I was listening to an NPR radio show this afternoon and heard vegetable gardens mentioned. It was a show about
Sugar. Author Robbie McCauley talked about how everyone used to have access to home grown food. She said its a crime that we don't anymore. Here here!
And then Molly commented on
an old post of mine that listed reasons to grow your own vegetables. Molly said "..for FUN!"
So I am posting my list again. I've added lots of reasons sent in by other gardeners. The list is almost up to 100 reasons now. I counted about 60.
Nearly 100 reasons to grow a vegetable garden:
For fun! (Molly)
To find the shortest, simplest way between the earth, the hands, and the mouth(Lanza Del Vasto)
To participate in one of the basic parts of living - producing your own food
Free food!
Reduce trips to the grocery store
To reduce pesticides and chemicals in your food
To experience the seasons
To increase vitamin D levels by regular sunlight exposure
To breath fresh air
For physical exercise that produces something tangible
To hear the birds singing
For the beauty of the plants
For the scents, colors and sounds of the garden
To create a work of art
To express yourself with straight even rows or wild tangled patches
A weight bearing activity that can increase bone density
Produce better quality food
To grow rare and heirloom varieties not available commercially
For a quiet break from high stress and electronic activities
For access to super local food
To put your yard into productive use
To beautify your yard
To help support honey bee and butterfly populations
So you can blog about it during data downloads
To produce food you can share
To lower your food costs
So you can meet other gardeners
To know exactly where your food comes from
For a hobby your whole family can participate in
For real food
To support the green movement and reduce your global footprint
To eat more vegetables and less junk food
To play in the dirt
For geosmin, the musky smell of freshly turned soil
For sustainability as an ethical and practical way to live
To support biodiversity
For access to seasonal food
For minimally processed food
For the freshest and sweetest tomatoes
For giant dark red beets
Because enjoyment of the fruit is complete when one is "inextricably entwined with the memory of the plant in its various stages of development" (Kitchen Gardeners International)
For more sunlight
For lots of new crops to celebrate with a martini
For happiness
To remember my grandparents' and my parents' gardens and to grow and enjoy the plants they grew
To care for the earth, ourselves and others
To learn about nature
To experience the interconnectedness of our environment
To educate my children on where their food comes from
To teach my sons to be proud of something they helped cultivate
To protect the land from development (Cazaux)
To get your hands dirty
To appreciate the careful progression of time and the effects of sun and rain
To remain in awe about the miracle of nature - how a tiny seed can grow a tomato plant with multiple fruits some of which were 6 inches across! (Mary)
...the food tast a hole lot better (anonymous)
To revive almost forgotten memories and favorites from childhood that are no longer available unless you grow them. Like a Charlston Grey watermelon! Huge, tasty, full of seeds and so unlike those wimpy, seedless little watermelons we see today. (Phyllis)
For the sense of accomplishment (Barb)
To make your gardens look nicer (Susy)
To have something green and fresh to dream about in cold and dreary January! To be stunned to discover the bean you dropped in the ground grew pods and that those pods are filled with six or eight more beans -- and to be stunned to discover this every time you open another pod. To learn that companion planting works, and in the process, feel like you've been given a gift of the knowledge of all the generations of gardeners that came before.(Pookie)
To sweat, to feel the earth, to be in touch spiritually. Also I honor my Grandfather and other family members. I am growing garlic, parsley and basil from seeds, & seed garlic that goes back up to 90 years old from Italy. (Nick)
