As the old adage goes: you are what you eat. This is a quote that is often used to emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that is packed with healthy fruits and veggies.
While this is certainly important, there is another area that is all too often overlooked: where your food is coming from. In recent years, there has been a movement towards home-grown and locally sourced food. This offers significant benefits for both your overall health, and that of the planet.
Still feeling skeptical, or wondering what home-grown food can do for you? Read on to discover some of the main advantages and benefits.
No Pesticides Or Additives
When you grow your own food, you know exactly what is in it. The same cannot be said for store-bought produce. Growing your own means you can rest assured that your food is free from unwanted pesticides, additives, or preservatives.
When you grow your own food, you control everything – even the fertilizer.
Discover New Things
Starting your own vegetable patch or garden means you are unlocking the door to a world of possibility. You have the freedom to experiment and try new things.
Compared to store-bought veggies, seeds are cheap and affordable. They also give you a chance to try something new.
If you are not sure about a new product, then plant a few in a pot and see how you like them.
Enjoy Fresh Food
One of the main issues with commercial products is that you can never guarantee their freshness; even if they look fine, they may have been sitting in the store for a number of hours, or even days,
When you are getting your produce from your own garden, you can rest assured that everything is as fresh as it can be – and this is good for your health.
It is a good idea to place markers with the dates that you planted the different seeds. This will ensure that you harvest the oldest stock first, and reduce waste.
No Carbon Footprint
This may not seem like a direct benefit, but growing your own food eliminates the need for it to be transported to you. All you have to do is walk out to your garden.
This reduces the need for heavy trucks on the road, planes in the sky, and cargo ships in the oceans, and seriously cuts your carbon footprint.
This may seem like a minimal benefit, but imagine if a million people did the same thing? Growing your own food is the first step toward creating a better, healthier planet for your children.
As an added bonus, you also cut down on packaging when you grow your own food.
Final Thoughts
Growing your own vegetables is a fun way to enjoy a healthy, diverse diet, while still doing your bit for the planet. Overall, you can boost your health, get some exercise, and enjoy a variety of delicious new dishes. What could be better?
