Smart Garden: Why You Should Have a Garden of Your Own
Humans have always been very creative in trying to survive. Come to think of it, in this world we are not really built to survive. We do not have the claws to defend ourselves, not enough body hair to protect ourselves from the elements. There was a time when we did have those, but we have outgrown all of it. Instead of having physical advantages, we have our brains and our opposable thumbs. We have also developed a sense of camaraderie and companionship. This became the foundation of our civilization and societal values. It may not be perfect, but we have all of these advantages thanks to our own innovations. We have molded this world with our own hands, and we are living with its effects until the end of our time.
One of the concepts that we have developed throughout the years is agriculture. For a time, we have been foragers and hunters looking for anything edible. Our ancestors have traveled to the ends of the earth just to find food, water and a safe place to live. However, living this life can be very tiring and they wanted to stay in a singular place. They decided that instead of looking for food, growing and cultivating it would be easier. Finding water sources became a priority because it is needed to make plants grow. This is one of the main reasons so many cities are close to rivers.
Growing plants is not very easy. Usually, the people who can grow them pretty well are said to have green thumbs. Most of the time, this is not the case. Doing this kind of activity needs so much time and care. Any kind of plant cannot grow overnight: it needs constant love and attention like any lover needs as well. However, instead of the usual perks you get from having a relationship, you get food and aesthetics. Isn’t that lovely? Granted, growing plants also needs a lot of space. This is ideal for them to grow larger and better. You also need to check the seasons of their growth and their non-productive times. There are also plants which are only endemic to certain areas, so you cannot grow it anywhere else.
Seeing all of this, you might think that having a plant box or garden is a handful, and it is full of hard work. However, having these plants in your backyard can actually help you. Why?
1. Fresh produce is always better.
If you are growing fruits and vegetables in your backyard, it is actually so much healthier than the ones in the supermarket. You can even grow it as organic as you want. There are even options for you to avoid using pesticides so that it will not affect your produce. Also, you are obligated to use it since it would be a waste if you do not consume it. It increases your creativity as you think of ways on how to maximize the potential of your garden. This, in turn, leads you to a healthier and better lifestyle. Keeping this up with a balanced diet will surely make you feel better about yourself.
2. You can use these plants anytime.
It is not just fruits and vegetables that you can grow in your backyard. Growing herbs like basil and sage are really on the rage these days. These herbs improve the taste of your cooking while providing a lot of appetizing aromas. Using fresh herbs is also better since its flavor has not been degraded by time and age. Imagine having these fresh herbs in your backyard. You do not even need to buy a bunch and just use a teaspoon of it. Instead, you can pick a few and let it grow again. Having these plants nearer to you will be so much convenient for your culinary adventures. Learn more about cooking with herbs.
3. It saves you a lot of money.
As previously stated, why buy a whole bunch of fruits, vegetables and herbs when you will only use a handful of it? Everything else would go to waste and that is not an economical way to live. Having a garden in your backyard is actually a garden full of savings as well. You do not need to go to the market to buy a lot of stuff when you can just pick it in your backyard. Also, you can even start selling some of them if you have a lot of extras. You can even make pickles or jams from leftover fruits and vegetables. There is so many possibilities if you have a garden right there at the tips of your fingers.
Sadly, not all of us have the luxury of having a backyard. Some of us might be living in apartments or high rises which can be difficult places to grow plants. Fortunately, technology has given us a way to cultivate our own plants without the land. Smart gardens are little gardens in which you can grow small plants like herbs and vegetables. The great thing about them is they are so compact you can keep them at your kitchen counter. They can also hold a number of plants, so you can choose the seeds that you want to grow. There are also models which offer artificial lighting system for places with little sunlight. Some even have a basic kit which has seeds that you can already grow right after purchase. If you are interested, there is even an Official Top 5 Review of the best smart gardens on the net.
It may take a lot of effort, but having a garden of your own will make cooking an easier task for you. You also have another source of food especially if you lack the ingredients or time to buy them at the store. Knowing that you have these plants gives you a sense of security that everything will be fine while you are cooking.
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