Want to Know What's In Your Food? Grow It Yourself!

While, as we have shown, eating organically does not have to break the budget, there are times when it can get expensive, especially if you don't have access to a good local farm market or CSA. So why not grow your own? Image via WikipediaGrowing some of your own food is not only helpful for the environment, but it also provides many other great benefits, such as healthy and delicious produce for the dinner table, an increased sense of connection to the environment and your impact upon it, and the fulfillment and satisfaction of knowing you are providing for yourself and your family. Heck, it's even a great form of exercise!

We cover this topic in detail on our sister Sustainable Gardening blog, but it is also very relevant here. One of the best ways to know what is in your food is to grow it yourself. Whether or not you choose to grow organically (and we hope that you do!!), you will know what inputs were used in growing the food, how fresh it is, and of course, where it came from! You won't have to wonder if the labels are telling the truth, or what chemicals your organically grown food may have been exposed to during transport and delivery. You will not only save money on groceries, but also save on fuel costs and reduce the toxic load of the planet as a whole, by eating food that has not been transported for hundreds (or even thousands) of miles before it reaches your table. In fact, the only transport involved will be done by your two legs!

Why not try growing a garden this year, and see how rewarding (and healthy) it can be? For articles, tips and resources on starting your own garden, including choosing and preparing a garden spot, gardening in small spaces, making your own compost (organic fertilizer!) and much more, visit our Sustainable Gardening blog at http://nhlsustainablegardening.blogspot.com/.