Article by Dave Packett
Growing herbs and vegetables has always part of many cultures. This is especially true in the older times when making your own produce is very common. In the recent years, however, less and less people are growing their own farm or garden products for personal use. The common causes can be lack of land as well as the transformation of personal farms and lots into corporate farms. Since the emergence of the many corporate farms, smaller farms have been bought by the big corporations, thus, bringing on a small amount of produce for personal use.
There are still those who advocate the many great benefits of farming for personal use even in small lots, backyards and gardens. We can now be thankful to those who encourage this type of farming as it not only assures us of healthier products but also encourages self sufficiency. If you have been toying with the idea of creating a small garden or farm for vegetables and herbs in your garden, then here are the top advantages you can get.
1. Vegetable and herb gardening assures you of better, healthier and cleaner produce.
If you produce your own vegetables and herbs, you can control how you will grow it. You can choose not to use chemical pesticides and fertilizers thus giving you and your family (and even your neighbourhood) local produce which are much healthier and safer to consume.
2. Vegetable and herb gardening is economical.
Not only are you assured of healthier and more natural products but you can also save a significant amount of money by not being dependent on the market. When you do not have your own produce, then you simply have to adjust to the prices demanded by the big corporations, thus, making you a slave to market movements and supplier demands.
3. Vegetable and herb gardening is a very good and a productive hobby.
Growing herbs and vegetables in your own backyard or garden can be a very good hobby. Not only is it practical but the time and energy spent on planting, growing and harvesting is very worthwhile and satisfying.
4. Vegetable and herb gardening can provide you with a good income.
If you want to have an additional source of income, then you can actually have it while having fun and while being healthy. You can sell your local produce or even transform them to finished products such as medicinal herbs, spices, preserves, and even herbal soaps. Not only are these products fun to make but also very in demand in the market.
5. Vegetable and herb gardening is easy and enjoyable.
Even without a green thumb, you can actually make your gardening goals achievable. Thanks to technology and the efforts of those in support of growing herbs and vegetables for personal use, you can easily access important information through the internet. You can learn different processes of planting, preserving and even making herbal products. You can also make use of the many networks on farm suppliers which can provide you top quality soil, fertilizers, pesticides, gardening tools and equipment, and even farm or garden ornaments at much cheaper prices.
Vimp - 15 years ago
I agree with all Dave has to say about growing your own vegetables but to me the biggest up-side is the very increased FLAVOUR of the vegetables, and fruit, produced. Picking or cutting straight from the garden and then usually just needing a light steam, makes the food so much more enjoyable than purchasing produce which may have been cut for a minimum of 24 hours.