Growing your own food can be overwhelming and may seem like hard work, however it has real benefits for your health, your purse and the planet! We have put together 5 reasons to grow your own food.
- Save some money
At first, you may have to spend a bit of money on all the accessories, supplies and seeds, but you will eventually produce enough vegetables to feed your whole family. You will see that your grocery bill will reduce as you start stocking your fridge and pantry with fresh vegetables from the garden.
- Improve your health
Eating fresh vegetables and fruits is one of the best things one can do to stay healthy. Indeed, fresh vegetables will be at their top level in terms of vitamins and nutrients, it won’t be washed over and over, stored for weeks or treated with chemicals. Actually, research shows that those who eat fruits and vegetables are less likely to have chronic diseases such as cancers or stokes.
Harvesting and taking care of your garden is also a great way to keep fit. It is a physical activity in itself: pulling, digging, bending, stretching, etc. But it is also great for reducing stress levels, a garden and a vegetable patch can give you a great sense of order and help to keep your mind occupied.
- Help the planet!
Growing our own food helps the environment in at least a couple ways. Firstly, it allows you to reduce your carbon emission and waste. Unfortunately, by buying food in a supermarket, we are promoting the production of carbon emissions associated with transporting these foods across the country or even the globe.
By having your little veg patch, you are also reducing waste from food packaging. Gardening helps prevent soil erosion, protects the water quality of ground water and saves energy, there are so many benefits from it and it’s really the best thing you could do to make your environment and body much healthier.
- Teach your kids
We know that obesity is a problem in most developed countries and that’s why growing your vegetables could literally be a life-line for your kids’ health. A child’s nutrition is essential because it helps them grow strong and healthy, but it also sets an example for them as they grow into an adult. They are more likely to carry on eating “junk food” if that is what they have been given most of their lives. Growing your own food is an amazing way to teach them to be more responsible and respect nature.
- Taste
Fresh fruits and vegetables can taste amazing, if you do it right. Fresh sweetcorn loses 30% of its sweetness within the first day of being harvested. That’s just an example of how much is lost by buying vegetables from a supermarket, knowing that they have been sitting in a warehouse or container for days or weeks. Growing your own vegetables allows you to take extra care every step of the way, you also have the time to nourish the soil and to select special varieties that will bear beautiful and tasty produce.
