A beautiful edible garden isn’t just something to be admired in blogs and magazines. There are several solid reasons for starting and keeping an edible garden, not to mention the health benefits that come with fresh, homegrown produce.

As tedious as it might seem, gardening also comes with a number of financial and environmental benefits in the long run for you and your family. Even if you’re just starting out with a couple of herb plants on the windowsill, you can expect the following benefits:

Cost-efficient food

A sustainable edible garden eliminates the need for frequent trips to the supermarket for fresh produce. You don’t even have to purchase seeds! Just grab a couple of kitchen scraps, some dirt and re-grow them in time for the next harvest.

Good nutrition

Nothing beats fresh fruits and vegetables when it comes to good nutrition. A lush and sustainable edible garden makes it easier to follow a balanced diet and make better food choices.

No chemicals

You can never be sure if store-bought produce are guaranteed organic and pesticide-free. It’s important to be vigilant about pesticide-treated produce since numerous studies on pesticides have linked the chemicals in these products to neurological conditions and birth defects.

Fresh produce

Even in times of crises and calamities, an edible garden gives you unlimited access to fresh and nutritious food. No more bruised potatoes or overripe apples!

Tastier food

Homegrown fruits, herbs and vegetables often taste a lot better than those sold in supermarkets. One possible reason for this is that store-bought produce are bred to have uniform shapes and sizes to make them more appealing to customers at the expense of flavor.

Regular exercise

Gardening involves tedious, repetitive work like digging, weeding and watering. But these monotonous gardening tasks are just as good as exercise. Gardening also allows you to absorb a bit of vitamin D from the sun as you work. In addition, the repetitive nature of gardening tasks helps relieve stress and tension.

Fulfillment

Gardeners know that nothing beats the satisfaction of harvesting food that equals months’ worth of patience and dedication. Gardening requires tedious work and constant maintenance. Keeping at it guarantees a sense of fulfillment, pride and self-satisfaction come harvest time.

Home decoration

Gardens help add a bit of color and life to an otherwise dull lawn or backyard. If you’re into indoor gardening, potted plants and herbs can help bring in the outdoors to the kitchen area and add warmth. Leaving potted shade-tolerant plants in different areas of the house also makes for a vibrant and unique home decoration.

Less waste

One of the best things about gardening is how sustainable it is. Chuck spoiled veggies and fruit scraps into the compost bin for future fertilizer or re-grow what you can salvage.

Learning experience

Gardening is a constant learning experience. Even experienced gardeners aren’t immune to poor plant growth, weed infestations and pests. Besides, no amount of textbook knowledge on gardening can guarantee how your plants will turn out. If you have kids, getting them involved in gardening can be a great way to teach them about sustainability.

You don’t need outdoor space or gardening experience to start an edible garden. Start small with pots of herbs on the windowsill or containers of salad greens on the porch. Gardening might require a lot of work during the first few weeks. But done right, you’ll be reaping more than just fresh food come harvest season.

Sources:

GreenCityGrowers.com

Healthline.com