For those of you that grow food in some capacity, it doesn’t need to be explained why this is a great idea. For those of you that this seems a little silly or perhaps daunting, the reason you need to grow something is because, just like any investment, it connects you to your food. When a seed is planted in the soil, watered every few days, and eventually starts peeking up through the soil, the delight for anyone who partakes in this event is unmeasurable. It is an investment in time, energy and enthusiasm that feeds the soul. Minimal efforts can produce great and lasting results that provide a culinary offering that gives and gives and gives.
Why is gardening so healthy? It is most likely the combination of the physical activity, social interaction (with people and plants!), the exposure to sunlight as well as being in nature in general. Spending time outside reduces the amount of exposure to screen time which in turn can help to reduce rates of depression. Not only this but the availability of more healthy food now exists. And we all know when we grow your own food we are more likely to eat it!
Real food can be grown on a small scale in a container on a back or front porch as well as in a backyard garden. Some people have access to community garden plots for minimal cost or a larger backyard garden by the acre. No matter what you have available to you, there is a way to grow something. If there are foods or herbs that you routinely purchase at the grocery store, consider growing them to supplement your grocery bill. A container garden can be started for less than $25 even if you are starting from scratch.
While this may seem like a lot of money for start up, consider your weekly food costs especially if choosing organic. Let’s use Rosemary as an example. A small 1 ounce cut of organic rosemary costs $3.99 at the grocery store. A full, small, plant from the store also costs $3.99. If not used quickly, the rosemary cuts will go bad in the fridge before using it again. If you plant a rosemary plant in the ground, it will start growing and then it is available for your next recipe. You make up for your initial investment within two recipes if planted in the ground and if nurtured, you may have that rosemary plant for years and years to come. If placed in a container, you recoup costs within 5 recipes and you have the convenience of having it on your back door step. The cost savings is tremendous for very little effort.
Herb and spice intakes can also improve health. Some studies suggest that only 2TBSP per day can improve overall health. They are concentrated forms, as they are mostly consumed dried, of antioxidants, anti- inflammatory, glucose and cholesterol lowering medicinal food. A great way to ‘spice up’ your life is to grow your own as you will be more likely to find recipes to use it.
One year I noticed that my purple sweet potatoes were spouting eyes in the pantry. I figured I had nothing to lose but a few minutes of my time if I cut them up and put them in the ground. The vines were quite pretty as they started to grow out as were the lightly purple flowers it also displayed but oh the bounty that they provided my family and friends that year! Those few purple sweet potatoes turned into 2- 5 gallon buckets of sweet potatoes. This can also be done with garlic and other foods at the right time of year. How fun it is to experiment and connect with nature! Grow Something, Grow Anything!
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