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Benefits of a produce garden

#LocallyGrown

If you’re on a mission to buy more local produce, and eat more whole foods, the best nutrition and most local you could get would be your own backyard. There is nothing more rewarding than walking right out your door, picking your own plants and creating a delicious dish, knowing that everything has been grown in your very own produce garden. Last week we made homemade pizza with fresh lemon basil from our garden. Delish!  Also, if you have little ones, there is no better science lesson than planting and watching nature turn a seed into a beautiful delicious food.

Starting a produce garden in the Pacific Northwest has been a delight, as I’m originally from Minnesota, where the growing season is relatively short. Here we have a wide variety of plants to choose from and can continue to harvest well into the Fall. One of my strengths (or weaknesses) however I want to look at it, is my practicality. I’m always asking if the labor invested in growing our own produce garden is worth it? Well, in my case it is since my husband is the farmer and I’m just the harvester. But seriously, it is worth it. Here are the benefits you can begin reaping (pun intended).

If not interested in starting your own garden, check out this post on how to live an organic lifestyle without starting your own garden, and how to eat more whole foods!

5 Benefits of a Produce Garden

It Encourages You to Cook

It’s true. You end up cooking more at home, when you have fresh ingredients outside just waiting to be picked and used in a delicious dish. Just the aroma of fresh basil makes me want to whip up an Italian red sauce, or a savory pizza. We all know that cooking more at home is healthier, saves you money, and builds better family relationships.

You Spend More Time Outside 

Again if you know you have fresh ingredients or the seeds need to be planted, you’ll be outside more. At our home we only have a back patio and we spend a lot of time out there picking our produce, transplanting, watering etc,  and enjoying the fresh air. My daughter loves “helping” to water the plants. 

Eating Becomes a Gratitude Practice

When you know the work that was put into the spinach in your green smoothie you definitely are more grateful. You also just enjoy the food more because you know everything about it. It’s organically grown on your back porch! I also wrote another blog post on benefits of a gratitude practice. You can check it out here. 

You Eat More Plants

 We all know we need to be eating more plants. Nothing compares to a fresh tomato or pea pod straight from the garden. It’s seriously a miracle that something so deliciously sweet and nutritious can come from a small seed. You’ll want to eat the plants you grow.

You Give More

 Sometime through the summer you’ll end up having a large harvest of something you have planted. It’s a great opportunity to give to others. I love trading and receiving produce as a gift since I would have spent the money at a grocery store anyways. It’s the most practical gift you can give someone.

Final Words

You see, your own produce garden can benefit your family more than just nutritionally. An added benefit is it’s better for the environment too. I don’t have to drive my car or have produce shipped to my house to put kale in my green smoothie. I just simply walk outside and cut it from our ready to be harvested plants!

Join the Discussion

What is one benefit you’ve noticed from your produce garden? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

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Author

-Maria Halcumb
B.A. in Secondary Education, English, and Physical Education
M.A. Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction and Reading Specialist