Why do people garden?

Have you noticed an increasing number of people gardening? Community gardens are springing up in many parts of the country. Consider the reasons you should start gardening if you haven’t already.

Starting a garden can give you a better return on investment than purchasing items from a typical supermarket. Initially, this might not seem to be the case until you consider the long-term benefits. Consider the cost of a packet of seeds and what it produces over a whole season. Now, consider what it might produce next year, if it's a crop such as tomato and strawberry that can produce beyond the first year. From one seed packet you can get an abundant harvest now and next year. Now compare the cost paid for that one packet of seeds and see what you can buy at the supermarket. While the supermarket will give you instant gratification, home-grown produce tastes better than the supermarket variety and it can continue reproducing, unlike the item that is in your cart today and gone tomorrow. Using yogurt cups, you can start garden for free (almost).

Watching nature create something is truly remarkable. The process is simple yet amazing.

Food recalls are a reason for anyone to be concerned about the contents of the fruits, vegetables and herbs being sold. Tending your own garden means having total control over the production process. You get to decide if the seeds are genetically modified or not. You get to decide whether or not to use fertilizer or compost. Concerned about artificial ingredients? You get to decide how to preserve the food and for how long. If you’ve ever inspected the labels of your favorite spices, you know that some of them have been made in foreign countries. Which would you prefer: food made in a distant land or food made in your own backyard?

Starting a garden need not be a gargantuan undertaking. A garden doesn’t have to attempt to replace all of your food. It can be outside on a large piece of land or in small containers on a fire escape. A garden can be one type of herb or many varieties of vegetables and fruits. Having a garden of any size makes it easier to cook from scratch because it makes getting fresh ingredients easier.

Whether or not to go big or small is up to you and your resources. If you want to start small, try planting a garden of basil. Basil is a great herb for new gardeners to plant. Yogurt cups can serve as temporary pots- just remove the labels and poke holes in the bottoms to allow excess water to drain. Place the seeds in potting soil. Basil will emerge from the soil within seven to 14 days in the form of a petite, green, clover-looking plant.