it’s near your home, school, or community garden.
Spending time in nature is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support your health. Backed by decades of research, regular “green time” can improve blood pressure, mental health, cognition, sleep, and brain development, especially in children.
This makes school gardens a high‑impact wellness opportunity. When children plant, water, and harvest, they are not only outside more often, but they also engage their senses, learn where food comes from, and enjoy a calm, focused break from screens.
Retailers can position themselves as partners to local schools by offering youth‑friendly gardening supplies, bulk seed packs, and educational displays that connect gardening with healthy foods and improvements to kids’ concentration, mood, and overall well-being.
By championing gardening and school gardens, natural health retailers become hubs for a lifestyle that aligns perfectly with nature prescriptions and long‑term community health.
Connect with Plant a Seed to collaborate with a school in your retail area. Email gardens@seewhatgrows.org to find out how you can contribute to your community.
Retail action ideas: Grow the gardening category
Natural health retailers can promote “green prescriptions” by leaning into gardening and time outside as a core wellness category
Feature a “nature’s prescription” end‑cap with seeds, kid-friendly tools, soil, and simple containers that make it easy to start a home or balcony garden.
Partner with a local school to sponsor a class garden bed; highlight the project in store and on social channels.
Run seasonal workshops such as “grow your own salad box” or “planting herbs for stress relief,” and bundle featured products with a small discount.
Include a gardening and wellness tip card and other promo items in shopping bags to link gardening and outdoor time with family well-being.