Edibles

Find out the “Ten Reasons To Grow Your Own Edible Garden”

Save Money!

Growing your own vegetables is like printing your own money.

The grow-your-own trend is one of the most positive outcomes of a depressed economy.  After some initial investment in tools, seeds and soil amendments, the cost of home-grown produce is often cheaper than store bought.  By composting scraps to make your own compost, yearly costs can be limited to new seeds and seedlings.  By learning the art of seed saving, your yearly seed cost can also be avoided.

Convenience

Reduce food waste, since you can use what’s ripe that day.

Snipping fresh herbs, and picking fruits and vegetables from the plants in your own yard or patio sure beats driving to your local grocery store, forcing your way through the crowds and waiting in checkout lines, doesn’t it!

Better Food Quality

Avoid tainted produce by controlling what goes into your vegetables.  You can choose to grow Organic produce, at a fraction of the cost of store bought Organic produce.

The best way to “know what goes into your food” is to be more involved in the whole process.  If you grow your own food, you know exactly what’s going into your food.  Fresh produce sold in grocery stores carries few labels about the chemicals used in the growing process.  Genetically modified food has raised many concerns and will require more testing to assess potential risks.

Typically, the highest quality food available is organically grown.  Eating organic food eliminates the risks of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, GMO’s and other chemical additives; all of which have been proven to be detrimental to our health in some way. In addition, studies have shown that organic foods have higher antioxidant levels and nutritional values than commercially grown foods.  When you grow your own food, you will know where your seeds, soils and fertilizers come from, and what chemicals may have been used before it appears on your table.

It’s Fresh & Delicious!

Homegrown produce, especially juicy tomatoes and fresh herbs, are usually tastier than those bought at a store.  Food researchers, nutritionists and healing practitioners all agree that vital nutrients disappear rapidly as time passes between harvesting your herbs or vegetables, and eating them.  Supermarket food sits on trucks, warehouses and store shelves, and then may sit a bit longer in your refrigerator before it winds up on your plate, all the while losing nutrients and taste!  Of course,Grandma could’ve told you this, if asked!  Plant what your family likes to eat and enjoy the rave reviews.

More Variety

The varieties you grow can be selected for taste & personal preference.  Choose your favorite heirloom tomato, pepper or herb that tastes so wonderful in your favorite salad!  You won’t find such a vast array of options on your local grocery store shelves, so …GROW YOUR OWN!

Ecologically Friendly

Support the agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils by following the ”Think global, buy local” slogan.  It refers to the exorbitant costs and fossil fuels used to bring foods grown in far away locales, to our own local farmers.  In a shaky economic climate, local food and products represent more than just a fashionable trend. Reinvigorating local economies is central to maintaining prosperity in our communities.

Nothing beats local, like your own patio!

Health, well being and a greater Connection To Nature

Nature’s green world of plants and flowers heighten your sense of well-being and reduce anxiety, according to many research studies.  Research also shows that the presence and smell of flowers causes people to produce powerful, mood elevating endorphins.  No doubt about it, Nature is a great healer!  Garden work can be a good body workout, and the beauty of plants nourishes our soul!  Ignite the passion and unleash the gardener within.

Family Fun!

Gardening helps to improve your families health; by eating more fruits & vegetables.  When they’re grown in your own back yard, you won’t be able to resist eating them…since they’re only a few footsteps away. Their vitamin content will be at the highest peak since they’re coming straight from the garden.

Parents take note, a study published in the the “Journal of the American Dietetic Association” found that preschool children who were almost always served home grown produce were more than twice as likely to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and like them more; than kids who never or rarely ever ate home grown produce.

Container Gardening

Container Gardening is perfect if you have restricted yard space, or no yard space at all.  Don’t let the lack of a lawn stop you from growing your own fruits & vegetables!  Container grown vegetables are up off the ground, so pesky squirrels & rabbits tend to leave them alone.  Click here for a list of 60+ edibles that are happy growing in containers.

Gardening has withstood the test of time

For its history mankind has depended on gardening to sustain itself; the decline of growing one’s own food has paralleled with the decline of our nation’s health and overall welfare.

Gardening allows you to feed your inner child … Get Out There And Play In The Dirt!