A Southern California nursery shows how gardening can improve mental health

The beneficial effects of gardening on mental health have never been more validated than in the success of a nursery in Camarillo known as Growing Works. It’s a bustling business that did $250,000 in sales last year, due in large part to the efforts of individuals with a history of severe mental health disorders, homelessness and substance abuse. Jenn Rodriguez is the nursery’s manager and the driving force behind its mission, which she summarizes as “cultivating mental health.”

Some of...