person squatting and gardening

Yes, growing organic food is easy and no, it doesn’t require the proverbial “green thumb” or a large plot of land. In fact, practically anyone, anywhere can grow their own – even me, haha!

Seriously – you can grow a surprising amount of food on just a small balcony or a sunny window sill, especially if you select the right plants and utilise space saving methods like vertical gardening. You can grow in containers, raised beds or plant directly in the ground  – it depends on your circumstances.

Soil isn’t the only growing medium either, we spoke previously about how to sprout seeds, legumes, grains and nuts in your kitchen. There are the hydroponic and aquaponic methods too, but I personally prefer the old fashioned way of growing in soil.

“Planting a garden with food potential is one of the most valuable things we can do.”  

Isabell Shipard  (Herbs are Special)

Some benefits of growing your own food:

  • gardening provides exercise and relief from stress and depression
  • being sure that your produce is grown from non-GMO seeds and that no nasty pesticides have been used
  • there is less likelihood of wasting produce that you have put time and effort into nurturing, than when you simply pick it up from the market
  • you are able to grow types of herbs, fruits and vegetables that may not be available where you live
  • discovering the joy of eating a fruit or veg picked straight from the plant – I never imagined they would taste so good!
  • the thrill of witnessing the miracle of a tiny seed sprout through the soil and following the amazing process all the way to harvest
  • realising that even some so-called weeds can be highly nutritious and beneficial

There is one thing I should warn you about though – gardening can be addictive. Have I piqued your interest? I’ll be sharing what I learn about growing plants for food/medicine so do stay tuned for the next article Growing Organic Food – it starts with a seed.

Feel free to comment and tell us about your gardening experiences. Questions can be referred to our Natural Living Q & A forum and you’re welcome to share your knowledge/expertise there.

I’ll leave you now with a quote that I hope will encourage you to get your hands dirty.

“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments”

Janet Kilburn Phillips

PS: Don’t fret about the dirt – we have you covered with this DIY Marvel Hand Scrub for Gardeners – it will leave your hands clean, soft and smelling fresh.