By MaST Healthy Panther Post reporters | Mr. Trichon, a sixth-grade social studies teacher, can’t seem to get enough gardening.
He has a garden at home and at MaST, and he runs his own landscaping company. He grows vegetables like tomatoes and lettuce.
He said gardening is good exercise and helps you get stretched and breathe calmly.
There are many benefits to gardening. It can improve a person’s physical health and mood and reduce stress. It also can build social connections, according to Los Robles Health System in California.
One example of community building is the North Philly Peace Park. It uses gardening as a healthy way to unite communities and help people relate to each other, said Tommy Joshua Caison in the Healthy NewsWorks article “Sowing Togetherness.”
It champions food, education, and community to promote people caring for each other, according to the park’s website. The program builds community by uniting people by doing things they like. In addition to gardening, people can enjoy creating art, playing, and listening to music.
Mr. Trichon said gardening can have a positive impact on people. He said his advice for others starting a garden is to pick certain colors that you like.
He said a good garden has different stages depending on the month or season. The thing that makes a good garden is if you truly like it and if you can connect to it, he said.
Finally, Mr. Trichon said everyone should be connected to nature.
“I truly feel there are issues with kids these days. Everyone is on screen and should go outside,” he said.
Illustration by Nayali, 4th grade, LaSalle, 2025-26.
