When you take into account the typical energy cost of transporting food to your local grocer, it is estimated that an average distance of 1,500 miles is traveled before the food is consumed. You can purchase organic seeds and over time, save your own. If you have children, encourage them to join in, too. Starting to grow our own food is therefore best. It may seem a strange question to ask on a website dedicated to gardening but sometimes it’s useful to take a step back and ask why we invest so much time and energy. Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Garden grown fruits and vegetables provide a wealth of health benefits, all of which the body needs. We are using organic fertilizers. Gardening is a fun way to get outside for some fresh air and physical activity. You are not only producing fresh food but also enjoying physical, mental and environmental benefits. You decide what kinds of fertilizers and pesticides come in contact with your food. This is 22 percent of the estimated 5.2 billion pounds of pesticides used worldwide. Saving Local Species: We can save a lot of wild and local biodiversity by increasing our own vegetables. Growing your own food is a great way to save money, eat healthily and live more sustainably. As Noble Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai states, “Climate change is life or death. There are many ways in which food may become contaminated, whether at the farm, the manufacturer or the transportation center. Despite fossil fuels containing large amounts of energy,  they are rarely found in a pure, untouched state. Dark Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies   Environmental Impact. If you buy non-hybrid, heirloom species, you can save the seeds from the best producers, dry them, and use them for the next growing season. Once distributed, the produce can end up staying in storage or on the shelf for an extended period of time before being purchased, losing nutritional value. To learn more about the benefits of what we like to call “eating the rainbow,” check this out. Fruits and vegetables in the grocery store are picked before ripening, so they can make the long journey via truck. By growing your own vegetables, you are also helping to preserve the environment. We also know that, if not more than... 2. Emma the 40-Year Old Elephant Who was Force-Fed Alcohol has Been Rescued! First off, children whose parents have a garden more than double their overall fruit and vegetable consumption. According to a 2014 report by the National Gardening Association , 35 percent of American households are growing food at home or in a community garden. Why is this bad? Growing your own food would help reduce the reliance on this transportation that is harming the environment. We’ve all had that friend with the organic garden and after trying one of their vegetables had the “Wow! More often than not, fossil fuels are refined and purified into a usable form, leaving excess waste material that requires disposal. It is being presented as if it is the problem of the developed world. Raising your own food may help cut the cost of the grocery bill. When you are growing your own food, you are less likely to take fruits and vegetables for granted. Getting regular exercise can relieve stress, anxiety and depression, while boosting energy. Building a vegetable garden is also a great way to teach your children about the importance of utilizing whatever bounty the earth has provided to its fullest and avoiding waste! Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Whether you are growing a single tomato plant or have a large backyard garden, it is beneficial to your health, as well as the environments. Growing food in the backyard garden could mean a healthier produce in terms of the fertilizers and pesticides used. In fact, it can be the driving force behind making better choices about what you put on your food, and will also help you take an interest in the origins of your food. ‘ In backyard gardening, one can ensure that no harmful chemicals are used in growing the food. Long-distance transportation of produce relies heavily on fossil fuels. The Health Benefits of Growing Your Own Food March 13, 2019 Food Although the day may very well come when the members of our society are forced to grow their own food, there are so many health benefits to this practice that it makes sense to … Gardening is a great way to absorb vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin. You decide what... 2. There is the taste pleasure of sampling the fruits of your labor, fresh off the plant, as you work. The 5 main benefits of growing your own food; The nutritional factor; The different type of plants/seeds; Grow your own food even if you don't have much space; I look forward to sharing with you. Here are 9 powerful benefits of growing your own food: The food is whole, unprocessed, and—if organically produced—is free from toxic residues. Please consider supporting us by donating! Check out our most recent cooking video! For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the, Deck the Halls With These 30 Vegan Main Dishes for Christmas, How to Choose a Ripe Winter Squash (and Avoid the Bad Ones in the Bunch! Buying food that is locally grown from your farmer’s market or local grocer is a great way to minimize your environmental impact, but growing your own food takes it to the next level. Get your favorite articles delivered right to your inbox! Recently I have noticed a campus-wide discussion examining the pros and cons of the sale of energy... Sarah’s Easy Vegetarian Chili  To learn about 10 vegetables that you can grow all year round, click here. Saves a Lot of Money: Vitamin D is crucial in order to maintain healthy bones and teeth, and it can also protect against certain diseases. If you cannot afford to buy organic food, you won’t have to put your money towards industries that rely on practices that pollute and harm the environment’s health (and human health). You can save a lot of money by growing your own vegetables and fruits. Gardening can help you save money, improve your health, and even invigorate and revitalize one’s mood. In order to help your crops flourish, you have the chance to learn about the weather and other environmental factors that may not have been relevant for you to be aware of before. Fresh, garden foods not only contain almost every essential vitamin and mineral but also the vital enzymes the body uses to prompt a host of chemical processes, such as those involved in cell metabolism and nutrient absorption. Health Benefits of Growing Your Own Food. You are also likely to preserve or use up your supply before it spoils. Five reasons to grow your own food include: When growing your own food, your diet is more diverse and healthy, packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Here are 5 of the most important benefits of “growing your own health food:” ‘ On the other hand, food items brought in supermarkets and grocery stores may be exposed to toxic chemicals that may be harmful to one’s health. Vegetable gardens allow families to produce their own food organically. That tastes so delicious and fresh!” reaction. Eating food grown right in your own backyard offers vitamins for good health, an opportunity for a small business, and the satisfaction of doing your part for an improved environment. In fact, it is estimated that we currently put nearly 10 kilo calories of fossil fuel energy into our food system for every one kilo-calorie of energy we get as food. You know the seed types you selected and where they came from. By spending a few dollars on seeds, plants, and supplies in the spring, you will produce vegetables that will yield pounds of produce in summer. If you learn how to preserve your harvest, you will be able to stock your Pantry and feed your family even when the growing season is over. Learn how growing your own food can improve your physical and mental health, as well as the health of the environment. Check out this recipe for my easy Vegetarian Chili! Think growing your own food is a walk in the park? 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You can make sure to create an organic … By growing your own food, even if you just start with a few crops, you are contributing to a healthier you and a healthier planet. If you live in a part of the world that becomes cold and snowy during the winter, check out this post on inexpensive ways to grow food in the winter! Please email me at melissa(at)melissaknorris(dot)com with questions or comments. One of best benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables is that it connects you to your food more because you know where your food comes from. Chocolate Peanut Butter Vegan Fudge [Vegan]. There’s no need there. These micro-organisms are not affected. The disposal and handling of this toxic waste take a large toll on the health of the environment, the health of wildlife, and the health of surrounding communities. More Nutritious. For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Growing your own food allows you to avoid all of the negative repercussions that come along with monocultures, while protecting your health and the environment’s health. You’re aware of any challenges that came along the way. List of Growing Your Own Food Benefits: 1. Truly organic – only by growing your own produce will you be able to control exactly what goes into the soil and on the food for it to grow. Allowed HTML tags:
    1. . Makes You Healthier: In addition to the tangible benefits of growing your own vegetables and fruits is the intangible benefit of a better quality of life. If you garden you know its stress-relieving qualities and health benefits from exercise. Certain foods, such as wheatgrass, are particularly simple to grow but are packed with nutrients. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Grow Your Own Food: The Top Health Benefits of Growing a Vegetable Garden Cultivating and nourishing your vegetable garden can undoubtedly do a lot than providing fresh vegetables. I extolled the virtues and great experiences you gain as a result of growing your own food. But it’s the developed world that has precipitated global warming.”. Your grocery bill will shrink as you begin to stock your pantry with fresh produce from your... Reduce your environmental impact.. Backyard gardening helps the planet in many ways. There are lots of benefits to growing your own food, especially when getting kids involved, which I’ll share below. Therefore, you know exactly what you are putting into your body, and you know the health benefits of growing your own food. Food in its rawest, freshest form is not only the tastiest way to enjoy it, but also the most nutritional. I'd love to have a readers show where I answer your questions. The benefits of growing your own food are endless. This can also be a fun, family task to take on to make an environmental impact together and to teach your children the importance of going green. Learn how your comment data is processed. The benefits of growing your own food with your kids could fill numerous books. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Because... 3. Seriously, watch your snap peas, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, or anything they can easily grab off the vine. Instead, they help in increasing their population. Agricultural use accounted for 80 percent of pesticide use in the U.S. Introduction and Need. Growing your own vegetables and fruits offers numerous unique health and wellness benefits, and homegrown foods should be at least a part of everyone’s diet. Why go to the trouble of growing your own food when it’s so easily available from supermarkets? Happy gardening! Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS), Sexual Harassment & Rape Prevention Program (SHARPP), Are My Doctors and Other Healthcare Providers in Network, Maintaining Preventive Care During Covid-19, Back to the Basics: Cooking With Your Family, 5 Reasons Why an Employee Meal Plan Is a Healthy Choice, Hamel Recreation Center Exercise on Demand. Can we suggest you spend a huge amount of money on vegetables? Instead of buying it about the safety of your food money: can we suggest spend... Their own fruits, herbs and vegetables in the grocery store are picked before,! 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