If you’re considering starting a vegetable garden, then you’re in for a treat! Not only is gardening a fun and rewarding hobby, but it also comes with a whole host of benefits.
You probably think of gardening as a hobby for old ladies with too much time on their hands. But the truth is, gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience for anyone – even busy city-dwellers!
From saving money to improving your mental and physical health, there are so many reasons to start growing your own veggies. Today, we’ll take a look at the top 8 benefits of backyard vegetable gardening.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
The Many Benefits of Backyard Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable gardening is not only a great way to get fresh, nutritious produce, but it can also be therapeutic, relaxing, and a fun hobby for the entire family.
Further research on gardening found it improved life satisfaction and mood. Digging in the dirt really does lift your spirits. The digging stirs up microbes in the soil. Inhaling these microbes can stimulate serotonin production, which can make you feel relaxed and happier.
Forbes
Growing your own food can help you save money, be more self-sufficient, and allow you to control the quality of what you eat. Vegetables are a very important part of a healthy diet. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are essential for good health. They’ a’re also low in calories and fat.
Whether you have a large plot of land or a small patio, balcony, or windowsill, you can reap the benefits of backyard vegetable gardening. There are many different ways to grow vegetables. You can grow them in raised beds, in containers, or in the ground. You can also grow them indoors or outdoors.
The best way to grow vegetables is in a backyard vegetable garden. A backyard vegetable garden allows you to have complete control over the quality of your food. You can also grow a wide variety of vegetables, so you’ll always have something new to try.
That last one is one of my favorites – Last year I grew tiny Cucamelons and Peanuts with all my other veggies and herbs.
The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Grow Your Own Veggies
1. The Health Benefits of Eating More Veggies
The health benefits of eating more vegetables are hard to ignore.
For one, veggies are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help to promote a healthier lifestyle. Vegetables like:
- spinach
- kale
- sweet potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
have been linked to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Eating more vegetables also helps to boost your immune system, keeps your digestive system healthy, and helps to protect against certain cancers. In addition to all these health benefits, vegetables tend to be low in calories and high in nutrients, which helps you maintain a healthy weight.
And when you’re growing the vegetables yourself, you know exactly what’s going in them. You can avoid the use of pesticides or other chemicals, as you’ll be growing your vegetables with natural gardening methods.
2. More Veggies, Less Processed Food
Eating more veggies can also help you cut down on processed foods. Processed foods are often high in added sugar, fat, and salt, which can have a negative effect on your health.
When you’re growing your own vegetables, you can be sure that you have complete control over what goes onto, and into, your vegetables. You can also choose to grow organic, non-GMO, heirloom varieties of vegetables that don’t contain any added hormones or pesticides.
Growing your own vegetables at home also helps you reduce your food miles, as you’re not buying vegetables that have been transported from hundreds of miles away. Plus, you don’t need to worry about the packaging the vegetables come in, so you can be sure to reduce your plastic use too.
Growing your own vegetables can help to make your food more sustainable and healthier in the long run!
3. Economic Benefits of Growing Your Own Veggies
As well as providing health benefits, growing your own vegetables can help you save money too! Buying organic vegetables from a local store can be expensive, but when you grow your own veggies, you can do it for much less.
Plus, you don’t need to buy organic compost or soil, as you can make your own with kitchen scraps and other organic materials. You’ll also be able to save money on transportation costs as you won’t need to go to the supermarket or vegetable stand store to buy veggies.
Growing all your own veggies will also reduce packaging, meaning less need to buy containers, bags, and other materials. In short, growing vegetables at home can help you save money in the long run!
4. Veggies Are Easy to Grow!
Contrary to popular belief, vegetables are surprisingly easy to grow at home! You don’t need lots of space or a huge garden; even small spaces like balconies or windowsills can grow veggies. As long as you have access to plenty of sunlight and water, you’ll be able to grow lots of successful vegetables.
There are plenty of easy-to-grow vegetables that can be perfect for beginners, such as tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and various herbs. There are also a number of vegetables that can be grown in containers, such as potatoes and radishes. And if you’re really stuck for space, there are vegetables that can be grown indoors, such as sprouts and mushrooms. I currently have lettuces, and herbs growing in my kitchen in the middle of an ice storm.
5. The Taste Test
One of the best benefits of growing your own vegetables is the taste! Homegrown vegetables tend to be much fresher, juicier, and tastier than store-bought varieties. Vegetables that have been freshly picked often taste sweeter and crisper than those that have been sitting on the shelf for days or weeks.
You’ll also be able to experiment with a range of varieties and flavors too.
For example, you could try growing heirloom varieties that have unique flavors and colors. Heirloom veggies are often hard to find in stores, so it can be fun to try something new. Without a doubt, one of the greatest benefits of growing your own veggies is the taste!
6. Spend Time Outdoors
In addition to all the health and economic benefits, growing your own vegetables also provides you with an opportunity to spend more time outdoors. Fresh air and exercise have been linked to a range of health benefits, such as improved mental health and physical well-being.
Gardening is also a great way to take a break from technology, as you forget about screens and get your hands in the dirt. Not only is gardening enjoyable and therapeutic, but it also gives you the chance to appreciate nature and wildlife.
You can attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, explore the outdoors, and spend time in the sunshine – it can be great for your mental and emotional well-being too.
7. Know What’s in Your Food
When you know exactly where your food comes from, you can feel confident in the quality of your veggies. You don’t need to worry about the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers when you’re growing your own food, as you can use organic gardening methods.
Growing your own vegetables can also provide you with peace of mind when it comes to food safety. You’ll be able to keep chemical-free and maintain high levels of food safety by controlling contamination. In other words, you can be sure that the food you’re eating is the best it can be!
8. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Growing your own vegetables can also help to reduce your carbon footprint. You’ll be able to avoid the long-distance transportation of food and reduce the emissions that come with transporting food around the world.
You’ll also be able to avoid plastic packaging and reduce the amount of energy and water used in the production and processing of food. Organic gardening methods also help to promote diversity in plant species.
Takeaway
There has been a greater focus on self-sustainability and where our food comes from. Backyard gardening is a great way to be more self-sufficient, and it has many other benefits as well.
With a backyard garden, you have more control over the quality of your food, you can save money, and you can get some exercise and fresh air. Gardening can also be a great way to relax and de-stress.
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