But what is the correct amount or combination of these meats needed to stay healthy? It is entirely possible to ingest too much protein, which is just as unhealthy as not eating enough protein. The healthy amount of meat to eat each week depends on your size, gender and physical stature. It also depends on factors such as if you’re sick or pregnant. While it’s very difficult to eat too much protein, it’s still important to be aware of and monitor how much meat you eat in a week.
Red meat is readily available and one of the most popular types of meat; but, surprisingly, red meat is one of the more trickier types of meat to consume moderately. Although red meat is the type of meat man has been consuming for the majority of our history (think deer, cattle and bison), our demand for increased supply has caused red meat to become more unhealthy for us. Farming and breeding have evolved red meat animals into fatty and cholesterol-inducing foods, even though they are still a great source for our vitamins and nutrients. A good rule of thumb is a healthy serving of red meat per day is about the size of your palm. That amount is probably a lot less than what you normally consume in one sitting, right? Try to choose lean red meats and healthy cuts of beef with minimal fat. It’s also important to remember that you shouldn’t eat red meat every single day because it’s important to create variety in what types of meat you eat during the week. For pregnant woman, eating red meat a little more regularly during the week is often encouraged, since they need more iron in their digestive system for a healthy pregnancy. Always consult with your doctor before choosing to consume significantly more or less red meat.
Chicken is frequently consumed as a source of protein for people who are on diets or need to watch their health more closely because it has less fat and cholesterol than red meat. It is suggested that the average person consumes skinless chicken in a serving size of three ounces and to eat no more than six ounces per day. Again, try not to eat chicken for your source of protein every single day, and create variety in what types of meat you are eating throughout the week. Also, choose healthy cooking methods for your chicken. Instead of frying it in unhealthy oils or cooking it in butter, grill or broil your chicken, and use healthier fats, such as olive oil.
Pork has been a controversial topic for some time between dieticians and other health-advisors. Also known as “the other white meat”, pork is the middle-meat between chicken and beef on the health scale. How healthy your pork consumption is greatly depends on what cuts of pork you are eating. Certain cuts, such as bacon, are very high in saturated fat. The amount of sodium in cuts of bacon are also particularly high, which is very unhealthy. Other cuts, like pork tenderloin or sirloin, are much healthier, when consumed within the three-ounce limit. Once again, the cooking style for pork greatly impacts how healthy it is for you. Choose healthy oils for cooking, and remove any fat before eating pork.
Finally, fish is an excellent source of protein, and it has other vitamins that boost your health and fight cholesterol, which the other meats listed here do not have. Besides being high in protein and low in fat, certain fish have high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 has been proven to lower blood pressure and heart disease, and the low amount of fat is a good reason those on diets turn to fish as their source of protein. Tuna, salmon and shellfish are the most recommended sources for these vitamins and nutrients. It’s suggested that the average person eats about twelve ounces of fish per week, or two six-ounce servings for a healthy diet.
It’s perfectly healthy and acceptable to eat a type of meat as a protein source at least once per day. However, because the average person is a little unhealthier than they should be, it’s suggested to designate one day a week as a meat-free day. Remember to switch up your eating routine and to create variety in what types of meat you eat throughout the week. For example: avoid meat on Monday, eat red meat on Tuesday, chicken on Wednesday and Thursday, pork on Friday, and fish on Saturday and Sunday. You can always interchange these days to keep the food you eat interesting and tasteful.

The first reason for hunting and harvesting your own meat is for the same reason many people choose to be vegetarians or vegans: it’s more humane. While many, at first, may protest eating meat for the sake of the animals’ lives, it’s much more humane to control animal population in natural environments as well as to avoid farms made specifically for breeding oversized animals at an alarming rate. For conscious meat-eaters, hunting is far more morally and ethically acceptable than purchasing raised beef, pork and poultry. When hunting, animals are killed quickly and painlessly. A skilled hunter, equipped with a proper gun and a good rifle scope can and will always make sure that if he takes a shot, it’s a 100% clean kill. Since we are human beings, hunting is simply a part of the circle of life. Hunting also means there will be less waste because hunters have the advantage of using all parts of an animal. For instance, when a deer is shot, not only will the hunter be able to cook the meat, but he or she may also use the organs and bones in the kitchen as well as utilize the skin. Unfortunately, when an animal is bred and killed on a farm for commercial sale, many parts of the animals go to waste. It is much wiser and “green” to hunt over purchasing commercial meat products.
It’s also important to note that animals on commercial farms tend to be fed unnatural diets, such as meal made from saturated fats and by-products that humans would not normally choose to ingest. Whatever an animal eats is ultimately what we humans end up eating, which means we are also ingesting all of that saturated fat and by-product. Animals in the wild have a diet of natural plants and other wildlife. When a deer has a diet of acorns and plant life, their meat will be leaner, healthier and even tastier! When hunters eat wild game meat, they are also eating the natural and healthy foods of the earth.
The second important reason for choosing to hunt your own animals is the sustainability. Humans now live in a society where the majority are entirely dependent on commercialism. The homes we live in, the water we drink, the everyday items we purchase and the food we eat are all controlled and distributed by businesses and the government. Since humans are so reliant on this commercialism, big businesses are destroying our green planet with buildings, factories and chemicals, which all pollute the air and surrounding environment, to keep up with our demands. Sustainability is required to limit these harmful effects and to shorten the chain of big business. By hunting his or her own meat, a hunter has created sustainability for their self and their family. If a hunter no longer has to depend on big business for meat products, that’s one less person big businesses and corporations can rely on. One person hunting instead of purchasing helps create a greener, longer-lasting earth and a more sustainable lifestyle.
A third reason to choose hunting over purchasing meat is that wild game is healthier and cheaper! Many animal products that are produced in factories are filled with fat, by-products and other items to “stretch out” the amount of product (quite similar to what factories are feeding their animals in the first place). Some foods, like steak and ground beef, have also been found with completely unnatural product fillers mixed inside them, such as saw dust! Obviously, digesting a non-food product is very unhealthy and even life-threatening. The fat mixed within commercial meat is also very unhealthy for obvious reasons. Choosing to hunt your own meat means you are choosing to consume leaner meat without added fat and unnatural product.
While some wild game meat may seem like they have a lot of fat, it’s important to know the difference between healthy fat and unhealthy fat. All living things, including human beings, need fat to survive and to be healthy. Natural fat gives us energy and vital nutrients. The fats found in wild game are unsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fats, which are found naturally and are not tampered with. Saturated fats, like the kind added to commercial meat and other foods, have been man-made and are very unhealthy. This is the type of fat that makes humans, well, fat. Saturated fat is also very difficult to burn away with exercise or physical activity. Choosing wild game, such as deer or duck, will prove to be a much healthier choice at meal times.

Hunting is also much cheaper than purchasing packaged meat every week. While becoming a hunter requires some financial investments, like purchasing a hunting rifle, catching his or her own meat eventually does pay for itself. When you pay for pre-butchered and pre-packaged meat, not only are you paying for the product, but you’re also paying for every bit of labor that went into providing you that meat: the farming, the butchering, the cleaning, the delivering, the packaging and even down to the sale of that meat at the grocery store register. Hunting and preparing an entire deer is far cheaper than purchasing only part of a deer at a butcher’s store or other business.

Breaking it down

It’s clear to see that hunting for your own food beats out purchasing commercially produced meat. From ethics, to health, to cost, becoming a hunter has clearly always been the best choice. If you’ve never hunted before, consider taking any classes in your area on hunting and talk to any friends or family you may know about the benefits they’ve encountered from hunting their own meat.

Where Can I Find Wild Berries?

Foraging for wild berries can be a very fun activity with plenty of tips and tricks to learn. There are many types of berries growing all around you within nature. Obviously, before you begin picking berries, be sure that you aren’t picking on private property. Check online to see if your local area has already listed places that have been known to grow wild berries; or, you can step out into the wilderness and enjoy the hunt! If you’re searching for berries in the wild, look for bushes or vines that are low to the ground. Berries often grow where birds and other animals drop seeds, and, instead of growing tall, berry bushes tend to grow horizontally until they reach spots with large amounts of sunlight. Search for wild berries in well-lit, open areas, such as the edges of woods and along fences.
You may also consider gathering wild berries at berry farms, when they’re in season. Many farms open their fields to the public in the summer for anyone who can fill a basket with fresh berries. Call your local berry farm to find out when their picking season is open to the public and if you should bring your own containers. Picking berries on a farm is always a fun activity to share with family and friends, but make sure to go early before all the berries have been picked!
Another option for harvesting wild berries is to grow your own in your backyard. Berries can be difficult to grow because they require a lot of maintenance, but growing them yourself is ultimately cheaper than purchasing berries at a store, especially if they’re out of season. You can grow berries in long, narrow areas, such as along a fence or the side of a house. Plant your berries in a mound of soil, so they don’t get planted too deep into the ground. You will also have to train your berries to grow in their allotted space, so you will have to tie the vines to stakes. Remember to plant the berries in an open area so they receive a lot of sunlight, and prune the overgrowth frequently. Pruning helps keep the soil the berries are growing in fresh and free of debris.

What Types Of Berries Should I Gather?

There’s a long list of edible berries that grow in the wild, which includes common berries such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. You may also find dewberries, wineberries, huckleberries, elderberries, black cherries, cranberries and winter berries. If you’re looking for blackberries, search for thorny bushes with white flowers and thick vines. The blackberries will look like clusters of many berries, and they’ll be a very dark purple (almost black) color when they’re ripe. Raspberries can also be found on thorny bushes, but the bushes will have whiter vines and yellow, bell-shaped flowers. Most raspberries are a dark red color, and they are tart and a little sour.
It’s also important to inform yourself of poisonous berries in your area. One of the most common poisonous berries is the American bittersweet berry. This berry is typically a yellow-orange color, and they grow in bunches with leaves at the ends of woody branches. Juniper berries are also dangerous to eat. While they have been used in cooking, juniper berries have been known to make people sick, when eaten in large amounts. It’s best to avoid picking them. Juniper berries can be found on evergreen trees, and they are blue or purple in color. There are many other types of poisonous berries, so it’s always wise to carry a pocket book on edible berries with you for reference while you are foraging. Remember, always be 100% sure of what type of berry you’re picking. If you have ingested a berry that you think may be poisonous, contact poison control immediately.

How Do I Pick Wild Berries?

When picking wild berries, only choose berries that are completely ripe. Once they’re picked from their life source (the plant), they’ll no longer be able to ripen and will only go bad. Use a gentle touch, so you don’t squish the fruit, and simply twist and pull the berry from its vine. Gently place your picked berries into a shallow bucket or basket. Don’t allow too much weight to gather in your container so you don’t end up squishing your berries. When you’ve finished picking your berries, store them in a refrigerator until you intend to use them.

What Do I Do With My Picked Berries?

There are a lot of options for how to utilize your freshly picked wild berries. When you’re ready to use your berries, rinse them in a gentle stream of cold water to remove any dirt. Of course, you can always just eat your picked berries, as is, for a tasty snack. You may also store the berries in bags and freeze them for later use. Berries make great additions to fillings for pies and other baked goods. You can use wild berries for making jams, jellies and preserves. Consider learning how to can food, and you can store your berry preserves for long duration of time. The possibilities are endless when you gather your own wild berries!

One of the best reasons to go fishing every week is to experience the outdoors. Some of the best areas for fishing are also some of the most naturally beautiful landscapes. Imagine fishing for your own food whilst looking over a sparkling lake with a backdrop of rolling hills, flocks of birds and other wildlife drifting in and out of your eyesight. Imagine the fresh breeze floating over the water while you smell the plant life and fresh air. For example, Lizard Island in Australia is a beautiful drop of land surrounded by crisp, blue ocean water. Imagine the salt water air filling your lungs as you real in exotic ocean fish. Worden’s Pond in Rhode Island, U.S.A is home to a 1000-acre lake weaving through tall grassland. You can lounge in a small boat all day, while waiting for a bite from a freshwater fish.
While enjoying the outdoors, it’s also important to relish in relaxing moments while fishing. Fishing requires a lot of patience and calm behavior. A fisher must keep quiet and almost entirely still to avoid scaring away their prey. A fisher must practice breathing slowly and moving softly. He or she must also be prepared to move at a moment’s notice because a fish can bite their lure at any time. In fact, the behavior of a fisherman or woman is very similar to meditation! Fishing on a weekly basis is important because it offers the opportunity to relax and think on life. Fishing is a time of peace and serenity, and it may even help you in times of stress. Soft breezes, cool temperatures and the sounds of moving water are all key components to this time of relaxation and meditation. You certainly can’t find that indoors!
Fishing, as a sport, is a great opportunity for bonding with family or friends. While it’s peaceful to fish alone, it’s always fun to bring a friend along for an activity you enjoy. Family members are great companions to share a day of fishing with. Many generations within a family tend to teach skills to the younger generations, and fishing is a great family past-time to share among each other. There are many skills involved in fishing that are important to a successful week of bringing home fresh fish. It’s important to learn how to properly prepare a fishing reel with fishing line, a hook and a bobber. It’s also important to know how to bait your hook and what types of bait to use for each type of fish you’re fishing for. Catching and releasing fish is crucial knowledge every fisherman and woman must have, and they must also know how to clean and gut different types of fish. For beginners we would recommend a good baitcasting reel or a spinning reel. Later on you could also transition into fly fishing, which requires a little more skill but is also much more rewarding. Fishing, whether for food or pure sport, is a fantastic hobby to share with others because it involves teaching each other many things. Besides learning proper skills for fishing, it’s also fun to take special interest in certain types of fishing and even particular kinds of fish. Turning fishing into a weekly activity will only strengthen your current fishing skills and grow your repertoire of fishing knowledge. Perhaps you may also introduce friends or family that have never fished before to this fun and relaxing sport!

Catching your own fish on a weekly basis ensures that you always know how fresh your fish is, where it’s from, and that it will taste amazing. As opposed to purchasing fish from a grocery store, even fresh, choosing to catch your own fish means you know exactly when that fish was butchered. Why pick from questionable fish filets in the deli aisle when you can catch and cook your own fish in that same day? It’s also relieving to know where exactly your fish came from. Fishing for your own food means you know exactly what body of water your dinner came from. This is particularly important in today’s society because locally caught fish is crucial to the farm-to-table lifestyle, which is very popular. Catching your own fish also guarantees that your food is going to taste great! While you can’t always know what food is ingested by the fish that is bred for commercial sale, you can easily find out what food is being eaten by the fresh fish you catch yourself. Learn about the local area you fish in to discover what types of smaller fish are being caught and digested by the very fish you’re hunting. Even better, you can physically see what your fish has eaten that day when you butcher it before cooking. You really can’t get a more straight-forward answer than that!
While there are many other interesting reasons to fish every week, these are some of the most persuasive reasons to grab your fishing pole and stroll down to your local fishing area. Please, remember to inform yourself of the fishing and hunting laws in the area you live in, and remember to apply for a fishing license, if it’s required.

One of the best and most effective ways to promote sustainability is to hunt for your own food. Instead of being reliant on commercial sales for fresh food, you can provide for yourself and your family, as well as boost the earth’s eco-system. By choosing to forego the grocery store, you’re one less customer that supports factories polluting the air and creating massive amounts of waste, as well as farms that breed and butcher animals at alarming rates. When you hunt, you’re only “taking” what you need from nature, as opposed to over-purchasing from a store. It’s also important to hunt locally to avoid burning fossil-fuels in long distance travel. Starting local hunting (if it’s available to you) is a great way to boost the natural eco-system. Consider what animal overpopulation may take place in your area. If your area happens to be overpopulated with deer, then deer would be an obvious answer as to what to start hunting.
If you’re hesitant or not interested in hunting with a gun, consider taking up fly-fishing as a way to catch your own food. Fly-fishing can be performed in almost any body of water, and there are many types of fish you can catch, from trout, to bass, to panfish. If you live near an ocean, you can even go fly-fishing for saltwater fish.
Part of self-sufficiency is living minimally. While all the latest-hunting gear may seem exciting, remember that the gear is only material items. Only purchase what you need to hunt, and, even better, try to purchase your gear from small businesses to support your local area.

Hunting Isn’t Really Your Thing?

Okay, maybe you’re not interested in hunting at all; or, you’d like to live a fully self-sufficient lifestyle, and you don’t want to purchase commercial hunting gear. Have you ever considered building your own farm? To live off your own land, you could have a farm with livestock and your own garden. Start small: raising chickens and other low-maintenance livestock is a good way to break into farming, especially if you don’t own enough acres to humanely raise cattle and larger livestock. You can also consider planting a self-sufficient garden. Do some research on the area you live in and what type of soil is on your property. From there, you can begin to plan a garden that will cover all of your needs for fruits, vegetables and even herbs. Consider the type of weather your garden will endure, and plant vegetables that will be in season. You’ll never go hungry when you have fresh food growing right outside your door!
While hunting and growing your own food is a major part of living self-sufficiently, “living off the grid” requires some more work than may have been required 100 years ago. We are surrounded by technology, advancements and power sources that weren’t even fathomed in the past. Being self-sufficient doesn’t mean you can never use the internet, but how will you power your home and technology? How will you use gas or electricity to cook your food? There are actually a handful of options that allow you to power your home without having to pay a single bill. If you live near running water, you can use hydro electricity to power your home. Through a system of running water flowing into a turbine, you can harness consistent power. Another source of power is a little more common: wind power. You can check the average wind speed and frequency of your location, and if they’re sufficient, you can install a wind turbine to harness energy for your home in greater quantities. However, the most appealing source of sustainable energy is solar power. Although it requires an investment, installing solar panels around your home is the most efficient and powerful way to run electricity through your home. Installing solar panels in a well-lit location, without any blockage from the sun, will eventually procure return on your investment. Don’t think you are only limited to one source of energy, though! Find a combination of these sources that would work best for you. While one person may only need to use running water to power their home, another may use a combination of wind and solar power for a busier, self-sufficient lifestyle.
Hopefully this information has provided you with enough information to take the first steps towards living self-sufficiently. Remember, a sustainable lifestyle does not mean you have to leave behind everything you own and become disconnected from the world. In fact, many people who live self-sufficiently believe this lifestyle has created a greater sense of community among themselves. What do you have to lose? Become self-sufficient, and your life may become easier than you once thought.

The homestead movement historically dates back to the United States Homestead Acts, particularly the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Acts were a set of federal laws that allowed United States citizens to own acres of land for a cheap cost (or not cost at all), so long as the owners worked for their own land. This included farming, building property, making their own textiles and sources of water.
These federal laws were initially proposed when Republicans of the United States expressed desire to own their own land before the Civil War. At that time, Democrats opposed the idea because they would have greater opportunity to sell land to slave-owners. After the Civil War had ended, the idea was proposed again, and the Northern parts of the United States were granted the right to purchase their own land. Since the South had succeeded from the United States, the Republicans passed the Homestead Act of 1862, which attracted many others, besides wealthy land owners, into purchasing farm land.
The Homestead Act of 1862 also eliminated the use of slaves, since the land owners were required to do all of their own work. In fact, black people and other minorities were highly encouraged to take part in purchasing land under the Homestead Act. Women and immigrants that were United States citizens were also encouraged to purchase land. Even people outside of the United States became eager to become citizens so they could own their own property. The most important condition for these Homestead Acts was that the applicant could not have ever taken up arms against the United States. Additional acts were added, once the movement became more popular. The Enlarged Homestead Act was placed to double the amount of acreage given from 160 acres of land to 320 acres. Less than ten years later, the Stock-Raising Homestead Act was put in place to double the acreage again to 640 acres of land, in consideration of raising livestock.
There were many things homesteaders had to keep up in order to maintain the rights to their property. A homesteader had to be either 21 years of age or the head of their household. The homesteader had to build their own home, oversee any improvements or modifications, and they also had to maintain a farm for at least five years.
While the Homestead Acts stayed in place for a very long time, they ended in 1976 (1986 in Alaska). That’s over 100 years!
Today, the homestead movement has very little to do with rights to owning land, but has everything to do with sustainability and maintaining the way of life with little to no help from outside sources. Homesteading can also be called “living off the grid”. Homesteaders today are devoted to building and providing for their selves on their own accord, which is very similar to how homesteaders had to live during the mid-1800s. The modern homesteader will build their own home, maintain it, and provide their own sources of energy and food. Being a part of the homestead movement does not mean one lives without electricity or other modern features. Homesteaders create electricity for their homes through man-made sources, like water and wind power. Growing and harvesting their own food is another way homesteaders sustain their own lives. This can also include having their own farm of livestock for butchering meat or producing dairy and eggs.
It may seem like homesteading would be very difficult to maintain financially and to make a profit during, but, in the modern age, homesteaders are not limited to solely farming or selling textiles. With self-made electricity and power, modern homesteaders can work from home by selling their own business online or working remotely/telecommuting.
If you’re interested in becoming a homesteader, or “living off the grid”, there are many websites with helpful tips to get you started on creating a self-sustaining lifestyle. You do not have to change your entire life, however, to become a part of this movement. Start making small changes at home, such as limiting how much electricity you use with the television and other electronics. You can also plant your own garden and provide yourself with food you’ve grown yourself. Consider taking up canning as a hobby, and store all of your fresh food, so it lasts through colder months. There are many ways to start transitioning into the homestead movement, but thinking about what material items in your everyday life you can cut back on is a great first step.

If you’re new to self-harvesting your own food, here are a few tips for starting your own garden:
Add compost to your soil up to three weeks before you actually start planting. This gives the compost time to mix in thoroughly with the soil.
Train your plants to grow vertically instead of horizontally. If you’re growing vegetables on a vine, tie the vines on a trellis or small pole so they grow up instead of sideways.
You can naturally repel bugs and critters by growing other plants that they don’t like. Garlic and onions naturally drive away pests.
Take the time to read about the area you live in and what type of soil is in your garden. Certain plants do better than others in any location, so choose which fruits and vegetables will grow the best in your backyard.

We hope these recipes inspire you to start cooking or, even better, to start growing your own food!
Going Green With This Green Smoothie
This green smoothie recipe is very versatile and is as simple as can be! You get the option of what types of fruit and green-leaf vegetables to use (for instance, whatever you happen to be growing in your backyard). The important part is to not get carried away with the veggies, so the smoothie keeps a green color to it. Apples, oranges and pears happen to taste very good with leafy vegetables in smoothies; and don’t limit yourself to just lettuce! Other green veggies like spinach, kale, chard and dandelion greens would be great sources of nutrition in this smoothie recipe!

Fighting The Cold Weather With A Winter Squash Bowl
Do you love squash? Squash are so easy to plant and maintain, and there are so many varieties, that mixing them together in a recipe like this one is the perfect way to utilize all of your favorites! Even the bowl is made from a hollowed-out butternut squash. A combination like zucchini, yellow squash, acorn squash, eggplant and pumpkin would taste delicious! Don’t forget to use any fresh herbs you’re growing, too.
Homemade Tomato Sauce That Goes On Anything
What do you do with all of those tomatoes hanging from the vines in your backyard? If you’re tired of just slicing them for salads, try making your own tomato sauce! Tomatoes are so flavorful and juicy, and a handful of large tomatoes can make enough sauce to last for several meals. This recipe is so versatile, too, that you could always add an additional item you might be growing in your garden. Did you grow any red peppers this summer? Cook them in the sauce! Did you harvest your own garlic? Flavor your homemade tomato sauce with it! Use your new homemade tomato sauce on pasta, pizza or ladle it over freshly baked chicken.
Creamy and Flavorful Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna
This lasagna recipe is mouth-watering! There are so many delicious foods you can grow and harvest yourself for this recipe: spinach, artichokes, tomatoes, onions, garlic and basil! Something large, like this pan of lasagna, is a great idea for using big portions of the food you’ve grown and is even more perfect for sharing with friends! Peppery spinach, juicy tomatoes and tangy artichokes make such a delicious combination for this pasta masterpiece.
Classic Rhubarb Pie For Celebrating Summertime
This rhubarb pie recipe is about as classic as it gets! If you’ve never had rhubarb before, rhubarb is a leafy, red stalk that has a surprisingly sweet flavor. Rhubarb is very often used in pies, and it tastes even better when it’s combined with strawberries or other sweet berries. This recipe even explains how to make your own pie crust with a few simple ingredients! Don’t be afraid to experiment and invent your own rhubarb-combinations for this easy pie filling.
We hope these five recipes have given you enough inspiration for what to do with all of your harvested fruits and vegetables. Of course, don’t limit yourself to only these options. There are plenty of amazing recipes out there that you can use your home-grown food in.

One of the most obvious reasons to grow your own vegetables is the money it will save you. Why pay for a dollar per pound of potatoes when planting an entire plant costs a fraction of that price? While there is some financial investment, like purchasing materials to build plant boxes and tools, there is also investment of time. Even though it takes more time to grow and harvest your own vegetables, this type of sustainability eventually pays for itself. If you don’t have the space for a garden, don’t worry! Many neighborhoods now offer “community gardens”, which are local areas where patrons rent a plot of land for the food they grow. Check to see if any neighborhoods around you offer this.
Another reason it is wise to grow your own vegetables is that you have the security in knowing what types (if any) chemicals are on your produce and what types of conditions they’ve been through. Many produce items we purchase at the grocery store have been treated with chemicals to avoid damages from pests, and this has recently sparked concern with many consumers. Eating food you’ve grown and produced yourself ensures that you’re only eating what you want to eat. You would have the comfort of knowing exactly how you’re feeding your family and friends.
Vegetables from your own garden tend to taste better, plus they’re much safer and healthier for you. When you’re purchasing vegetables from a grocery store, or even a produce stand, it’s likely your choices are a little limited. Sometimes, even the freshest looking item on the shelf seems like it’s beginning to wilt. The freshest vegetable you could possibly eat is one picked from your very own garden. That’s about as literal as “farm-to-table” as you can get! Cucumbers will be crispier, carrots will be crunchier, and squash – firmer. Surprisingly, vegetables from your own garden are healthier for you, as well. Studies have shown that produce grown at home has more vitamins and nutrients than veggies grown on farms that use synthetic pesticides. In fact, the activity of gardening will make your body healthier, too! Gardening requires a lot of moving, like standing or kneeling, and muscle power, like lifting heavy soil and digging into the ground. You’d be surprised to know that you can break a sweat while potting your zucchini plant!

Since you only need to pick food from a garden when you need it, growing your own vegetables reduces waste. Instead of throwing out unused food items every week before shopping for more, you can save space in that garbage can by only using what you need. As soon as fresh vegetables are harvested, they begin to go bad because they are no longer connected to their source of food and water. This means any vegetable is going bad while it’s cleaned, shipped away, packaged and delivered to grocery stores. When you pick a vegetable from your own garden, there’s no chance of having to throw it away! If you’re concerned that growing your own food may actually leave you with too much (perhaps you’re only growing food for yourself), don’t worry. Donating your extra produce would be a great way to share your harvest. You could consider taking up baking as a hobby and use your fresh vegetables to create delicious dishes to share with guests. As long as the vegetables are shared and enjoyed, you don’t have to worry about waste.
While waste is one component of sustainability, growing your own vegetables is an excellent way to live a sustainable life and improve the earth. Many big farms meant to produce large amounts of produce end up polluting the air with the many chemicals they use, and they take up a lot of the planet’s energy supply, too. By building your own garden, you’re reducing the amount of pollutants in the air and you wouldn’t be using any man-made energy resources. With your own soil and elbow grease, you would be helping to save the environment.
If you’ve never considered growing your own garden, hopefully these reasons will have changed your mind. Check your neighborhood for local community gardens, and talk to friends and family to see if anyone has tips to help you get started. There are many online forums available, as well, to share with others your new love of gardening!