Grow your own food – These days, there are many reasons why one would turn to gardening. Seeing as how we are being advised to spend more time in our homes, tending to plants in our garden is a great hobby that doesn’t require leaving the house but keeps us occupied for a significant amount of time. Then, it is also an amazing way to bond with our kids during these hard times. Teaching them the basics of gardening can result in them eating healthier, being more aware of their surroundings, and developing a sense of responsibility. Finally, many of us decide to start a garden because we will have a constant source of fresh food if we stick to it and dedicate our time to truly mastering this craft.
However, are you aware that producing your own food is not only good for you but for the environment as well? Yes, something that you choose to do only as a hobby can play a big role in preserving the planet for all the generations to come.
If you are not familiar with this fact, keep on reading to learn more about how your actions can contribute to this worthy cause.
Plants have the ability to clean the air and the ground
Let’s start with something we should all remember from school. Plants have the ability to create oxygen. During the process of photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the planet’s atmosphere and use sunlight to turn it into sugars and release oxygen as well. While actually a waste product of photosynthesis, all oxygen on Earth has been created this way and actually has its origin in plants.
Just take a look at how amazing that is. Carbon dioxide, something that we expel from our bodies and consider to be waste, is actually used by plants to create oxygen, something we need to survive. What is more, plants also have the ability to filter out toxins, bacteria, and chemicals that might be in the air, thus providing us with much cleaner air overall.
Furthermore, it’s not only the visible part of the plant that takes in various chemicals. The roots also have the ability to clean the soil they are in contact with. For example, heavy metals and other chemicals that are in the ground and groundwater can also be absorbed by many species of plants. While plants are working hard to improve the overall health of the soil, they can also be affected by these contaminants. If you notice that your plants are not thriving, you should test the soil to see whether you need to improve it.
The nutrients in the soil can be replenished
Even if the soil tests show that the ground in your garden is lacking some essential nutrients, you’ll be glad to hear that they can be replenished by using the plants you no longer need. While you might not be tending to them or harvesting them to eat, they can have another purpose. Dead or decaying plants, as well as leaf litter and all other organic materials, are crucial to your next season’s growth. The topsoil of the ground is made up of these remains and helps improve the health of the soil where you will be planting your next batch of veggies.
Waste can be repurposed
Just like we use the waste that plants don’t need, i.e. oxygen, the same can be done vice versa. In addition to the previously mentioned organic matter that remains from dead plants, there are also other types of waste that we can use in our gardens. For example, the scraps from your kitchen are another great way to improve the health of the soil. Leftovers and residue are often used to make compost piles but even if you don’t have time for that, you can still use some of them individually. Ground coffee, for instance, can be used for mulching, improving the soil structure, and even as a pesticide, as some gardeners claim that it helps repel slugs and snails. Then, eggshells can add calcium carbonate, magnesium, iron, potassium, and phosphorus to the soil. Banana, lemon, and orange peels, nutshells, and pepper leftovers can all find a place in your garden, whether they keep pests away or act as a replacement for a fertilizer.
What is more, repurposing waste in this way means that you are not contributing to the creation of landfills. Other than meat, there is probably a way to use all your scraps in some form, so do some research.
There will be fewer chemicals and pesticides in the ground
Many gardeners choose to go organic once they start producing their own food. This allows them to know exactly what they are putting into their bodies and can be sure there are no possibly harmful chemicals in their food. If you decide to do the same, you need to understand the basic principles of organic gardening. In short, you will not be using synthetic products such as fertilizers and pesticides. Seeing as how we talked about repurposing waste in order to have natural fertilizer and ways to get rid of pests, you should not have a problem with finding methods to keep your garden organic.
Moreover, not only will you be ensuring your food is free of chemicals but you will also be making sure that no chemicals are entering the soil and underground water sources. That way, you will help preserve the planet.
Having a garden supports native birds and insects
Yes, there are various critters that can harm your garden. However, there are also many beneficial birds and insects that will help your selection of herbs, veggies, and flowers thrive. Therefore, if you use any pesticides that are too aggressive, you could be getting rid of pollinators and other useful species that are integral to spreading seeds and protecting your garden from unwanted predators and insects.
Luckily, by opting for the right organic methods, you will not only ensure your garden is full of these helpful critters but you will actually provide them with a safe place and a food source.
Soil erosion can be prevented
Another way how growing your own garden helps the planet is by preventing erosion. The roots help bind the soil together, meaning that it is less likely to wash away if your area has been affected by heavy rain. Moreover, they protect slopes from sliding downhill. Preventing erosion is important as it usually affects the topsoil. You don’t want all the hard work you’ve put into improving it to literally be washed away.
You can help conserve water
There are several ways how growing your own food can help you conserve water. First of all, you will be aware of how precious water is, which is why you might start collecting your shower water or even rainwater that can be used to water your plants. Second, you will be looking into veggies with a drought tolerance as well as research various methods of planting that will beat the heat and reduce water evaporation and thus water requirements. Finally, you will understand that you need quality garden equipment and a good hose reel, that will make watering easy and ensure you are not wasting water.
Well placed trees and shrubs can reduce your cooling costs
If you live in a warm climate, you surely know how quickly your home can heat up. The sun’s rays are a big reason why we resort to using air conditioners and other cooling devices during the summer. The amount of energy these devices use is detrimental to the environment but there is a simple way to reduce your power usage. By planting trees and shrubs so that they block the sunlight from entering your home, you can make your living space cooler, reduce the use of fossil fuels which are typically used to keep it cool, and save some money.
You are reducing your carbon footprint
Growing your own food also reduces your carbon footprint. For one, you will not be making as many trips to the store to buy food. You will also not have food delivered as often. Secondly, just think about where the food you buy at the supermarket came from. Did it travel there from another continent and cross half the world to reach the shelves in your local shop? Unless you’re buying local, the transport of your food is producing tons of CO2. By having a reliable garden, you can store all the extra produce in the freezer and use it whenever you want. Plus, maybe you can even open your own store and earn some money from this hobby.
You will be using less plastic
Something else that will happen if you grow your own food is you will be using less plastic and living a more sustainable lifestyle. Unless you are dedicated enough to bring a reusable bag every time you go to the store, you are probably using too many plastic bags when it comes to packing all the products you use. Furthermore, the packaging itself might be made of non-reusable plastic.
Plants can reduce noise pollution
By planting greenery, you could help reduce noise pollution. Seeing as how vegetation absorbs sound, just one row of shrubbery or trees can have amazing results. Not only will this help you create a quiet space in an urban environment but it’s beneficial for everyone around you as well.
As you can see, the benefits that producing your own food has for the planet are many. When you add to that the physical and mental perks that you will get to experience, there is really no reason for you not to be starting a garden as soon as possible.
