Home gardening is on the rise again this year, so say survey results recently released by the National Gardening Association (and sponsored by ScottsMiracle-Gro). Those who plan to plant this year, they learned, number about seven million, a 19% increase, and nearly double last year's number of home gardners. NGA's website, www.gardenresearch.com, will carry complete survey findings sometime this month.
In today's economy, you'd expect that to be the reason for the upsurge. Surprisingly, only about one-third of those surveyed claimed that was their number one reason. Other reasons that'll bring Americans into their yards to take up the gardening habit include, in order of ranking: having better-tasting food; saving money at the grocery store; having better quality food; and last, growing food they know is safe.
It's worthy of note---these reasons clearly show that people are concerned about the taste and safety of the foods they eat, and they're willing to make an investment of time and money to make sure they get foods to their liking. But organic foods, whether they come from a reliable local source or from a home garden, are not only better-tasting and safe; they're more nutritious, as well.
Benefits abound in support of home gardening. Some that come to mind:
- you'll save at the grocery checkout (the NGA guesstimates that a garden will yield about a $500 return based on the home gardener's investment, how well the garden is kept up, and what comparable store produce costs at the time of harvest);
- you'll pick varieties of food you know you and your family like;
- you'll have fun getting down dirty (and rubbing elbows with a few earthworms in the process);
- you'll experience a rewarding connection to the land;
- your harvest can feed your family for months if you preserve a majority of the bounty;
- you'll get exercise and sun-delivered Vitamin D (wear a hat and slather on chemical-free, or homemade, sunscreen).
If yard space won't accommodate a full-fledged garden plot, there's always pot or container gardening. Big pots, medium pots, little pots devoted to just one crop can produce healthy herbs, or other choices. Seeds of Change is one variety of organic seeds that work well in a plot or a pot.
Some folks who don't want all the responsibility of planting and maintaining a garden may want to find like-minded neighbors or family to share the work and the bounty. Community gardens are trendy these days, its members enjoying the work/share concept.
No matter where you garden, if you're one of the seven million who will head outdoors this spring to garden, go organic, and nix the chemicals for healthier produce and soil. For help in growing organically, check out these 300 tips.
One last note---composing is a tried-and-true tradition for home gardeners, and supplies nutrient-rich soil to spread on young plants. It's a subject we'll explore soon, the how's and what's.
To everyone who plans to mini-farm the land, congrats---and enjoy the experience!
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