A Garden Gets You Moving
The act of gardening itself is physical, getting you off the couch. Hours of weeding have already taught me that gardening uncovers all the little muscles you didn’t realize you had. Gardening also requires you get quiet and focus, away from the distractions of smart phone and TV. Pulling weeds certainly clears my head better than most other distractions! There is even some research to suggest that gardening helps to improve mental health, increases feelings of reward, and may even help lower your blood pressure.Kids Love to Grow
For those of you with kids, getting them involved in the garden will help them to appreciate and enjoy more fruits and veggies. My son loves digging in the dirt, finding earthworms and garden snails…and he gets excited when he sees food growing out of the earth. It’s far more exciting to eat a carrot out of the garden than out of a bag.
You Can Grow Organic
Gardening is a great way to improve your access to organic food; growing your own organic produce, free of chemical inputs, helps save you money and boost your intake of these healthy foods. Just think of all of the $4 bunches of organic kale you can grow with a $3 packet of seeds!Even Small Gardens Make a Big Difference
To enjoy the benefits of gardening, you don’t have to have a big yard. Just a few feet can get you started, happily eating basil and tomatoes all summer long. If you don’t have access to your own gardening space, you can sign up for a plot at a community garden or even take advantage of your patio or windowsill. Starting with even a few herbs will improve the taste of your cooking and reduce the waste that comes with all of those clamshells of fresh herbs you can never use up in time. I am looking forward to my (likely) misadventures as I build my gardening skills. But already, things are looking up: that apple tree I have tended for so long finally has apples budding on it.Would you like to be the first to hear about our new products and more? Sign up for our Nature’s Path Newsletter.
