Spring is here, and that means the ground is thawing, flowers are blooming and garden enthusiasts are eager to plant their produce.
I encourage eating local produce—and it doesn’t get more local than your own backyard!
If you’re interested in growing your own fruits and veggies but don’t think you have enough room at your house or apartment, take some inspiration from me….
I do have a small space where I grow tomatoes, cucumbers and squash and each year I add something new but I also put things in pots all over my deck – everything from herbs to broccoli to strawberries.
Did you know that fruits and vegetables may not arrive at your grocery store until weeks after they’re harvested? So gardening is a great way to eat fresh, seasonal produce.
Here are some other benefits of gardening:
You’ll feel relaxed.
It’s easy to de-stress amid the smells of fresh parsley and tomato vines. Research shows that even 30 minutes of outdoor gardening reduced stress levels—it even trumped reading as a relaxing activity!
You’ll burn calories.
Gardening burns about 200 to 400 calories per hour, so you won’t feel guilty about skipping the gym. You can also make it a family affair; researchers found that children can benefit from gardening tasks, too. Digging and raking are considered “high-intensity” physical activities for children while weeding, sowing seeds and watering plants are moderate.
You won’t waste food
Have you ever bought an entire bunch of cilantro for a recipe, only to need a few sprigs? If you have a garden, you can pick only as much as you need and avoid waste. To save money, you can also plant produce that’s expensive to buy in stores (tomatoes, for example). And grow produce that offers a large return on your investment including broccoli, carrots and onions.
You’ll build stronger bones
Regular gardening and other yard work have been linked to a reduced risk of osteoporosis. Studies have found women ages 50 and older who gardened at least once a week had higher bone density than those who swam, jogged, walked or performed other aerobic activities. The researchers attributed the improved bone health to weight-bearing motions in the garden including digging holes and pulling weeds.
So go ahead and invest in homegrown produce this spring!
Let me know what you love about gardening by sharing in the comments below!
