Many people shutter at the thought of planting their own gardens, but more people are realizing the health benefits of it go well beyond avoiding the processed steps most of the store bought food today goes through. Not only are these people avoiding the harsh chemicals used to mass produce these foods, but they are also side stepping the nasty injected hormones and more that is placed on these foods to make them last longer while being shipped to and sold at our local grocery stores.
With all the talk about chemicals and other nasty things put in the foods we eat, growing your own foods is becoming more popular. Just like our ancestors, we’re slowly realizing the benefits of growing our own fruits, vegetables, etc. Not only is it easier on the wallet, but it’s easier on our bodies as well.
Growing your own garden can be rewarding in so many other ways as well. Here are just a few:
Great Exercise – From tilling the garden to planting and picking the fruits and vegetables you grow, gardening is a great way to get some fresh air and much needed exercise.
Quality Family Time – Getting your entire household involved in a family garden is an awesome way to spend time together. In today’s fast paced world, family time seems to be a rarity, but if you start and care for your own garden, you’re spending time together and yes, it can be fun, even if you’re teen doesn’t think so at first.
Learning Tool – Growing a garden is a great learning tool for young and old alike. Kids can learn responsibility, the life cycle of various plants, and more when they are put in charge of a certain task involving the garden. Yes, even weeding can be a learning experience.
Adults may learn things like which plants grow well in what types of soil and climates as well as how to preserve extras that can’t be eaten right away. Finding a use for all those fruits and veggies can be a learning experience as well as you search for a variety of ways to use them in recipes.
Appreciation – Working hard at growing and maintaining your own garden gives the caretaker an appreciation for their local farmers, ancestors and more. There is nothing quite like a hard day (or even just an hour or two) at work in the great outdoors to make you appreciate those who do it on a daily basis or who did it for survival in past generations.
Sense of Accomplishment – Watching your plants grow and nurturing them to maturity is a great way to instill a sense of accomplishment, especially in children. Do you have a family member who seems a bit down in the dumps or a teenager who feels they don’t belong? If so, starting a garden may just boost their spirits more than you thought possible. Give it a try.
Easier on the Purse Strings – Growing your own garden is also a great way to save money. In times when frugality is a necessity, you can easily save some cash with your own garden, not only because you can produce a whole lot more of your favorite foods and herbs for less, but also because you don’t run the risk of spending money on foods that will expire before you get a chance to eat them. If you have more food than you can possibly eat from your garden, preserve it for later. Better yet, take some to your neighbors. They’ll thank you for it.
Take a few minutes to seriously consider helping the environment and your family, by starting your own garden this year. You don’t have to own a farm to do it either. A small area in the backyard to grow a few of your favorite foods is plenty. You can even grow them in a small window garden or pots on your porch or balcony. Give it a shot and see how it can help improve your life in numerous ways.