Growing Vegetables

Three Benefits of a Kitchen Garden

Sep 20, 2009

Establishing a kitchen garden has many benefits. It will not only save money, but give an abundant supply of vegetables and herbs that are fresh and tasty.

Traditionally, a kitchen garden was one that grew only herbs, but why stop there? While some vegetables need a great deal of room to grow, others such as tomatoes, spinach and lettuce don't take up much space and these are suited to that small plot of ground out near the kitchen door.

But why bother with a kitchen garden at all? Isn't it good enough to buy vegetables or herbs at the local supermarket. But just consider how much easier it would be to step out the back door and find all those lovely fresh vegetables and herbs right there just waiting to be picked. Establishing a vegetable garden has three major benefits.

Vegetables from Your Own Garden Cost Less

The cost of herbs and vegetables may seem to be reasonable - because the consumer is so used to paying it. No one expects to buy a full bucket of tomatoes or cucumbers for just a few dollars, but this is possible with the home garden. Tomatoes are prolific bearers and a few plants will keep the average family well supplied for some time. And other products such as jam, relish and pickles can be made with any excess, saving even more.

Gourmet herbs are costly but cooking with herbs that are fresh from the garden will save money and can certainly enhance the flavor of the most ordinary meal.

Then there is the cost of fuel. When there is no need to go out to buy fresh vegetables, other grocery items can be bought in larger quantities, thus reducing the need for more frequent shopping.

Time is costly so instead of using precious time to go shopping, use it to relax at home - tending the garden, or doing many other enjoyable activities.

Home Grown Vegetables and Herbs Taste Better

Home grown vegetables certainly taste much better than bought ones. Anyone who has tasted tomatoes and cucumbers from the home garden, won't want to go back to eating store-bought produce.

Very often bought produce is a lot older than it looks; it has been picked before it is properly ripe and kept in cold storage. It is often sprayed to prevent it from ripening. Beans end up stringy and old and cucumbers have seeds that are tough and chewy. They cannot be compared to young vegetables from the home garden.

Home Grown Vegetables are Healthier

Commercial gardeners use many poisonous pesticides and fungicides on their produce. For the home garden because there are many home remedies that are just as effective and much safer. Eating vegetables that have never been sprayed with poisonous products means better health.

Freshly picked produce also contains many more nutrients than those that have been picked for weeks. The health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables are well known. Not only do they provide vitamins and minerals needed for optimum health; they also contain many substances that fight off diseases such as cancer.

Growing Your Own Vegetables is Satisfying

So growing vegetables and herbs has many benefits, but one of the main ones it the simple joy and satisfaction that it offers. There is something about growing plants to eat that satisfies the inner soul. It does not matter whether a garden is big or tiny, seeing plants growing and getting ripe enough to pick and eat is both exciting and rewarding.