I've been thinking about why I recently got so very interested in growing my own vegetable garden. I've come up with a few reasons:
- It's in my genes; or at least it was a learned gift from my mom when she sarted gardening the summer after our November 1976 move to our family farm.
- It's sustainable; growing my own food reduces the carbon footprint my food requires to get from source to my table. The community garden at work adds to the sustainability, I drive to work anyway, so there is no extra driving to access the garden before or after work.
- It's possible; we have some sunny south-facing spots at home, and the community garden at work, while small, has 180 degree access to all-day sun.
- It's trendy; pick up any newspaper or magazine and you can read about the "local food movement," reducing the carbon footprint of food, people raising chickens in their back yards, etc. I think we have a certain vibe here in Madison that encourages it as well; the city composts leaves that we can buy cheap, city dwellers are allowed to raise three hens and there are community gardens everywhere.
- It's good; there is simply nothing like a warm, ripe tomato picked off the vine and eaten right there in the garden, or soon after in the kitchen
I would add that it's cheaper!
ReplyDelete• It's a healthy activity: fresh air, sun and exercise in a deliberate and constructive manner with an objective in mind (not some pointless repetitive activity).
ReplyDelete• It's food I can trust to be as healthy for me as I have made it, with no added chemicals or "added value" processing.
• It's more nutritious: as fresh as possible, picked minutes before the meal.
• Gardening (in general) puts me outside and more in touch with the weather, the flora and fauna about me.
• Growing my own food gives me some control over my diet, my life.
Betsy in Middleton
Response to Jay - I've been thinking about the "cheaper" aspect of gardening. There are a lot of up front costs (rain barrels, seedling lights and heat pads, fencing, compost, garden tools, etc.) but committing to gardening for the long-haul will average these costs to less and less per year.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else have thoughts on minimizing the up front costs of gardening?
I have always felt that gardening is therapeutic for me, it lets me unwind after working within a busy everyday world.
ReplyDeleteI echo everyone's sentiments: it's good; it's in my genes (my dad has a green thumb, though more for flowers); it's therapeutic. Also, it's green (no pun intended) -- I have to do something with all the compost we accumulate.
ReplyDeleteAs for minimizing the up-front gardening costs -- Craigslist, baby! Lots of used stuff available there.
I garden to preserve my sanity and because it's deep in my blood as a farm boy. When I've worked in my garden for an hour or so, I relax and my mind stops buzzing around. My only worry is whether or not the kohlrabi is big enough to pick for dinner.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's necessary in order to begin to create a sustainable future for the local and the global community. And this community is also an answer to your question about reducing up front costs- in a functional community people could help each other out with labor, materials, etc.
ReplyDeleteThese can either be all stacked vertically to save the most space, or they can consist of a single bunk on top of a double bunk bed with slide
ReplyDeleteGardening is not just a hobby; it's a way of life! I find solace and joy in nurturing my garden, and primary homework help is just one of the many benefits. It teaches responsibility, sustainability, and patience, all while providing fresh, organic produce right at my doorstep. What inspires you to dig into your garden?
ReplyDeleteGardening, a practice as old as civilization itself, is often seen as a form of escape, a return to our roots. The blog, **Why I Garden**, explores this intimate connection between humans and nature.
ReplyDeleteIn an unexpected twist, Economics Thesis Help can be likened to gardening. Just as a gardener nurtures plants, this service nurtures students' ideas, helping them grow into full-fledged theses. It's a tool that, like gardening, requires patience, dedication, and a deep understanding of the subject matter.