2025’s Best Cities for Naked Gardening

Why is nudity still widely taboo in the U.S., especially in public or semi-public spaces, compared to more socially accepting countries like Europe?

In the U.S., nudity tends to be conflated with sex in a way that’s not as prevalent in many parts of Europe. So even something like non-sexual nudity (think: topless sunbathing, breastfeeding, or communal saunas) can provoke discomfort or moral panic here, whereas it’s just part of everyday life in many European countries.

There’s a strong Puritan legacy in the U.S. that still echoes through our laws and social norms. We’re a country founded, in part, by religious groups who viewed the body as something to be covered, controlled, and disciplined. That legacy has stuck. We often treat nudity as inherently indecent or shameful, which reinforces a kind of cultural anxiety about bodies, especially women’s bodies.

But it’s also political. Nudity challenges the idea that the body should only be seen in very controlled, commercialized, or sexualized ways, e.g., advertising or pornography. When someone is casually or unapologetically nude in a non-sexual context, it disrupts those norms. It’s a kind of resistance, whether intentional or not.

Can nude gardening or pubic nudity play a role in advancing body positivity or wellness?

Yes, actually. We often think of nudity as sexual, but in contexts like this, it’s really about reclaiming the body as something natural and worthy of acceptance just as it is. No filters, no angles, no posing for optimal angles.

When people engage in activities like nude gardening, what they’re often doing, whether consciously or not, is challenging the idea that bodies have to look a certain way to be seen. It’s about getting comfortable in your skin, quite literally. And there’s something deeply grounding about doing something ordinary and wholesome (for example, tending a garden) without clothes. It connects people to nature, to their own physicality, and to a sense of freedom we rarely allow ourselves.

There’s also real mental health value in this. We live in a culture saturated with edited images and impossible beauty standards. Nudity in non-sexual, everyday contexts can be a powerful antidote to that. It normalizes the reality of diverse bodies (e.g., aging bodies, disabled bodies, bodies with scars or stretch marks) and reminds us that we’re not alone in our beautifully imperfect bodies. That’s body positivity at its core.

And when it happens in community settings (i.e., clothing-optional events or naturist spaces), it can also foster a kind of shared vulnerability and respect that’s really rare. People often describe those spaces as surprisingly nonjudgmental and healing.

So yes, nude gardening might seem quirky at first glance, but it taps into something much deeper: a radical act of body acceptance, self-trust, and even joy.

What traits do cities that allow public nudity tend to share?

Cities that allow public nudity usually value personal freedom, body acceptance, and self-expression. They tend to be more open to unconventional lifestyles and see nudity as natural, not automatically sexual or shameful. 

What are the potential benefits and risks of gardening in the nude — physically, mentally, or socially?

Gardening in the nude can offer real mental and physical benefits. Physically, it connects you to nature. You’re exposed to sunlight and fresh air, and you’re having a sensory experience without barriers. Mentally, it can boost body confidence and reduce shame by normalizing your own skin. There’s something freeing about doing something so ordinary without the armor of clothing that pushes back against perfectionism and body stigma.

Socially, though, it depends on context. If you’re on private land or in a naturist community, it can build connection and shared acceptance. But in less accepting environments, there’s a risk of judgment or even legal trouble, especially where nudity is criminalized. So, the benefits are real, but knowing your audience and your legal landscape is key.

If someone is trying nude gardening for the first time, what practical or safety tips should they keep in mind?

If you’re trying nude gardening for the first time, start somewhere private and comfortable, like maybe your private fenced backyard or a secluded area where you feel safe (and where no one will call the authorities on you). Wear sunscreen everywhere. (Seriously, everywhere. You’ll thank yourself later.) And be mindful of bugs, thorns, and sharp tools. You’re still going to want to wear gloves and shoes!

If you’re nervous, start small, like watering or weeding, so you can ease into it. Give yourself permission to feel a little awkward at first. We’re so accustomed to covering ourselves that feeling awkward is normal. Just remember that what you’re doing isn’t about looking a certain way, but about reconnecting with your body and your environment on your terms. Just enjoy being in your body and all the wonderful things your body can do. 

Why is nudity still widely taboo in the U.S., especially in public or semi-public spaces, compared to more socially accepting countries like Europe?

Nudity is legally taboo, but not enforced unless someone (besides the arresting officer) complains. Most people are often quietly nude in their own homes or backyards (if secluded enough), but the excuse I hear is that they don’t want to offend their neighbors, not that they feel any problems with being nude otherwise. 

Experiencing nudity in warm sunlight triggers a sense of joy as the endorphins in the brain kick in and make one feel good all over. Talk to anyone who has tried it and felt the tickle of a slight breeze against their full skin, and they will tell you the same. A similar euphoria comes from nude swimming in the ocean. There’s just nothing like it, and it makes people want to come back and do it again. 

Nude Gardening Day is an excuse to get outside, be nude, do something nice for the planet, and feel that high from the sun’s rays.

Interestingly, the act of being nude divides those who do it into two main groups: those who will only do it with family or close friends and those who will only do it in out-of-the-way places with strangers who do not know them at all–– strange but true! I think it comes from an internal feeling of shame, but it hasn’t been researched to my knowledge.

What traits do cities that allow public nudity tend to share?

City laws against nudity tend to define it as lewd conduct based on local community standards. Washing one’s car in the driveway while nude is forbidden, as it might titillate a neighbor looking out their window. A person on drugs rampaging down the street is a menace BECAUSE of the nudity, more than what they ingested. Shame over safety, I guess. 

Those cities where passive nudity is allowed, or at least the laws are not enforced as much, allow the World Naked Bike Ride to zoom down the street for a few hours as it is considered “free speech.” New York allows topless women in its parks if no one complains (there’s often some little old lady who is offended), but the officer just tells the person to get dressed, and the crisis is solved for the moment. 

Traditional nude sections of beaches have the same problem as the parks. Everything is fine with a “live and let live” attitude unless some cranky guy comes down and complains that his kids can see someone’s privates. It’s always “about the children,” never just themselves.

If someone is trying nude gardening for the first time, what practical or safety tips should they keep in mind?

When someone asks me about Nude Gardening Day, I usually discuss the points in the attached flyer. The flyer is distributed at college campuses and other show booths around Southern California each year to encourage people to try it. Many tell me afterwards that they did and enjoyed it. And that is one way the social nudist movement gets passed from one generation to the next.

 Why is nudity still widely taboo in the U.S., especially in public or semi-public spaces, compared to more socially accepting countries like Europe?

As often as this question is asked, there is no easy, straightforward answer. We could, with similar difficulty, ask why nudity in movies is more accepted in the USA than in Saudi Arabia. Religion (i.e., Christianity, and to a lesser extent, Judaism) often gets some blame, but that does not account for why nudity in ancient pre-Christian China was taboo. 

If I had to offer an opinion, I’d say that Europeans tend to be a bit more rational than those in the US, but then we’d want to know why that is the case. Sorry, I don’t have a single answer to this that isn’t just an opinion.

Can nude gardening or pubic nudity play a role in advancing body positivity or wellness?

Yes. The empirical research is available to show that gardening and spending time in nature assist in physical and mental well-being. Assuming we are essentially social beings, then as clothing alienates us from others (it’s largely to hide us from others or for changing our appearance to look different than we do to others), gardening nude brings us closer to nature (de-alienating us from nature) AND de-alienates us from ourselves and others (when we garden nude with others). 

Thus, nude gardening helps us achieve a state of human flourishing, as it assists us in being the social beings we fundamentally are. This is short and fast, but it does, I think, point to the basic value of nude gardening and of social nudity itself. There are also more practical values and benefits, but this short answer might suffice here.

What traits do cities that allow public nudity tend to share?

I’d say that they share a recognition that some people wish to enjoy a degree of nudity outside the confines of their privatized property, that we live in a pluralistic society with a diverse array of values, and that to live well in such a society, we need to learn to accommodate each others’ non-harming desired behaviors. As above, this kind of question has no one right answer.

If someone is trying nude gardening for the first time, what practical or safety tips should they keep in mind?

Avoid gardening in places where you are likely to get arrested (unless you wish to get arrested for some sort of activist tactic). I suggest avoiding gardening nude in places where people are likely to be offended (unless a non-harming offense is part of a rationally designed act of civil disobedience or activism). As for safety, use the reasons the good Lord gave an organic turnip, and avoid weeding nettles or poison oak, and be extra careful pulling blackberries. Most gardening can be done just as easily nude as fully dressed. It’s just more enjoyable done nude, weather permitting.

Why is nudity still widely taboo in the U.S., especially in public or semi-public spaces, compared to more socially accepting countries like Europe?

America has a complicated history with puritanism. Social conservatism — and with that a belief that people should dress conservatively and not show their private bits to the world — still runs strong through our American veins.

The places where public nudity is illegal tend to be more conservative places. In Alabama (a conservative state), for example, the punishment for public nudity can include a year in jail, $6,000 in fines, and being forced to register as a sex offender.

Can nude gardening or pubic nudity play a role in advancing body positivity or wellness?

This probably depends entirely on where you live. In places where public nudity is socially unacceptable (even if legal), there is probably such a strong norm against it that the simple act of doing it would lead to social ostracism, which isn’t exactly good for the body positive movement. But in places where being barely clothed or not-at-all clothed is socially acceptable (think South Beach in Miami), it certainly could.

Beliefs about what is beautiful take time to change, so my guess is one act of public nudity won’t move the needle, but lots of it — coupled with positive messages about the benefits of public nudity — definitely could. Modeling behavior is important. If people see different types of bodies out there and people feeling truly comfortable in their own skin, that could make them realize, “Hey, I look beautiful in the nude, too.”

What traits do cities that allow public nudity tend to share?

Social conservatism. Politically liberal places are much more likely to allow nudity than conservative ones.

What are the potential benefits and risks of gardening in the nude — physically, mentally, or socially?

For benefits, I would say an increase in vitamin D, learning to feel comfortable in your skin, and exploring new physical sensations.

Dangers include sunburn, accidental injury if you’re not careful (hint: don’t sit down in the dirt!), and bug bites where you don’t want them.

If someone is trying nude gardening for the first time, what practical or safety tips should they keep in mind?

1. Wear sunscreen — everywhere! Remember, some of these body parts have never seen the sun, so they are very vulnerable. This is true for all skin tones and races.
2. Make sure you aren’t using any chemicals (like weed killer) that might come in contact with your body. If you need gloves to handle your gardening chemicals, it might not be a good time to go nude.
3. Bring a towel or blanket. Crouching down over your plot of land to dig out beans is fine, but most of us naturally sit down when our legs get tired — it’s an automatic behavior we don’t think about. Think proactively, and put something down on the ground that will be kind to your behind.