With the changing of the season I thought I would talk about how gardening can be for health and wealth! Earlier this year I wrote about inflation and food shortages. One of the ways I talked about combating food shortage was through raising your own food. Here some more thoughts on the benefits of gardening.
Therapy
When you’re starting out with having a garden you might not know a lot about how to be successful. If that is the case, don’t expect to save money the first time or two, but it’s all experience for the future. One of the advantages of gardening is therapy. When you are in the garden you can opt to having a grounding or earthing experience in the rich soil that you are planting in. In most cases you will be gardening outside where you are able to synthesize vitamin D and breathe in the fresh outdoor air. Lastly gardening is beneficial for your mental well being. According to this article, it can even help people with dementia and even help prevent dementia.
Earth Benefits
There is no denying the benefits to the earth that small home gardens have. It produces its own eco-system by creating different avenues for animals and bugs to flourish. The plants clean the air, restores nutrients into the ground, helps reduce city noise. Plants also help keep erosion from happening. So if you’re wanting to “go green” consider how having a garden will reach your goal. Even if you’re in a drought area, there are many ways to be conservative with the water usage with gardening. Tools such as timers and dripper lines help your garden flourish by having a consistent water schedule as well as makes the water absorb better into the ground by being slow and steady.
Cost
You can go crazy and plant all sorts of plants that I may or may not eat. You could choose plants that aren’t well suited for your region. These are not good ideas when wanted to save money gardening. Select fruits and vegetables that you know you will enjoy. Also, select crops that are well suited for your region. Growing multiple plants of a single fruit or vegetable will help ensure you will have a better harvest. Plant more than you anticipate wanting in order to combat issues like bugs and hail damage. Having more plants of the same variety will make the most of the money you put into the bed and watering system as well as your time.
Particularly if you are going the organic route, this can easily save you money especially if you do some of the more expensive produce like bell peppers. Also consider some plants also take more than one season to really take off so the production savings will be longer. Lastly, don’t forget, once again, that producing your own vegetables will reduce your need for the grocery store. It will be local and very fresh!
Conclusion
Having a home garden is beneficial for the gardening, the earth, and the pocket book. Starting out on your gardening adventures might take more time, but the results will be a wider understanding of where food comes from and sustainability as well as a healthier you. Gardening can help ease the bill at grocery store with fresh, homegrown food that is ripened on the vine and the most nutrient dense.
How about you, how have you found growing a garden to be helpful for you?
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