There are many reasons to consider planting a garden this year and growing your own fruits and vegetables. Not only is it a more cost effective way to get in your “5 A Day”, but it is also good for both your personal health and the health of the environment.
Among the many benefits of growing your own vegetables:
- Cost: It is fairly cheap to buy seeds or starter plants. A tomato plant for example will produce much fruit, but only cost you initially about what you might pay for 2 tomatoes at the grocery store.
- Health: When you grow your own food, you and your children are more likely to eat more servings of fruits and vegetables and have a more varied diet. Also, growing your own food without the use of pesticides means fewer chemicals you ingest.
- Environment: Growing your own food means that less has to be shipped. This can also contribute to positive health, as the food you eat will have less nutrient depletion.
- Personal Reward: Planting, maintaining and harvesting a garden brings about a sense of accomplishment.
Don’t know where to start? Norman Winter of McClatchy Newspapers offers advice on planting your own vegetables garden in a recent Herald article. Also, York County Master Gardeners Association is offering monthly gardening seminars at the Glencairn Garden Learning Center beginning this month.