8 SCIENCE-BACKED REASONS TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD

Ever wondered whether it’s worth the time and effort (not to mention money) to grow your own food when it’s so easy and convenient to just buy what you need at the grocery store?

I did—and I’ve dealt with all those scenarios. But after more than 12 years of growing my own food, I can confidently say it’s always worth it.

Here are eight reasons—all backed by research—you should seriously consider growing an edible garden this year.

Growing food can save you money.

01.

Not all crops have the same monetary value, but knowing what to grow can offer significant savings over supermarket purchases.

Growing your own food results in less waste.

02.

When you grow your own food, you not only minimize waste, you double the amount of food in your garden because you can harvest and use the entire vegetable from top to tail.

Food you grow is guaranteed to be fresh.

03.

You can pick your vegetables at peak ripeness (and peak nutrition) in the proper season, with flavors and textures that surpass those of commercially grown produce.

Homegrown produce doesn’t get recalled.

04.

You don’t need to worry about E. coli, salmonella, or listeria outbreaks, as long as you keep a tidy garden and have a clean water source.

You know exactly what goes in (and on) your food.

05.

In my garden, even natural or organic pesticides (like neem oil or insecticidal soap) are a last resort.

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