This is the year for taking backyarding –living life more outdoors – to masters level. Master Backyarders are people who understand the many benefits of spending time outside, plant their backyards with purpose, and share their backyarding know-how with others.

According to a new survey commissioned by the TurfMutt Foundation and conducted online by The Harris Poll, the majority of Canadians recognize a yard is beneficial beyond its aesthetic value, such as being environmentally friendly (85%), being part of the connected ecosystem (72%), increasing home values (92%), and being a vital part of pets’ health and happiness (88%).

An overwhelming majority of Canadians (91%) also believe that spending time in managed landscapes is good for their health and well-being, so it’s no surprise that nearly half (45%) say they do so several times a week or more often. Many of the scientific reasons why backyarding is good for us are presented in the newly updated International Backyarding Fact Book from the TurfMutt Foundation.

Here are just a few of the new pieces of scientific data that is included in the updated Fact Book:

• After three public schools in low-income neighborhoods in Chicago developed a green schoolyard on their grounds, behavioral mapping showed a significant decrease in sedentary activity and significant increases in positive social interactions.
• A systematic review of 14 studies from multiple countries indicates that young children living near nature and public open space tend to have better mental health than young children without nearby green space.
• A study involving 774 Scottish children (age 10-11) found that immediate neighborhood green space and private gardens are positively related to children’s well-being. The level of impact tends to be greater for low- versus high-income children.
• One in three U.S. residents do not have a park or green space within a 10-minute walk of home, according to the Trust for Public Land.
• Accessibility to green space helped buffer mental health decline during the pandemic, according to evidence from big data in the UK.

Check out the entire Fact Book here. To learn more about how to create the yard of your dreams to benefit yourself, your family, and the planet, visit TurfMutt.com.