Despite home gardening being considered a great effort on the part of the gardener, it does have several benefits. The advantages range from controlling the crops, so you know what you are eating, to acting as a catharsis. This article will provide information on the different benefits of home gardening.
#1: Controlling The Crops
Growing vegetables at home can contribute to controlling what your family eats. Home gardening gives you the advantage of choosing which pest control to use, the fertilizer and the watering process. Of course, you must conduct some research for your product to be organic. The crops will require water, sunlight, fertilizer and pest control. It may be best to consider the hardiness zone before planting seeds.
#2: Enjoying The Fresh Food Lifestyle
Nothing beats the flavor of fresh foods, such as newly picked vegetables and fruits. When harvested, the produce starts to lose nutrients and moisture. This loss of moisture and nutrients contribute to the lack of vegetable freshness in store-bought goods. If you grow your own produce, you will know precisely when they were harvested and how fresh the item is.
#3: Making The Garden Inviting
In addition to adding more vitality to your diet, home gardening can make a yard more inviting. The color, beauty and life of crops can make the back garden more aesthetically pleasing. For instance, the sight of crisp cucumbers or smell of ripe strawberries is a warm invitation to family and friends. Plants sporting flowers will encourage pollination, which can make a definite “splash” in the garden. Furthermore, the pollinators (bees and other insects) will pollinate other plants making the garden grow more speedily.
When choosing to plant a home garden, it is important that you consider where to place the garden and the requirements of the produce. For example, do the plants need shade or sunlight? Always read the information provided on the plant tag or research the plant using a gardening guide. It is also essential to place the seeds at a distance from one another. Spacing is significant if you want the garden to flourish.
#4: Reducing The Groceries Budget
One of the most significant benefits to using a home garden is the cost-effectiveness. In most cases, the cost of seeds is equivalent to the price of fruit or vegetables at a store. In fact, it may be less costly when considering the money spent on traveling to the store. You can grow organic vegetables in a home garden for a fraction of the cost of store-bought products. This means that the groceries budget can be reduced and easily maintained.
#5: Making Gardening A Family Activity
Gardening is a family-friendly and fun activity that allows children to “get their hands dirty” while learning about food production. Starting a home garden is an excellent way of spending time with the family and engaging with each other.
#6: Helping With Health Conditions
One nutrient found in home gardens that are not linked to the product is vitamin D. Vitamin D is attained from the sun’s rays, and this vitamin is essential to a person’s health. Surveys show that tending a backyard garden for approximately thirty minutes can improve sleep patterns and positive energy.