Recently, the “going green” trend seems to have flourished across the country and over the globe. Among the most common ways that people may participate in a more environmental friendly lifestyle – recycling, driving hybrid cars, saving more water, etc. – one major way to make sure you’re not out of the green loop, is to grow your own crops. In 2009, the GWA – Garden Writer’s Association Foundation – reported the statistics that more than 38 percent of U.S. families planted vegetable gardens in the same year, with 18 percent of households growing herbs and 15 percent growing fruit.
Despite its growing popularity as a fad, going green has a number of other advantages that you can benefit from as well. By growing your own garden and cutting back on harsh pesticides that could otherwise lend a helping hand in destroying the earth, having your own organic crops will help out not only Mother Nature, but you and your family as well.
One major benefit of growing your own garden, is that it can easily save you money. According to the 2009 survey by GWA, that was the most common cause behind the majority of garden growers. Other benefits include: your own vegetables usually taste better and are typically more healthy (typically thanks in particular to the lack of pesticides), you know exactly what is going into your mouth and on your family’s dinner plates, and with a garden full of crops you are likely to consume more vegetables and fruits. On top of that, gardening can play beneficial roles in both your mental and physical health; many avid gardeners claim that the gardening itself is a stress reliever, and according to a 2010 article on planetgreen.com, 45 minutes worth of gardening can even help you lose as many calories as 30 minutes of aerobic exercises.
If none of these reasons have convinced you yet to switch to organic gardening, maybe you should look at what is actually in the majority of produce that you purchase from the grocery store. Nearly all non-organic crops in the United Sates are sprayed with harsh chemicals that may aid in the destruction of the environment. Other problems with today’s crops is that most are being genetically modified or engineered. Numerous studies, including a 2008 experiment by the Austrian government, discovered that animals such as mice who were fed genetically modified corn, were negatively impacted with health problems such as increased sterility. This is an idea to take into concept as mice and humans share similar genes. Also, in 2010, an experiment by the Organic Consumers Association states: “genetically modified soy linked to sterility, and infant mortality, in hamsters.” The website, Mothers for Natural Law, listed some genetically engineered crops as: corn, cotton, papaya, squash, soybeans, tomatoes and potatoes.
Pest Tip: Keeping it Green
If you do start a garden, one way to keep your crops healthy and organic is to provide nature friendly protection from pests. But without sprays and chemicals, how do you go about doing this? One green alternative to pesticides is to use other insects in order to control the population of predators who would otherwise make a meal out of your veggies, herbs and fruits. These are refereed to as “beneficial insects.”
In order to find out which beneficial insects will help keep your garden safe, you must first pin-point the culprit bugs that are munching on your garden. The second that the threats are discovered, you will need to find out what beneficial insects will go about destroying said pests. For example, if aphids are destroying your rose leaves, toss in a few ladybugs. If you cannot or simply do not want to hunt around for ladybugs, you’re in luck; beneficial insects of all kinds are sold commercially, over the internet and even in some stores. To name a handful, ladybugs, spiders and mealybug destroyers can be found on the net.
If you do decide to engage in organic gardening yourself, congratulations! You’re about to save money, and by the time your crops are ripe, you’ll feel the well deserved rewards of a fruitful season at your hands and soon on your plate.
Photo Credits
Images From – The Microsoft Office Clip Art Collection
Guest Author Bio
Erin Marty
I’ve been writing since I could first scribble misspelled words on paper. At age eleven, I wrote my first novel, at age 18 I dove into the world of freelance writing, and at age 19 I self-published one of my many books. Typically my stories revolve around animals and environment, and freelance-wise I vigorously create quality health and nutrition content for various websites including Livestrong.com
Blog / Website: Erin Marty
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