Why Raising a Garden is in Your Best Interest. And Your Community's too...

By AFM Contributing writer Cheryl Conklin

Starting your own garden can be a truly rewarding experience in many ways than one. The benefits are varied and plenty, and encompass almost every aspect of your life and household. It also opens up opportunities in which you can help those most vulnerable within your community, too. Let’s break down the specifics.
 
Benefits You Enjoy
 
Raising your own garden is truly a great way to enrich your household and improve your family’s quality of life. The health benefits of such a green space alone are impressive, while its offerings to your overall wellness can’t be beaten.

• There’s no denying that the holistic benefits of gardening are more than worth the effort, running the gamut from lowering your risk of diseases to improving your mental health.
• It’s also a wonderful activity that the whole family will enjoy.
• As a bonus, when you grow your own food, you do your bit for the environment.

 
Beyond Your Backyard
 
The benefits of raising a garden are varied and plenty for you and your household. But it doesn’t end there. In fact, there’s more than one way for your garden to serve your community, too.

• Sharing the harvest is not only a great way to ensure that your vegetables are not wasted; you help the most vulnerable in your community, too.
• For instance, your local food bank, soup kitchen, and more are always on the lookout for fresh produce as donations.
• It’s an excellent way to help alleviate food shortages in the community.
• Doing your part to feed the hungry can also teach your kids civic responsibility and encourage them to do the same.
• You can also sell your harvest at Amherst Farmer’s Market!

 
Building Your Garden
 
It may come as a surprise that creating a home garden is not quite the tall order that it seems like at first glance. However, it still helps to know the specifics — literally from the ground up — to ensure that this space is as productive as it is pleasing to the eye.

• There’s much to learn as you start a garden, so it’s important to take some time to learn about the nitty-gritty of it.
• You might also want to focus on the specifics of growing a vegetable garden.
• It helps to know how you can keep costs low and maybe even free.
• If you want a garden and all of its benefits but feel like you could use professional assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. For example, if you need to clear out a tree to make room for your garden, a tree removal service can simplify this task. Just make sure you do a little research before you hire someone.

 
Suffice it to say, a garden is more than just a pretty space to have at home; it can also sustain life and health within your household and community. Indeed, growing your own garden can be a precious contribution to the world, so go ahead and make it yours, too.
 
Photo via Pexels.com
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