Cottage House Gardenista

 

My summer garden is blooming with tomatoes.  🍅 The garden includes a small variety of cherry, heirloom and celebrity tomatoes, and I use them for an assortment of recipes, like making salads, bruschetta, canned pasta sauce, and sharing with family and friends.  

Rewards of Gardening 🌻

Growing a garden is a very rewarding hobby.  It is a process of connecting with the earth and appreciating the beauty and harmony of nature.  It helps develop valuable skills in the art of planting, nurturing and harvesting fruits and vegetables.  And watching the seedlings grow and flower into nature's food is delightful. 

Gardening to Help the Environment 🌎

Gardening also helps the environment.  Plants help clean the air through the process of photosynthesis.  They absorb carbon dioxide and other air pollutants and release oxygen and natural fragrance into the air.  Gardens also create a haven for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, which are essential for plants to produce fruits and vegetables.  

Health Benefits of Gardening 💓

And then there are the health benefits of gardening.  Fruits and vegetables are healthy food sources.  They are filled with antioxidants, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.  Gardening is an outdoor activity that keeps us active and exposes us to sunlight, which our bodies need to make Vitamin D to strengthen our bones and immune system. 

Gardening to Combat Climate Change 🌞

Gardening can also empower us to combat climate change.  We can use manual or electric powered gardening tools instead of gas powered.  We can conserve water by using drip irrigation and rain barrels.  We can create composts using yard and food scraps to reduce waste, decrease methane production, and help fertilize our gardens.

It's Easy to Grow a Garden

You don't have to be a farmer to plant a garden.  Gardens can be planted in a backyard, on a patio or balcony.  There are also community gardens!  Plant a garden!  🌻🍅🥕