I recently published a Podcast through Henry Mayo's It's Your Health Radio talking about how gardening has many benefits. Listen in today and check out a few benefits below:
- Great exercise.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables because they taste better from the garden.
- Higher in nutrients than the ones that have traveled from far away to get to the grocery store.
- Homegrown produce is rich in phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A and folate.
- Opportunity to reduce the amount of pesticides that you use in your garden.
- Get Vitamin D from the sun. Wear sunscreen!
- Good for the planet: less food travel reduces carbon footprint, and composting can help heal our soil.
- Good for mental health: can be a place of meditation and a place to share with the family.
- Growing food at home is a great way to save money.
- Having your children assist you in the garden can increase the chance that they will eat more of the fruits and vegetables they have helped to grow.
- Gardening gives you’re a real sense of appreciation when you can see the bounty of your efforts.
- Gardening may stimulate many new interests, such as botany, landscape architecture, photography, nutrition, and farmer’s markets.
- Gardening gives you the opportunity to give back. If you have an abundant garden, you might give some of your produce to the local soup kitchen or food bank, or share with friends.
Gardening has many benefits for children, too! Check these out:
- Experience of farm to table.
- Great exercise, and less screen time.
- Awesome family time.
- More willing to eat the healthy stuff if they were a part of the process of making it. Let your child decide what they want to plant this season, maybe their favorite vegetable.
- It's educational!
- 3 to 4 vine-ripe tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices
- 20 to 25 fresh basil leaves
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Coarse salt and pepper
- Layer tomato slices, mozzarella slices, and basil leaves on a platter
- Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.