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Eight Great Reasons to Grow Your Own Edibles
Economic Incentive
Always
a good place to start! The grow-your-own trend is one of the positive
outcomes of a depressed economy, though the boom in edible gardens is
actually being fueled by several factors, some of which are listed
below. No need to say more here, except that feeling-the-pinch is a
great motivator to seek out money saving alternatives!
Convenience
Snipping
sprigs of fresh herbs, and plucking the fruits and vegetables right off
the plant in your own yard or patio sure beats driving, traffic, crowds
and waiting in checkout lines, doesn’t it!
Quality
The
best way to “know where you food comes from” is to be more involved in
the whole picture. If you grow your own food, you know exactly what’s
going into your food. Fresh food sold in grocery stores carries few
labels, if any, and consumers don’t know anything about it by looking at
it. Genetically modified food has raised many alarms and will require
further testing to assess potential risks.
Generally, the highest
quality food available is grown organically. Eating organically grown
foods 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.
Freshness
What’s
fresher than harvesting from your own plant? Food researchers,
nutritionists and healing practitioners all agree that vital nutrients
disappear rapidly as time elapses between harvesting your herbs or
vegetables, and using 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 prana (life force
energy), nutrients and taste! Of course, even Grandma could’ve told you
this, if asked!
More Variety
The varieties you
can grow can be selected for taste and not for the ease of mechanical
harvesting ~ so much better than the supermarket’s offerings! Choose
your favorite heirloom tomato, or that citrusy lime basil that tastes so
wonderful in your favorite salad! You won’t find the mind-boggling
array of mouthwatering options (cinnamon, anise, lemon, purple basils
come to mind), on your local grocery store shelves, so …GROW YOUR OWN!
Ecologically Friendlier
Support
the agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically
diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthier people and
communities.
Bet you’ve been hearing this slogan, ”Think global,
buy local”. It refers to the exorbitant costs and fossil fuels employed
to bring you foods grown in far away locales, with deleterious results
to our own local farmers. Did you know that the food supply in Los
Angeles would run out after three days if truck and plane deliveries
ceased? Or that if the Detroit region got just 20% of its fresh food
from local sources, it would create more than 40,000 jobs? 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. You knew this
didn’t you? Research also shows that the presence and smell of flowers
causes people to produce powerful, mood elevating endorphins. No doubt
about it, Nature is the great healer! Plants and flowers give in
abundance. Garden work can be a good body workout, and the beauty of
plants nourishes our soul! People are passionate about gardening, as it
is such a satisfying and enjoyable way to engage your time. Ignite the
passion within you and unleash the gardener within.
Gardening allows you to feed your inner child, … You Get To Play In Dirt!
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