Another spring planting season is here. Warm temperatures and sunny days again signal it’s time to plant the annual vegetable garden. Raising luscious, fresh, homegrown vegetables is a favorite pastime and a traditional way of life for many people. But for others, having a vegetable garden or home orchard is not a priority or even a possibility. But the pending question remains: Do I have a garden or not?
Gardening is a top national hobby, but the reasons for doing so do vary. Why have a garden? Let’s first start with the benefits.
kAmxE :D 2 7@C> @7 C64C62E:@?[ AC@G:56D 8C62E A9JD:42= 6I6C4:D6[ 2?5 J@F 42? A2CE:4:A2E6 C682C5=6DD @7 J@FC 286 @C 324<8C@F?5] v2C56?:?8 6?4@FC286D 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 26C@3:4 6I6C4:D6[ DEC6?8E9 EC2:?:?8 2?5 7=6I:3:=:EJ] (:E9 2== E96 H2=<:?8[ AF==:?8[ 9@6:?8[ 5:88:?8[ A=2?E:?8[ DBF2EE:?8[ =:7E:?8 2?5 36?5:?8 @G6C[ @?6 H:== 86E 2 C62= H@C<@FE :? E96 82C56?] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@?[ @?6 42? 3FC? 23@FE bb_ 42=@C:6D 5@:?8 @?6 9@FC @7 =:89E 82C56?:?8 2?5 J2C5 H@C<]k^Am
kAmv2C56?:?8 :D E96C2A6FE:4j E96 DF?D9:?6[ 4=62? 2:C 2?5 8C@H:?8 A=2?ED 255 E@ J@FC >6?E2= H6==\36:?8] |@DE 962=E9 6IA6CED 28C66 E92E 86EE:?8 @FE5@@CD :D 8@@5 7@C J@FC >6?E2= 962=E9 2D H6== 2D J@FC A9JD:42= 962=E9] $EF5:6D D9@H E92E 82C56?:?8 2?5 DA6?5:?8 E:>6 @FE5@@CD 92G6 366? D9@H? E@ C65F46 DEC6DD[ 56AC6DD:@? 2?5 2?I:6EJ DJ>AE@>D[ 2D H6== 2D =@H6C 962CE C2E6 2?5 >FD4=6 E6?D:@?] tIA@DFC6 E@ DF?=:89E =@H6CD 3=@@5 AC6DDFC6 2?5 :?4C62D6D G:E2>:? s =6G6=D[ 2 G:E2= 4@>A@?6?E 7@C G2C:@FD 2DA64ED @7 962=E9 2?5 H6==\36:?8]k^Am
kAmp 9@>6 82C56? AC@G:56D 7C6D9 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D] vC@H:?8 2?5 62E:?8 J@FC @H? 9@>68C@H? 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D 6?4@FC286D 962=E9J 62E:?8 923:ED[ H9:49 DFAA@CED 2 >@C6 32=2?465 2?5 ?FEC:E:@FD 5:6E] p a_`e C6D62C49 DEF5J 7C@> E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 u=@C:52 x?DE:EFE6 @7 u@@5 2?5 p8C:4F=EFC2= $4:6?46D DE2E65 E92E 82C56?:?8 >2J =625 E@ 2 =2DE:?8 923:E @7 62E:?8 >@C6 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D] !=FD[ E9@D6 7C6D9 7CF:ED 2?5 G688:6D[ DF>>6C 56DD6CED 2?5 42??65 8@@5D E9C@F89@FE E96 H:?E6C 2C6 >:89EJ 7:?6 62E:?8]k^Am
kAmw2G:?8 2 9@>6 82C56? 2=D@ 92D :ED C6H2C5D[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE] %96 3@F?E:7F= 92CG6DE :D 2? @3G:@FD C6H2C5 2D :E 42? C62A 2? 23F?52?46 @7 AC@5F46] ~G6C2==[ E96 C6DF=ED AC@G:56 2 D6?D6 @7 244@>A=:D9>6?E 2?5 D2E:D724E:@?] v2C56?6CD 2?5 72C>6CD 7246 7CFDEC2E:@?D 2?5 72:=FC6D 3FE =62C? 7C@> E96:C >:DE2<6D 2?5 @G6C E:>6 82:? 4@?7:56?46 2?5 6IA6C:6?46] |@DE 82C56?6CD 2C6 ;FDE A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE 8C@H:?8 2?5 5@?’E >:?5 D92C:?8 H:E9 @E96CD] %96J DEC:G6 E@ 4@??64E H:E9 @E96CD H9@ D92C6 E96 D2>6 A2DD:@?]k^Am
kAm}2EFC2==J[ E96C6 2C6 2=D@ D@>6 C62D@?D ?@E E@ 92G6 2 82C56?ik^Am
kAm~?6 H@F=5 2DDF>6 E92E J@F 42? D2G6 >@?6J 3J C2:D:?8 2?5 8C@H:?8 J@FC @H? 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D] %92E :D C62==J ?@E ECF6] w2G:?8 2 9@>6 82C56? 5@6D 92G6 E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ C65F46 E96 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J DA6?E @? 8C@46C:6D] qFE E9:D A@E6?E:2= 56A6?5D 962G:=J @? E96 :?4FCC65 4@DED 2?5 6IA6?D6D] %92E =:DE >:89E :?4=F56 2 EC24E@C[ A=@H[ E:==6C[ 9@6[ D@:=[ >F=49[ 4@>A@DE[ 76CE:=:K6C[ DAC2J6C[ :?D64E:4:56[ 7F?8:4:56[ 96C3:4:56[ 76?4:?8[ 4286D[ DE2<6D[ H@@56? 365D[ 4@?E2:?6CD 2?5 >@C6] !C@5F46 :D D@ H:56=J 2G2:=23=6 E92E :E :D =:<6=J 4962A6C 2?5 >@C6 4@?G6?:6?E E@ 3FJ :E[ 6DA64:2==J 2E E96 =@H BF2?E:E:6D H6 ?665 2D H6 42? @?=J 4@?DF>6 D@ >F49]k^Am
kAm%:>6 :D 2 3:8 724E@C 7@C DF446DD @C 72:=FC6 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ >2?28:?8 2 82C56?] p 82C56?6C >FDE 565:42E6 E:>6 E@ A=2?E[ E:>6 E@ D@H[ E:>6 E@ H665[ E:>6 E@ D4@FE[ E:>6 E@ 92CG6DE 2?5 E:>6 E@ >2?286] !6@A=6 2C6 D@ 3FDJ[ 2?5 2 9@>6 @C492C5 @C G686E23=6 82C56? @7E6? 86ED ?68=64E65 H96? :E :D ?@E 2 AC:@C:EJ @C G6CJ :>A@CE2?E]k^Am
kAm{6E’D 36 9@?6DE] v2C56?6CD H:== 7246 7CFDEC2E:@?D 2?5 72:=FC6D] $@>6E:>6D x H@?56C 9@H H6 2C6 6G6? 23=6 E@ DFCG:G6 H96? D@ >2?J E9:?8D =@G6 E@ 62E 2?5 2EE24< E96 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D H6 ECJ E@ 8C@H] v2C56?:?8 :D G6CJ >F49 23@FE @G6C4@>:?8 E96 492==6?86D E92E H6 7246[ =:<6 7C66K:?8 H62E96C[ H:?5 2?5 DE@C>D[ 3F8D 2?5 5:D62D6D[ 962E 2?5 5C@F89E 2?5 6G6CJ 4C:EE6C E92E 62ED E96 AC@5F46 367@C6 H6 5@] p== E92E H@C< 2?5 677@CE H2DE65 F?E:= E96 6?5 E@ 36 62E6? 3J 566C[ 42E6CA:==2CD[ DBF:CC6=D[ C233:ED[ C244@@?D 2?5 4C@HD]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F 564:56 E@ 92G6 2 82C56? @C ?@E[ 4@?D:56C H92E =6G6= @7 A2CE:4:A2E:@? J@F H:== 4@>>:E E@] w6C6 2C6 D@>6 6I2>A=6Dik^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{6G6= _k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp A6CD@? H9@ 92D ?@ G686E23=6 82C56? @C 56D:C6 E@ 92G6 @?6[ @C F?23=6 E@ 92G6 @?6 5F6 E@ DA246[ 23:=:EJ[ 4@DED 2?5 E:>6[ 3FE 6?;@JD =@42==J 8C@H? AC@5F46] p A6CD@? H9@ C6=:6D 4@>A=6E6=J @? 2== AC@5F46 36:?8 8C@H? 3J @E96CD 2?5 >2<6D 2== AFC492D6D 7C@> 8C@46CJ DE@C6D 2?5 72C>6CD’ >2C<6ED] %96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 A@AF=2E:@? 5@6D ?@E 92G6 2 9@>6 82C56?] u2C>6CD 7665 p>6C:42 2?5 E96 H@C=5] (9J 8C@H :E H96? @?6 42? 3FJ :Enk^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{6G6= `k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp A6CD@? H:E9 D=:89E :?E6C6DE :? 8C@H:?8 7C6D9 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D] !2CE:4:A2E:@? >:89E 36 D>2== 2?5 D:>A=6[ 8C@H:?8 2 76H A=2?ED :? 4@?E2:?6CD @? E96 A2E:@ @C :? 2 D>2==[ C2:D65 365] p A6CD@? H9@D6 762EFC65 AC@5F46 @7 49@:46 >:89E 36 =:>:E65 E@ 2 72G@C:E6 G688:6 @C 7CF:E E@ 4@>A=6>6?E 2? @442D:@?2= >62=] p=D@[ D@>6@?6 H9@D6 324<J2C5 3=F636CCJ 3FD9 2?5^@C E@>2E@6D :? 2 4@?E2:?6C H@F=5 DF77:46 7@C E96 :?E6C6DE[ 3FE E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 AC@5F46 :D DE:== AFC492D65 7C@> C6E2:= @FE=6ED]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{6G6= a k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp A6CD@? H9@ 92D 2 DEC@?8 :?E6C6DE :? 82C56?:?8 2D 2 9@33J 2?5 6?;@JD 8C@H:?8 2 G2C:6EJ @7 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D] %96J 92G6 2 D>2==[ 565:42E65 A=@E @7 E:==65 =2?5 @C >2?J C2:D65 365D] %96:C 8@2= :D E@ 92G6 D62D@?2= 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C] u@C E96>[ A:4<:?8 E96 82C56? D6G6C2= E:>6D 2 H66< E@ 36 2 762EFC65 >62= @C EC62E :D 9@H @?6 46=63C2E6D E96 92CG6DE] p?J 23F?52?46 :D 7C@K6? 2?5 AC6D6CG65 7@C 7FEFC6 ?665D] %96D6 82C56?6CD 2C6 FDF2==J 6IA6C:6?465 2?5 H6==\6BF:AA65 2?5 <?@H 9@H E@ FD6 :E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{6G6= b k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp A6CD@? H9@ :D G6CJ A2DD:@?2E6[ 6G6? @3D6DD65[ 23@FE 8C@H:?8 2?JE9:?8 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8] ~7E6? :D E96 =@42= 6IA6CE @C C6AFE23=6 72C>6C H9@ >:89E 92G6 2=D@ 366? 36DE@H65 H:E9 E96 E:E=6 “!2H!2H” @C “&?4=6]” s6DA:E6 2 72>:=J @7 EH@[ E96J 92G6 2 =2C86 82C56? 6249 J62C E@ 7665 >F=E:A=6 72>:=J 86?6C2E:@?D 2?5 E96 6?E:C6 4@>>F?:EJ] p A6CD@? H9@ =@G6D E96 EC24E@C 2?5 E96 =2?5] %9:D 82C56?6C =:<6=J 92D 2 3:8[ 8F2C565 7C66K6C 7F== @7 3=6DD65 3@F?EJ 7@C D276<66A:?8 2?5 D96=G6D @7 9@>6\42??65 8@@5D] p3F?52?46 :D E96 8@2=[ ;FDE :? 42D6[ H9:=6 2?J 6I46DD 92CG6DE 42? 36 D92C65 2?5 8:G6? 2H2J E@ 72>:=J[ ?6:893@CD[ 2?5 7C:6?5D]k^Am
kAmp?J @7 E9@D6 6I2>A=6D D@F?5 =:<6 J@F @C 56D4C:36 D@>6@?6 J@F <?@Hn v2C56?:?8 :D 2 H2J @7 =:76 2?5 ;FDE D@>6E9:?8 H6 5@ :? D@>6 42A24:EJ]k^Am
kAm$AC:?8 2?5 H2C>6C H62E96C 3C:?8 2?@E96C @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ A=2?E E96 82C56? @?6 >@C6 E:>6] yFDE 9@H H6== E96 82C56? @C @C492C5 5@6D 2?5 H92E 4C@A :E >:89E AC@G:56 E9:D J62C >2J 36 ;FDE 6?@F89 :?EC:8F6 E@ >@E:G2E6 FD E@ 8:G6 :E 2 ECJ] w2AAJ 82C56?:?8[ 2?5 >2J J@FC C6DF=ED 36 3@F?E:7F= 2?5 3=6DD65]k^Am
kAmu@C 96=A @? @E96C 9@>6 2?5 82C56? BF6DE:@?D[ 4@?E24E J@FC =@42= 4@F?EJ tIE6?D:@? @77:46 @C G:D:E FD @?=:?6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^246D]65FQm246D]65Fk^2m]k^Am
kAmk6>mOk^6>m k6>m$92?6 w2CC:D :D E96 r@F?EJ tIE6?D:@? s:C64E@C 7@C %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ]k^6>mk^Am
