I’ve been growing my food for over 6 decades. Let me qualify that a bit, I grew up in a family that grew their own food and I have continued that practice ever since. Sure, there were times when I wondered if it was worth it. Times when I was juggling life with two kids, medical school, and eventually a career as a physician. But I couldn’t imagine a life without two of my favorite passions, gardening and eating healthy home-grown organic produce that is garden to the table.
I’m a passionate advocate for sustainable living and healthy eating. There is something truly magical about witnessing the transformation of a tiny seed into a huge tomato plant that can yield up to 35 pounds of tomatoes in a season. I also I can’t imagine not having fresh organic produce that I know is free from pesticides and chemicals.
In this article, I will share ten research-backed reasons why you should consider growing your food. From the health benefits to the environmental impact, growing your food has far-reaching advantages beyond what meets the eye. I can say it is worth growing your food.
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1. Health Benefits of Growing Your Own Food
There is no denying the fact that fresh fruits and vegetables are essential for optimal health. By growing your own food, you have complete control over what goes into the soil and onto your plate. This means you can ensure that your produce is free from harmful pesticides, chemicals, and genetically modified organisms. Numerous studies have shown that organic homegrown fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients play a crucial role in maintaining a strong immune system, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, and promoting overall well-being. Additionally, gardening itself is a physical activity that can help improve cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility.
Not only does growing your own food promote physical health, but it also has a positive impact on mental well-being. Gardening has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The act of nurturing plants and watching them flourish can be incredibly therapeutic. It provides a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and connection to nature. Furthermore, spending time outdoors and getting your hands dirty exposes you to sunlight, which boosts your mood and increases vitamin D synthesis in your body. With all these benefits in mind, it is clear that growing your own food is a powerful tool for enhancing both physical and mental health.
2. Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Gardening
In an era of climate change and environmental degradation, every small effort towards sustainability counts. By growing your own food, you can contribute to a healthier planet. Sustainable gardening practices, such as composting, water conservation, and natural pest control, minimize the use of harmful chemicals and reduce waste. Traditional agriculture often relies on large-scale monocropping, which depletes soil fertility and requires excessive amounts of water and synthetic fertilizers. In contrast, home gardens encourage biodiversity, improve soil quality, and conserve water resources.
Additionally, growing your own food reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and packaging. On average, the food we consume travels hundreds or even thousands of miles before reaching our plates. By eliminating the need for long-distance transportation, you can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable food system. Furthermore, home gardens provide habitat and food sources for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife, promoting biodiversity and ecological balance. By embracing sustainable gardening practices, you are not only growing your own food but also playing a vital role in protecting the planet.
3. Growing your own Food Saves Money
Growing up my family grew our own food out of necessity. With a family of 12 there wasn’t much in the budget for food. We had a huge garden, a small orchard and large berry patch. My mom was fond of saying if we don’t grow it we don’t eat it. For my parents that was a compelling reasons to grow our own food. Since the pandemic we have seen food prices raise substantially. The rising prices of fresh produce can quickly take a toll on your grocery budget, especially if you prioritize buying organic. The cost of organic food is nearly 21% higher than other food and increased 4.3% in 2023. By growing your own food, you can eliminate or greatly reduce the need to purchase expensive fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The initial investment in seeds, soil, and gardening tools may seem daunting, but the long-term savings far outweigh the upfront costs. How much you save on your food budget depends on what you grow.
If you are trying to figure out what you want to start growing in a garden, knowing what to grow can save you time and money. Generally grow those items that are most expensive to purchase organic at the grocery store is a good place to start. I following list is my suggestions of what to start growing in your garden.
- Red and Green Bell Peppers
- Asian Eggplants
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Leafy Greens – lettuce, swiss chard, kale, bok choy
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Green Beans
- Fingerling Baby Purple and Red Potatoes (may not even find them) which is why I love to grow them.
- purple sweet potatoes
- Raspberries.
I don’t include the root vegetables like carrots and radishes or the gourds and squash as they are harvested once and then they are done. I do choose to grow the red and purple potatoes even though they can be once and done, I start harvesting them in June and will continue to harvest them through the end of October. I also love growing them because they are the most nutritious of the potatoes due to their high levels of antioxidants
I also included raspberries as they are easy to grow, the plants spread each year, so an initial purchase of 2 or 3 bushes will become a whole row of bushes within a few years. In my local market, organic raspberries go for as much as $4.99 for a 4 ounce container. Farmer Fred starts picking raspberries in June and pick them up until the first frost. He picks about 15 gallons a year from our berry patch.
With proper planning and care, a well-maintained garden can provide an abundant harvest throughout the growing season, allowing you to enjoy an array of homegrown delights without breaking the bank.
Furthermore, growing your own food empowers you to become more self-sufficient and rely less on external food sources. This is critical in times of economic uncertainty or disruptions in the food supply chain. So not only can you save money by growing your own food, but it also feels good to know you and your family will have access to fresh, nutritious food, regardless of the circumstances.
4. The Freshness and Flavor are better
When it comes to taste and quality, nothing beats homegrown produce. The fruits and vegetables you cultivate in your own garden are picked at the peak of ripeness, ensuring maximum flavor and nutritional value. Unlike commercially grown produce, which is often harvested before it is fully ripe. Green produce is firmer and withstands long-distance transportation, your homegrown treasures can fully develop their natural sweetness, juiciness, and tenderness. From vine-ripened tomatoes bursting with flavor to crisp, vibrant salad greens, every bite is a delight to your taste buds.
Moreover, growing your own food allows you to explore a diverse range of heirloom and unusual varieties that are not commonly available in supermarkets. You can experiment with unique flavors, colors, and textures. My purple and red fingerling potatoes were the result of such an experiment. Now they are the only potatoes I grow. Other varieties I’ve tried with varying success are a purple sugar snap pea, rainbow carrots, and a short fat zucchini called an eight ball zucchini. A lot of times it comes down to how adventuresome you are and what your preferences are for traditional vs unusual varieties.
5. Increased Food Security and Self-Sufficiency
It is easy to take our food supply for granted. Kitty Kat in the above picture is an expert at trusting she will always have food in her dish. If it’s ever empty a few meows result in quick refill. However, recent global events have shown us how vulnerable our food supply is. The pandemic, wars, and flooding in food growing areas of the country remind us of the importance of food security and self-sufficiency. By growing your food, you become less dependent on external sources and gain a sense of control over your food supply. Whether it’s a huge garden, a small backyard garden or a community plot, growing your own food empowers you to be more self-reliant should difficult circumstances arise.
Your home garden can be a valuable educational resource. I learned to help out in the garden as soon as I was able to walk. It was by watching and doing that I naturally learned how to grow, harvest, can, freeze, preserve, and dry the food for enjoying when it was both freshly picked and throughout the long winter months. The time I spent outdoors in the gardens gave me a deep appreciation for nature, sustainability, and the value of hard work.
Children who grow up with a connection to the land and an understanding of where their food comes from are more likely to make healthy food choices and develop lifelong habits that promote well-being. Additionally, gardening provides an opportunity for intergenerational bonding and shared experiences that strengthen family ties and create lasting memories. I often worked along side my siblings, my parents, and my grandparents in our families’ gardens.
6. Community Engagement and Connection Through Gardening
Gardening has a remarkable ability to bring people together and foster a sense of community. I grew up in a farming community and the families in the community often got together to share knowledge, extra produce, milks, eggs, and meat (if you weren’t vegetarian or vegan). During the harvest we would often help our neighbors if they needed extra hands to harvest the crops.
By growing our food and sharing the surplus, we not only nourished our own body and soul but also contributed to the well-being of the community. When I have extra produce in my garden, I bring it into work and share my extra fresh organic veggies with my colleagues. I also take the extra to one of the local food pantries in my area. They are always delighted to have organic fresh produce to give to families.
7. Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being Through Gardening
In today’s digitally-driven world, it is increasingly important to find ways to disconnect, unwind, and reconnect with nature. Gardening offers a perfect escape from the pressures of daily life and provides an opportunity to slow down, be present, and engage in a mindful activity. The act of tending to plants, putting your hands in the soil, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of the garden, and witnessing the beauty of nature can have a profound impact on your mental well-being.
Numerous studies have shown that gardening reduces stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. It has a calming effect on the mind, lowers cortisol levels, and promotes relaxation. The rhythmic tasks of planting, weeding, and harvesting can be meditative, allowing you to find solace in the simplicity of nature’s cycles. I do some of my best thinking and creating when I’m weeding the garden. Additionally, gardening provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose, boosting self-esteem and fostering a positive mindset.
8. Educational Opportunities for Children and Adults
A food oasis is not only a source of nourishment but also a rich educational playground. Whether you have children or you’re simply a lifelong learner, gardening offers endless opportunities for exploration, discovery, and growth. By involving children in the process of planting, caring for, and harvesting food, you can ignite their curiosity, teach them valuable life skills, and foster a deep connection to the natural world.
Gardening provides an interdisciplinary learning experience that encompasses science, math, language arts, and environmental literacy. Children can learn about plant life cycles, photosynthesis, soil composition, and the importance of pollinators. They can practice measuring, counting, and recording data as they observe the growth of their plants. Additionally, gardening can stimulate creativity and imagination, as children design their own garden layouts, create artwork inspired by nature, and explore the sensory qualities of different plants.
9. Access to a Wider Variety of Fruits and Vegetables
One my favorite benefits of growing my food is the opportunity it gives me to explore a all of those fruits and vegetables that are not commonly found in supermarkets. You know the interesting pictures in the seed catalogues that start showing up around Christmas.
Commercial agriculture often genetically modifies our fruits and vegetables to prioritizes high-yield, uniform produce that can withstand long-distance transportation and has a longer shelf life. This results in a limited selection of fruits and vegetables available to you.
By growing your own food, you can explore the seemingly endless varieties sizes, colors, and shapes of produce. You can try vegetables that you never heard of until you saw a picture in the seed catalogue. That was how I discovered watermelon radishes. My current obsession. By expanding your palate and incorporating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables into your diet, you can boost your nutrient intake and discover new favorite dishes. So, if you’re tired of the same old supermarket offerings, it’s time to start cultivating your own food oasis and embark on a journey of garden exploration.
10. Take the First Step Towards Growing Your Food
Growing your food offers numerous benefits for your health, the environment, and your overall well-being. From the amazing taste and quality of homegrown produce to the cost savings and food security it provides, gardening is a powerful tool for sustainable living. It connects us to nature, strengthens our communities, and nourishes our bodies and souls.
So, why not take the first step towards growing your own food? Start small, even if it’s just a few herbs on your windowsill or a container garden on your balcony. With time, patience, and a little bit of dirt under your nails, you can create a thriving garden that brings you joy, sustenance, and a profound connection to the natural world. So grab your gardening gloves, dig in, and let the magic begin as you embark on your gardening journey from seed to table.
