Get Gardening: 6 Benefits of Growing Your Food
Spring is in the air! It’s that wonderful time of year when sunnier days and singing birds return—the ground warms up and life begins to blossom once more. Everything is simply brighter!
It’s also the perfect time to start planning your backyard garden. Sure, you may have dabbled in growing flowers and shrubs, but have you ever considered growing your own fruits and vegetables? Here are just some of the advantages of growing your own food:
- It’s Healthy. Give your family’s health a boost with food fresh off the stem that is higher in nutritional value and lower in pesticide exposure. Plus, it tastes better! Green Tip: Sprinkle food grade diatomaceous earth on your garden as a natural way to keep the pests at bay.
- Convenience. Need a tomato for Tuesday’s taco night? There’s no need to run to the grocery store when your food is just steps away!
- Sow Lasting Memories. Gardening is a productive activity that encourages outdoor family bonding in a time when we tend to be so separate from one another. Added Bonus: Kids that contribute to gardening may be likely to eat more fruits and veggies!
- Gives Back to the Environment. Those blossoms provide a healthy habitat and food source for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- Builds Appreciation and Pride. It’s gratifying to watch those little seedlings that you planted and nursed grow into food. And all that work earns you some bragging rights—Share the fruits of your labor online using the hashtag #growyourfood.
- It’s Thrifty. Seeds and starter plants are inexpensive in comparison to their abundant return. Your grocery bill will shrink once you start harvesting produce from your backyard.
To get started, consider building a raised garden bed, which provides good drainage and allows plants to thrive. Simple construction plans can be found online. Even if you’re short on space, you can still get gardening by growing a small herb garden or adding potted plants to your deck or patio. Start small—you don’t have to become a horticulturist like Mr. McGregor overnight! |
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