8 Reasons Why I Grow Our Food

My family usually have this indulgent look on their faces when I talk about gardening; the one that says, yes we can see you feel passionate about the subject and that's OK, even if we don't feel the same way about it.

I know they love the vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers they get, and they are happy that the garden looks pretty and well-cared for, but if gardening was left just up to them, they wouldn't  do it.

So why do I?

1. I actually enjoy the work, the physicality of it. That said, gardening is not as much hard work as many people fear it is. There are even ways to reduce the work, for example, using no-dig method of gardening, mulching your soil very heavily (which kills the weeds), installing a self-watering system etc. You can also grow mostly perennial plants ans self-planting annual veggies and herbs and plant fruit trees. I've also found that herb plants can survive for long time and some self-plant too. It's also not as complicated as most people think it is. I've found a few websites online which give clear, step by step instructions on how to plant, care for and harvest various plants and all in all, I have a hard time killing most seeds that I grow.

9 Amazing Reasons to Grow Your Own Food

By James N Hall

Have you run out of New Year resolutions for this year? How does the resolution of growing a garden sound? Growing a garden gives people a unique power to create life, beauty and health with hard word and persistence.

It allows the person a chance to embark on a journey where they get to see the growth, as well as be the creator of the sources responsible for providing the body with nutrients.

It provides people with a chance to paint the canvas of earth with whatever fresh produce they like. Moreover, it reconnects the person back to earth which is, after all, the base of all thing living.

Growing your garden does require time and patience. It is a voyage filled with roses and thorns. But at the end of it, for those who survive, lies plethora of benefits ranging from health to finances. The decision of growing your own food is not only wallet friendly but it is health friendly as well. Here are nine benefits of growing your own food:-

Unlimited access to fresh fruits and vegetables- With the food prices inflating day by day, people are opting for cheaper options.

These options (sadly) include substituting fruits and vegetables with unhealthy but inexpensive foods like pasta's, burgers, French fries etc. This can seem like a financially sound decision until the next visit to the Doctor's.

Growing your own fruits and vegetables allows you to stop relying on supermarkets for the next supply of fresh greens. Along with that, by harvesting your own produce, you will be eating fresh. How exciting and powerful is the thought that right outside your kitchen door, there could be growing a garden that gives its fresh fruits, endlessly and selflessly, to its creator for years to come?

Eat more fruits and greens- When you have a batch of fresh fruits and vegetable growing right in your backyard, there is absolutely no reason why you wouldn't include them in your meal. Having them within your reach is a great way to increase your daily green intake; thus, keeping that unhealthy weight at bay. You will even be able to juice the vegetable and fruits as your mind desires. What's healthier than starting your day with a glass of freshly made, vitamin packed, vegetable juice?

Tastes better and have more vitamins- Homegrown food tastes better not only because they are fresh but also because they have been grown with your own hands. You can take comfort in the fact that it's not stale and has no harmful ingredients. Just take, tomatoes for example, the difference of taste between a store-bought one and a homegrown one is striking. In fact, not just the taste but even the texture is different.

Homegrown fruits and vegetables also contain more vitamins than a commercially grown one. This is because according to scientists, vegetables start to lose some vitamins right after they are removed from the plants.

Keep in mind that the commercial farmers harvest their produce two to three days before the fruits and vegetables ripen so that they can be transported it to consumers. This is because waiting to transport them right when they mature can make them look squishy and visually unappealing to the masses.

Homegrown foods, on the other hand, can be plucked when ripen and served fast. Thus, they don't have to lose many nutrients either.

Wallet friendly- Over the years, vegetables and fruits has been chained to the rising prices. A factor which has made them inaccessible to plenty of people. Growing your own food breaks that chain of dependency on a capricious economic system and opens door to an ever growing and self sufficient garden whose fruits you can consume without spending a penny.

Simply put, a garden is an investment. The beginning stages of growing a home garden can seem pricey, but come harvesting season you will soon realize that it has all been worth it. To make sure that your grocery bills remain lowered for years to come, plant vegetables and fruits that you will be able to store and use all for long periods of time. These include potatoes, onions, celery, beans etc. Also, another financially smart move would be to grow foods that are expensive to purchase in a supermarket.

Great Satisfaction- With gardening, you reap what you have sown. There is nothing like seeing something that you put your heart and soul into come to life. It gives a sense of pride to see your hard work paid off. More than that, it is very convenient. It is right there in your backyard, which means no more late night grocery trips, and no more wasting gas.

No food is wasted- Home grown food is less likely to be wasted than store bought one. Simply because you have seen it grow, and you know how much hard work and love went into bringing that food onto your table. If there is food wasted, it can be composted and stored for a later time.

No pesticides- This is the biggest advantage of growing your own food. You get the freshest and cleanest produce that has no pesticide sprayed all over them. If there are pest infestation in your garden, asking a nursery will provide you with numerous natural alternatives for getting rid of them. By consuming food from your garden you can take solace in the fact that the food that went into your body was not genetically altered or sprayed with pesticide and other chemicals at any time.

Involve your Family- Involving family members, especially children, in gardening is a wonderful and creative way to teach them values. It teaches them responsibility when they learn how important their care is for a plants growth; it teaches them patience as they wait for the plant to grow and produce fruits and vegetables; it teaches them the quality of nurturing and love. Plus, they will also love to eat them since they helped it grow.

Helps stay physical- Gardening is a great way to remain fit by keeping diabetes and cholesterol at bay. It is also very relaxing and a stress free activity. Home gardening is unique in that it not only provides you with healthy produce to eat, but it also helps burn the dangerous fat by requiring nurturing in the form of physical labor from people.

Thus, with all the benefits listed above, there is absolutely no reason why someone wouldn't want to grow a garden in their backyard. Once you get into it, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences. It could be the single most decision that can make a drastic impact in your life this year. It will make you a better person not only physically, but mentally as well. Take that shovel and go plant a seed today.

Once you see it grow, you will definitely find yourself reaching for that shovel again, to plant that next seed. Yes, it's addicting, but it's an addiction that will help you live a long, healthy and prosperous life. Start growing that fountain of health and money in your backyard today, and watch its beauty unfold throughout the rest of this year!

For more great gardening tips, plans, and layouts visit our Garden Blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7473733

Why I Grow My Food

One of the biggest issues that many families face is food security.

The cost of living, including the price of food, keep going higher and higher, while people's salaries do not necessarily increase to match the increased demand. And it's really stressful to face each month wondering whether your food budget is going to stretch until the next pay cheque comes in.

This is one of the major reasons I decided to develop a food garden in my home. I wanted to know that I would always eat well no matter how broke I could get. And once I started the garden, I found that growing my food allows me to save just a little bit more money than I would have otherwise. Money that I could use for other things.