World Health Day

Hey {{first_name}},
It's World Health Day, and here's something worth knowing: your garden is doing more for your health than you probably realise.
Growing your own food isn't just about fresh tomatoes (though fresh tomatoes are a pretty solid perk). Research shows home gardening reduces stress, increases physical activity, and gives you access to nutrient-dense food picked at peak ripeness -- not days-old produce that's been trucked across the country.
Here's what your patch is quietly doing for you:

• Better nutrition -- home-grown vegies have higher vitamin and mineral levels than supermarket equivalents. You're eating them fresher, which means more of the good stuff.
• More movement -- digging, planting, watering, and harvesting adds up. It's gentle, regular exercise that doesn't feel like a workout.
• Less stress -- time in the garden lowers cortisol levels. Even 30 minutes of pottering can shift your mood.
• Stronger community -- GIL members share tips, swap produce, and look out for each other. That social connection matters for your wellbeing too.
  You don't need a big garden or a green thumb. You just need to start.
  [Start your 30-day free trial]
  Happy growing (and happy health),
  The Grow It Local Team

Hey {{first_name}},
You know that feeling after 30 minutes in the garden? Hands in the soil, sun on your back, mind finally quiet?
That's not just a nice feeling -- it's measurable. Studies show that gardening lowers cortisol (your stress hormone), improves mood, and provides gentle physical activity that's easier on the body than most exercise routines.
And that's before you factor in the food.
Home-grown vegies are picked at peak ripeness, which means they're more nutrient-dense than anything on a supermarket shelf. You're eating them hours after harvest instead of days. That matters -- vitamin C levels in fresh produce drop significantly after picking. The fresher you eat, the more nutrition you get.
So here's the case for your garden as a health plan:

1. Stress relief -- 30 minutes of pottering in the garden is more effective at lowering stress than 30 minutes of indoor leisure. Mel Logozzo talks about this a lot -- the garden as a place to reset.
2. Physical activity -- digging, planting, weeding, and watering are functional movements that build strength, flexibility, and endurance. You just don't notice because you're focused on the plants.
3. Better food -- fresher, more nutritious, zero chemicals. You control what goes in and on your food.
4. Connection -- growing alongside a community (even an online one) is good for your mental health. The GIL community is proof.
   You don't need a gym. You don't need a health plan. You just need a patch and a reason to get outside.
   [Join GIL+ and start growing]
   Happy growing,
   The Grow It Local Team

Hey {{first_name}},
Happy World Health Day. We want to talk about your brain for a minute.
You probably already know that gardening feels good. But the research behind why it feels good is worth knowing.
When you garden, your cortisol levels drop -- that's your body's primary stress hormone. A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that gardening was significantly more effective at reducing cortisol than reading indoors. Not slightly more effective. Significantly.
There's also growing evidence that exposure to soil bacteria (specifically Mycobacterium vaccae) stimulates serotonin production in the brain. In other words, getting your hands dirty literally improves your mood at a neurochemical level.
And then there's the food.
Home-grown vegies are harvested at peak ripeness and eaten within hours, not days. That means higher levels of vitamins, antioxidants, and phytonutrients compared to supermarket produce that's been picked early and stored in cold chains. Hannah Moloney has spoken about this often -- the nutritional gap between fresh-picked and shop-bought is wider than most people realise.
What your garden is doing for your health:

• Lowering stress hormones
• Boosting mood through soil microbe exposure
• Providing gentle, full-body exercise
• Giving you access to the most nutritious food available -- your own
  This World Health Day, the prescription is simple: get outside, get your hands dirty, and grow something.
  If you're not growing yet, our beginner bundles start from $69.80 -- seeds, tools, and a guide, delivered to your door. GIL+ members save 15% (20% for Pro). Start your 30-day free trial on any annual plan.
  [Start your garden health plan]
  Happy growing,
  The Grow It Local Team