Digging Into Resilience at NARST: Lessons from Gardening in a Global Pandemic

Senior Researcher Elysa Corin is presenting today at NARST, sharing findings from her NSF-funded study on free-choice science learning in a talk titled “Gardening During a Global Pandemic: Time for Nesting, Neighbors, Nature, and Knowledge.”

Her research dives into how people turned to gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic—not just as a hobby, but as a vital coping mechanism during a time of unprecedented global stress.

Drawing from a 2022 study of 349 adult plant and gardening hobbyists living in the same community, the research shows a clear connection between individuals’ levels of pandemic-related stress and their gardening behaviors. As stress increased, so did participation in gardening activities. People weren’t just spending time outdoors; they were using plants and gardens as tools for emotional regulation, connection to nature, and a sense of control amidst chaos.

One key takeaway? Gardening emerged as a powerful and widely accessible source of well-being—across age, race, gender, and socioeconomic background. This suggests that free-choice, nature-based activities can play a critical role in public health and education efforts, especially in times of societal disruption.

What this means for your work:
Whether you’re in education, health, or community programming, consider how unstructured, interest-driven activities like gardening can be integrated into your efforts to support well-being, learning, and resilience. These findings remind us that science learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms—it happens in backyards, balconies, and community gardens, especially when people need it most.

Come Chat with Us: WElysa will be in Magnolia 2 from 2:30-4:00pm Tuesday, 25 March, 2025,

Posted Mar 25, 2025