importance of kitchen garden essay

Importance Of Kitchen Garden (Top10 Points)

It might inspire you to have a kitchen garden when you know the benefits of a kitchen garden in your house. Growing fruits, vegetables, herbs in your garden provides you with a satisfying feeling. It makes you a farmer and king of your field in your house.

In this article, we described the importance and benefits of a kitchen garden, and it provides you with a regular supply of fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits. The kitchen garden is an inexpensive and beneficial way to fulfill your cooking needs.

Let’s discuss the advantages of a kitchen garden!

All the below described advantages and importance are very simple to implement and learn. So read this guide from start to end.

Table of Contents

You Can Farm What you Want:

Every person has their taste and flavor of eating different vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Let’s suppose a person likes a type of X vegetable, but that X vegetable is available for a high price in the market, and the person cannot buy that X vegetable because of the high price rate. It solves that person’s problem if they grow X vegetable in its kitchen garden. 

On the other hand, if your nearest stores do not have your favorite vegetable, fruits, or herbs, you can farm what type of vegetable, fruits, or herbs you want.

You Know Your Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs Are Organic:

Who knows whether market food products are organically farmed or not. In our research, we found many farms are supplying vegetables, fruits, and herbs by farming them in an anti-organic way. Some farms use chemical fertilizers to grow seeds. We all know well eating inorganic food causes different diseases. 

So if you have your kitchen garden where you farm food with organic fertilizers, you know your vegetables, fruits, and herbs are 100% organic. Market shops also have collections of organic foods, but they cost more than regular food. Growing your organic food is best for your health and pocket. 

It Makes Your House More Greener:

Greenery makes us calm and fresh. Having green flowers, vegetables, and herbs in our garden provides multiple benefits. For example, a green environment is proven to provide a calm and satisfying feeling. It reduces stress and tiredness when we see fresh green surroundings. You can also grow flowers on the garden’s boundaries to provide a unique look to the garden. 

Farming green kitchen gardens are growing very fast in urban areas. You will easily find a lot of kitchen gardens in urban cities. It’s a great way to make the house greener.

It Provides A Feel Of Satisfaction:

We feel happy and satisfied by doing great and new things. It gives us a new experience and educational growth by exploring more farming opportunities. Becoming satisfied by doing work is not an easy job. Farming new and various vegetables and herbs will meet you with nature. Nature is a part of our life that introduces different feelings and vibes to humans. 

At the time of cultivation, you will become satisfied with the return of your efforts and time. Nobody wants to waste their time doing unworthy activities. Always remember that farming is a give & take work. It’s essential to pay your attention and focus on farming to get a better quantity of vegetables, fruits, and herbs in kitchen gardens.

Inexpensive Way To Make Your Meals:

Some types of vegetables cost us more than other regular season foods. Kitchen gardens provide us the opportunity to save our money by growing expensive vegetables, herbs, and fruits at home. It’s the best way to get a better return on investment. You will invest less money in farming at home, but it takes more effort and time. But in the end, it’s great to work for a high return to our time and efforts. 

Just imagine what it will feel like when you save your vegetables, fruits, and herbs bills daily with your kitchen garden. On the other hand, you can also sell vegetables, herbs, and fruits to others which you have extra cultivated. That’s the ultimate advantage of growing veggies at home, so why are we just thinking of starting a kitchen garden? Start soon as possible:)

Make You More Fit & Active:

You will become significantly fit and energetic by working on your kitchen garden farm. It burns more calories while doing farming work. A lazy person turns into an active person by just doing physical activities. Farming is a physical activity that takes action and burns extra daily required calories. 

If you are a person who is willing to put in the effort and ready to work in Sand, you are fit to have a kitchen garden. After working at your kitchen garden daily, you will notice that you are losing obesity and laziness. Kitchen vegetables will also prevent you from diseases.

Fresh Air Environment In Your House:

Fresh air is needed for each person. Who doesn’t like a new environment? The answer is everyone likes a fresh air environment. Plants are a source of oxygen and food. Leaves of plants filter air by reducing dust and unwanted particles. You have fresh surroundings when you have a lot of green plants near you. 

Garden is the best example of this matter. You may notice that gardens are excellent and calm places for jogging and spending time. This situation happened because gardens have a complete collection of green plants and beautiful flowers. Kitchen gardens also make you stay grounded by connecting you with mother earth.

Improves Knowledge About Farming:

Self-learning is the best way to improve our knowledge. You will become more educated about the agriculture field with kitchen gardening. Learn how to start your kitchen garden and start implementing different methods of harvesting veggies, flowers, herbs, and spices. A degree is not required for starting your kitchen garden. Start by following video tutorials or taking advice from the nearest kitchen garden owner. 

It encourages you to learn and implement more in other fields also. Don’t expect many results when it’s your first time. You become better at growing and maintaining a kitchen garden day by day. Start with proper knowledge of a green kitchen garden and save your money by avoiding veggies purchased from the market.

You Become Significantly Better

Health is essential for every human being. A healthy body gives you the confidence to try and do anything. A person becomes more fit, active, and significantly better when they start consuming healthy organic food. Nobody else wants to consume unhealthy food growing up on chemical fertilizers.

A kitchen garden is an excellent source to become significantly better. When you start eating your farm food, you will become able to say it confidently that you’re eating healthy food. A healthy body is the core of fitness. Don’t compromise to do work which gives you advantages like a kitchen garden. 

Recycle and Use Of Vegetables:

Did you know that you can recycle waste vegetables in the kitchen garden? Yes, you can!. As we described the top advantages of a kitchen garden in this article, it’s a unique and beneficial way to grow new veggies. Recycle old veggies by seeding them into kitchen garden land and farming to grow fresh vegetables. 

You can also use the waste of vegetables, herbs, and fruits in place of organic fertilizers. Just collect the waste of vegetables and throw them into the Sand. This waste provides power to Sand to grow new plants from seeds.

Final Thought!

A kitchen garden is a source of fresh air, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and a green environment. You can start your kitchen garden in a small or large area at our house. Just follow best practices for getting the best results.

We hope you like these top 10 importance of kitchen gardens. If you want additional information about it, feel free to ask us in the comment section.

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• Open access
• Published: 31 May 2013

Home gardens: a promising approach to enhance household food security and wellbeing

• Dilrukshi Hashini Galhena 1 ,
• Russell Freed 1 &
• Karim M Maredia 1  

Agriculture & Food Security volume  2 , Article number:  8 ( 2013 ) Cite this article

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With the global population expected to reach over 9 billion by 2050, there is a continuous need to increase food production and buffer stocks. In this scenario, countries around the world, especially developing countries where the pervasiveness of hunger and food scarcity is more acute, are resorting to various counter strategies to meet the growing demand and to avert food insecurity and famine. Over the recent years there has been growing interest to strengthen and intensify local food production in order to mitigate the adverse effect of global food shocks and food price volatilities. Consequently, there is much attention towards home gardens as a strategy to enhance household food security and nutrition. Home gardens are an integral part of local food systems and the agricultural landscape of developing countries all over the world and have endured the test of time.

Through a rigorous literature review, this paper first examines definitions and characteristics of home gardens and then provides a global review of their social, economic, and environmental contributions to communities in various socio-economic contexts. Many of the compositions on home gardens share research and experiences of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These studies recognize positive impacts of home gardens towards addressing food insecurity and malnutrition as well as providing additional benefits such as income and livelihood opportunities for resource-poor families and delivering a number of ecosystem services. However, only a handful of case studies were found on post-crisis settings. While providing a general overview of some of these studies, this review investigates the home garden experiences of post-conflict Sri Lanka, where home gardening has been practiced for centuries. While emphasizing multiple benefits, we also highlight constraints to home garden food production. In conclusion, we emphasize the need for more research and empirical data to appraise the role of home gardens in crisis and post-crisis situations, as well as assessing their economic value and their impacts on food security, nutrition, economic growth, and gender issues.

Introduction

The vast majority of hungry and malnourished people live in developing countries under sub-standard living conditions [ 1 ] and over half a billion of the global population suffer from chronic food insecurity a . With the global population expected to reach over 9 billion by 2050, there will be a continuous need to increase food production and buffer stocks to meet the growing demand and efficiently cope with volatilities in food production and prices. It has been projected that global food production will need to increase by 70% in order to meet the average daily caloric requirement of the world’s population in 2050 b . Moreover, the need for interventions are stressed as the resources available for food production - including land, water, labor and credit - are becoming scarce and costly. The drive for agricultural innovation is further convoluted by the growing issues of climate change and natural resource degradation.

Multiple strategies are required to address the issue of food production and food security c . The choice of feasible approaches hinges on the existing social, political, and economic conditions and resources available to design and implement the intervention. Home gardens are a time-tested local strategy that are widely adopted and practiced in various circumstances by local communities with limited resources and institutional support. It is evident from the literature that home gardens are a part of the agriculture and food production systems in many developing countries and are widely used as a remedy to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the face of a global food crisis [ 2 ].

Globally, home gardens have been documented as an important supplemental source contributing to food and nutritional security and livelihoods. 'Food production on small plots adjacent to human settlements is the oldest and most enduring form of cultivation' [ 3 ]. For centuries, home gardens have been an integral component of family farming and local food systems. Home gardening is an ancient and widespread practice all over the world. In the literature, home gardens are classified as mixed, kitchen, backyard, farmyard, compound or homestead garden [ 4 – 7 ].

This paper presents the developing country experiences of home gardens and looks at the specific case of post-conflict Sri Lanka d . An extensive literature search was conducted through the review of over 100 publications, reports, and book chapters, covering various aspects of home gardening to develop the theoretical framework. The inherent characteristics of home gardens as well as the contextual attributes, benefits, and constraints captured in the literature are summarized in the following sections.

About home gardens

Home gardens are found in both rural and urban areas in predominantly small-scale subsistence agricultural systems [ 8 ]. The very beginning of modern agriculture can be dated back to subsistence production systems that began in small garden plots around the household. These gardens have persistently endured the test of time and continue to play an important role in providing food and income for the family [ 9 ]. Since the early studies of home gardens in the 1930s by the Dutch scholars Osche and Terra on mixed gardens in Java, Indonesia [ 10 ], there has been extensive contributions to the subject synthesizing definitions, species inventories, functions, structural characteristics, composition, socio-economic, and cultural relevance. Home gardens are defined in multiple ways highlighting various aspects based on the context or emphasis and objectives of the research [ 11 ]. Gupta pointed out that the background and gender of the researcher or scientist may also bias their perception on home gardens and may not entirely reflect the opinion of the family involved in home gardening activities [ 12 ].

Definition of home gardening

Relying on research and observations on home gardens in developing and developed countries in five continents, Ninez formulated the following definition [ 13 ]:

'The household garden is a small-scale production system supplying plant and animal consumption and utilitarian items either not obtainable, affordable, or readily available through retail markets, field cultivation, hunting, gathering, fishing, and wage earning. Household gardens tend to be located close to dwelling for security, convenience, and special care. They occupy land marginal to field production and labor marginal to major household economic activities. Featuring ecologically adapted and complementary species, household gardens are marked by low capital input and simple technology.'

Generally, home gardening refers to the cultivation of a small portion of land which may be around the household or within walking distance from the family home [ 14 ]. Home gardens can be described as a mixed cropping system that encompasses vegetables, fruits, plantation crops, spices, herbs, ornamental and medicinal plants as well as livestock that can serve as a supplementary source of food and income. Fresco and Westphal [ 15 ] specify home gardens as a cropping system composed of soil, crops, weeds, pathogens and insects that converts resource inputs - solar energy, water, nutrients, labor, etc. - into food, feed, fuel, fiber and pharmaceuticals. Kumar and Nair [ 16 ], while acknowledging that there is no standard definition for 'a home garden', summarize the shared perception by referring to it as '…an intimate, multi-story combinations of various trees and crops, sometimes in association with domestic animals, around homesteads', and add that home garden cultivation is fully or partially committed for vegetables, fruits, and herbs primarily for domestic consumption.

Adding to this, others have described a home garden as a well-defined, multi-storied and multi-use area near the family dwelling that serves as a small-scale supplementary food production system maintained by the household members, and one that encompasses a diverse array of plant and animal species that mimics the natural eco-system [ 11 , 17 – 19 ].

Characteristics of a home garden

Michelle and Hanstad [ 20 ] list five intrinsic characteristics of home gardens: 1) are located near the residence; 2) contain a high diversity of plants; 3) production is supplemental rather than a main source of family consumption and income; 4) occupy a small area [ 21 ]; and 5) are a production system that the poor can easily enter at some level [ 9 ].

There is a vast body of literature presenting research and case studies focusing on the role of home gardens as agroforestry or food production systems, or a combination of both. Home gardens are ecologically divided into two categories: tropical and temperate [ 13 ]. Much of the literature focuses on home gardens in the tropical areas in Central and South America [ 22 – 25 ]. There is also a substantial interest for home gardens in South and South-East Asia [ 26 – 29 ] and Africa [ 30 – 34 ]. Conversely, only a few documented studies exist on home gardens from temperate regions [ 35 – 38 ] and from developed countries [ 32 , 39 – 42 ].

Ninez [ 13 ] lists general tendencies with respect to home garden food production systems based on 15 type-specific characteristics adopted from Ruthenberg [ 5 ] (Table  1 ), and presents an ethnographical synthesis of home gardens across the globe. Home gardens are commonly established on lands that are marginal or not suitable for field crops or forage cultivation because of their size, topography, or location [ 11 ]. The specific size of a home garden varies from household to household and, normally, their average size is less than that of the arable land owned by the household. However, this may not hold true for those families that do not own agricultural land and for the landless. New innovations and techniques have made home gardening possible even for the families that have very little land or no land at all [ 43 ]. The home gardens may be delimited by physical demarcations such as live fences or hedges, fences, ditches or boundaries established through mutual understanding. Application of kitchen waste, animal manure, and other organic residues has been a practice amongst home gardeners and this exercise has helped to considerably increase the productivity and fertility of these gardens [ 11 , 44 , 45 ].

While some similarities exist across the board, each home garden is unique in structure, functionality, composition, and appearance [ 13 , 46 – 48 ] as they depend on the natural ecology of the location, available family resources such as labor, and the skills, preferences, and enthusiasm of family members [ 45 , 49 , 50 ]. Home garden cultivation tends to be quite dynamic [ 17 , 18 ]. The decisions related to the selection of crops, procuring inputs, harvesting, management, and so forth are mostly driven by the consumption and income generation needs of the household [ 27 , 45 ]. A study from Indonesia observed that the structure, composition, intensity of cultivation, and diversity of home gardens can be subjected to the socioeconomic status of the household [ 51 ]. For instance, as the families became economically stable their cultivation shifted from staples to horticultural crops and some families began to raise livestock. Based on the economics of the household, Niñez [ 13 ] differentiated two types of home gardens: 1) subsistence gardens and 2) budget gardens. Access to planting material and social capital are noted as important attributes to species diversity in gardens [ 52 ]. Collectively, the ecological potential, economic status, and social elements influence the presence of food and non-food crops and animals in the garden [ 28 , 53 ]. Additionally, Moreno-Black and colleagues [ 54 ] identified that limitations resulting from factors such as opportunities for off-farm employment and family structure as well as local customs influence the development and composition of the gardens.

The home garden frequently uses family labor [ 18 ] - women, children, and elders are of particular importance in their management [ 46 , 48 , 55 – 57 ] – but, depending on the economic capacity and affordability, households may hire wage laborers to cultivate and maintain the home garden that in turn affect the composition and intensity of home garden activities [ 22 , 55 , 56 ]. Like any other food production system, home gardens may be vulnerable to harsh environmental conditions such as drought and floods [ 57 , 58 ]. Despite the fact that home gardening activities demand a lesser amount of horticultural and agronomic know-how, crop losses and other negative implications can be reduced when the household members are empowered with better skills and knowledge [ 59 ].

Experiences of home gardens from developing countries

Home gardens have been an integral part of local food systems in developing countries around the world. Many studies provide descriptive evidence and analysis of home gardens in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and pinpoint their numerous benefits to communities and families. They encapsulate perpetual small-scaled subsistence agricultural systems established by the households to obtain and supplement the food requirements of the family. Home gardens are mainly intended to grow and produce food items for family consumption, but they can be diversified to produce outputs that have multiple uses including indigenous medicine and home remedies for certain illnesses, kindling and alternative fuel source, manure, building material, and animal feed. Chris Landon-Lane [ 60 ] provides an overview of the benefits of home gardens (Table  2 ) and describes home gardens as a 'place for innovation' with the potential to improve the livelihood of peri-urban and rural communities. In-depth exploration of past and more recent compositions on home gardens worldwide not only affirms Landon-Lane’s insight but also recognize additional advantages. We broadly categorized benefits of home gardening into three components: (1) social; (2) economic; and (3) environmental benefits. These benefits are presented and explained through the vast experiences on home gardens from developing nations around the world.

Social benefits

Enhancing food and nutritional security.

Reviews of studies from various countries reveal that the degree and combination socio-cultural impacts on societies engaged in home gardening vary across the board. Multiple social benefits of home gardens include enhancing food and nutritional security in many socio-economic and political situations, improving family health and human capacity, empowering women, promoting social justice and equity, and preserving indigenous knowledge and culture [ 20 ].

The most fundamental social benefit of home gardens stems from their direct contributions to household food security by increasing availability, accessibility, and utilization of food products e . Home gardens are maintained for easy access to fresh plant and animal food sources in both rural and urban locales. Food items from home gardens add substantially to the family energy and nutritive requirements on a continuous basis. A pioneering research study on home gardens conducted by Ochse and Terra in the early 1930s [ 10 ] states that home gardens led to 18% of the caloric and 14% of the protein consumption by households in Kutowinangun, Indonesia. Subsequent studies on the Javanese home gardens point out a direct link between successful home gardens and households’ nutritional status [ 61 ], and observe an increase in households’ food consumption with intensification of home food production [ 62 ]. Javanese experiences illustrating the potential of home gardens to add to households’ food supply and nutrition [ 13 , 21 ], as well as their eminence as multi-storied agro-ecosystem [ 55 , 63 ] in the tropics, heightened the global attention towards home gardens.

Foods from home gardens varied from horticultural crops to roots to palm and animal products; further plants from the gardens are also used as spices, herbs, medicines, and fodder for the animals [ 53 , 64 – 67 ]. Although home gardens are not generally reputed as a staple crop production base, Thaman [ 65 ] documented that Pacific Islanders obtained their main staple root crops from home gardens. Similar reports were found from Nepal [ 19 ], Yucatan Peninsula [ 66 ], Bangladesh [ 67 ], Peru [ 68 ], Ghana [ 69 ], and Zimbabwe [ 56 ]. Resource-poor families often depended more on home gardens for their food staples and secondary staples than those endowed with a fair amount of assets and resources such as land and capital [ 51 , 70 ]. For poor and marginalized families unable to afford expensive animal products to fulfill their nutritional needs, home gardens offer a cheap source of nutritive foods [ 71 ]. Through gardening, households can have better access to a diversity of plant and animal food items that lead to an overall increase in dietary intake and boost the bioavailability and absorption of essential nutrients [ 72 ].

As stated by Marsh [ 9 ], home gardens provide easy day-to-day access to an assortment of fresh and nutritious foods for the household and accordingly those homes obtained more than 50% of the vegetables, fruits, tubers, and yams from their garden. Supporting this premise, different studies conclude that, while adding to the caloric quantity, home gardens supplement staple-based diet with a significant portion of proteins [ 48 ], vitamins [ 16 ], and minerals [ 73 ], leading to an enriched and balanced diet [ 74 , 75 ] particularly for growing children and mothers [ 76 ]. Additionally, plants from the gardens - especially spices and herbs - are used as flavor enhancers, teas, and condiments [ 77 ]. Recently, countries like Bangladesh have been successful in increasing the availability and consumption of vitamin A-rich food items through national home gardening programs [ 72 ].

Furthermore, the integration of livestock and poultry activities into home gardening reinforces food and nutritional security for the families as milk, eggs, and meat from home-raised animals provided the main and, in many instances, the only source of animal protein [ 66 ]. In some places, home gardeners are also engaged in mushroom cultivation and beekeeping [ 75 ] and even small fresh water fish ponds are incorporated into the garden space adding to the share of proteins and other nutrients available for the family [ 27 ].

Evidence from around the world suggests that home gardens can be a versatile option to address food insecurity in various challenging situations, and thus they have attracted sponsorship by numerous government and non-governmental organizations. Consequently, home garden production has significantly increased in the country and has been instrumental in reducing ‘hidden hunger’ and disease cause by micronutrient deficiency. In an attempt to assess the dynamics of home garden evolution in Java and Sulawesi in Indonesia, Wiersum [ 51 ] notes that home gardens make available a small but continuous flow of subsistence food products for the household. Also, home gardens provide the main source of staple food for people in heavily degraded and densely populated areas with limited croplands [ 44 , 78 ].

Home gardens can ensure food to underprivileged and resources-poor households as they can be established and maintained within a small patch of land or with no land using a few inputs [ 20 , 43 ]. A study of home gardens in Cuba reveals that they were used as a strategy to increase resilience and ensure food security in the face of economic crisis and political isolation [ 79 ]. To mitigate recurring food shortage and malnutrition, Cuban households obtained basic staple foods (rice and beans) through rations, but the households relied on their home gardens to obtain additional produce to diversify the family diet [ 80 ]. Ensuring a reliable and convenient source of food, fiber, and fuel for the family, they are viewed as a robust food system in circumstances where population pressures and numerous resource limitations persist [ 81 , 82 ]. In the Peruvian capital of Lima, home gardening has led to nutritional benefits to families living in slum areas by increasing the availability of carbohydrates as well as nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits that are not economically accessible for poor slum dwellers [ 83 ].

The Global Hunger Index specified that the lack of political stability has escalated hunger and poverty in countries affected by conflicts [ 84 ]. Similarly, environmental disaster can also have devastating impacts on communities and disable food production systems [ 85 ]. Even though there are only a few published narratives, home gardens have been proposed as an option for food and nutritional security in disaster, conflict, and other post-crisis situations f [ 9 , 45 , 86 ]. Home gardens based on enset and coffee are an integrated farming system that not only provide subsistence and complementary food products for Ethiopian families, especially during famines, but also provide the primary means of employment for the household [ 78 ].

Tajikistan became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991 but was plagued by a civil war soon after. Rowe [ 7 ] showed that, during the post-soviet era, Tajik families tormented by civil war, agricultural downfall, and drought heavily depended on their gardens for food. This trend still continues, and home gardens continue to significantly supplement household food security and sustenance. In recent years, several countries transitioning towards peace and stability and those that are recovering from natural disaster have been adopting policies that support home gardening to reduce the prevalence and severity of hunger and malnutrition [ 45 , 87 ].

Bandarin et. al. [ 88 ] point out that, in a post-conflict setting, assistance and reconciliation mechanisms work best and result in environmental, social and economic benefits when there is a cultural or traditional linkage between the target population and the intervention. Hence, home garden projects offer a realistic solution as in most countries home gardening is a regular day-to-day activity amongst the household, especially for women. In addition, home gardens when properly managed provide a four-in-one solution to the food and nutrition problem by increasing household food availability, enabling greater physical, economic and social access, providing an array of nutrients, and protecting and buffering the household against food shortages.

Improving health

Plants are an important source of medicine for humans and livestock and are used as biological pesticides to protect crops from diseases and pest infestations. Herbs and medicinal plants are grown in home gardens all over the world, and in developing countries nearly 80% of the people use them to treat various illnesses, diseases, and also to improve their health conditions [ 89 ]. A generous portion of the plants found in home gardens have some medicinal value and they can be used to treat many common health problems in a cost-effective manner. For instance, Perera and Rajapksa, in their assessment of Kandyan gardens in Sri Lanka [ 90 ], note that out of the 125 plant species found about 30% were exclusively used for medicinal uses and about 12% for medical and other purposes. Medicinal plants were documented to be an important plant group second only to high-value species in Sri Lanka [ 90 ] and in Bangladesh [ 91 ]. Home gardens in Bukoba district of Tanzania contained plant species grown entirely for medicinal purposes [ 92 ]. Around 70% of the plant species identified in forests and gardens in the Yucatan had a medicinal use [ 93 ], and in traditional Mayan home gardens nine species of the 77 useful plants found were exclusively used for medicinal purposes and 26 species had mixed uses as medicines, food, spices, and ornamentals [ 94 ].

Food insecurity and economic hardships force people to consume less and to settle for food that is of low nutritional quality. Adverse health effects due to inadequate intake of basic macronutrients are further compounded by deficiencies in micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. More than 35% of the fatalities worldwide are caused by factors attributed to nutritional deficits [ 95 ]. Amongst them, vitamin A deficiency is a major health issue in many low-income countries and pose serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and their babies and growing children. Reports indicate more than 7 million women suffering from complications due to vitamin A insufficiency [ 96 ] and cause 6 to 8% of the deaths amongst children under the age of 5 years in Africa and Asia [ 95 ]. In some countries where this problem is acute, homestead food production programs have been launched to assist and address vitamin A deficiency and to improve the quality of diet by facilitating a year-round production of vegetables and fruits [ 85 ].

The global incidence of anemia is primarily attributed to iron deficiency. Iron insufficiency elevates the risk of mortality during pregnancy by 20% [ 97 ]. Moreover, estimates suggest that nearly one-third of the global population live in countries with high zinc deficiency [ 98 ]. Micronutrient deficiency can raise the vulnerability to other infectious diseases and the risks of mortality due to illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, and measles [ 99 ]. It may also lead to poor physical and cognitive development and impairment of motor skills in young children as well as other short-term and long-term health effects. Furthermore, a vicarious cycle of undesirable socio-economic effects can be triggered as peoples’ ability to actively engage in physical and economic activities are hindered by illness, disability, and reduced life expectancy. In different contexts, home gardening initiatives have been proposed and implemented as potential strategies to address health issues resulting from malnutrition [ 100 , 101 ]. Although the opportunity is real, minimal efforts have been made to identify and maximize the gross benefits of home gardening for better health.

Uplifting the status of women

In many cultures, women play an important role in food production but at times their worth is somewhat undermined. They are also active in home gardening, though their involvement in the home garden tends to be determined by socio-cultural norms [ 20 ]. In most scenarios women’s contribution to household food production is immense, but this does not imply that home gardening is predominantly a female activity. Women’s participation and responsibilities in home gardening varies across cultures, including land preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting, and marketing [ 54 , 102 , 103 ]. In fact, in some cultures, women are the sole caretakers of household gardens [ 35 , 72 ] while, in others, they play more or less a supportive role [ 11 ]. Howard’s 2006 analysis [ 104 ] of 13 home gardens case studies in South America revealed that women are the main managers of home gardens across the region. Home gardening activities are vital and fit well with their day-to-day domestic activities and employment patterns along with their cultural and aesthetic values. On the other hand, in the Indonesian context women take part during planting and harvesting [ 49 ] and, in Sri Lanka, they provide labor during peak times [ 55 ]. Regardless, particularly for women and disadvantaged groups, home gardening is an avenue for social and economic enrichment.

Home gardens stimulate social change and development. Amongst the Achuar Indian community in the upper Amazon, a woman’s ability to maintain a lush home garden not only demonstrates her agronomic competency but also her status in society [ 105 ]. Similarly, for the Saraguro women of the Andes, a plentiful garden help elevates a woman’s social eminence and demonstrates her commitment to the family’s wellbeing [ 25 ]. Based on a study conducted in Senegal by Brun and colleagues [ 106 ], evaluating the food and nutritional impact of home gardening, it was found that, although the gardens did not make a major contribution to food consumption and nutrition, they were instrumental in improving the women’s income and social status as well as their awareness of evolving food habits in urban areas. For some women, sales of garden products are often the only sources of income or livelihood [ 9 ]. In Tajikistan, where many of the men were killed during the civil war or have migrated to Russia and other countries for employment, women, elders and children have been providing invaluable family labor and resources to local agricultural economy. Kitchen gardens, as they are referred to by Rowe [ 7 ], are very important especially for women-headed families in terms of meeting their everyday food consumption needs and generating income. In fact, nearly half of the food consumed at home and one-third of the food sold in the market came from these garden lots. Other studies have shown that, in situations where women are leading home gardens, there has been improvement to household nutrition, especially child nutrition [ 72 , 107 ].

Through home gardening women have developed proficiency related to plants and garden practices that helps them become better home and environment managers. Their labor is indispensable to maintain the garden and to help keep production cost low. As home managers, women have useful knowledge of numerous domestic needs. By their involvement in the production process, they are able to meet family needs more easily and economically [ 44 ]. Home gardeners in Peru indicated that women gardeners are inclined to produce food primarily for family consumption while men gardeners typically focus on high value crops for marketing [ 83 ]. While home gardens provide a respectable path for women to contribute to household subsistence, eminence, and character, they hold a greater socio-cultural and spiritual importance for women [ 104 ]. Furthermore, they are a key source of gardening knowledge and information [ 105 ].

Research suggests that, in some societies and cultures, a woman’s role in family decision making is rather limited; however, many accounts confirm that when it comes to home gardening women tend to have more autonomy and decision making capabilities [ 108 ]. Moreno-Black and colleagues [ 54 ] conducted a study of 49 women’s home gardens in Northeastern Thailand where the rural women constantly indicated that they were the key decision makers and carried out most of the activities of the home gardens.

Preserving indigenous knowledge and building integrated societies

Home gardens consist of a variety of components and species that represent social and traditional aspects of different societies. This rich indigenous culture and communal knowledge base is expressed through home gardening by the selection of plants and animal species as well as the farming practices used by the local community [ 16 , 70 ]. Home gardens serve as a valuable repository for preserving and transferring indigenous crops and livestock species, production knowledge and the skills from one generation to another [ 109 – 111 ].

Interactions in and around the home garden create and reinforce social status and ties between the household and the community. Home gardeners habitually exchange or gift planting materials, vegetables, fruits, leaves, herbals and medicinal plants for social, cultural, and religious purposes [ 109 , 110 ]. Such interactions are essential for social integration and building social capital. The social dimension of home gardening is yet not fully explored.

Economic benefits

The economic benefits of home gardens go beyond food and nutritional security and subsistence, especially for resource-poor families. Bibliographic evidence suggests that home gardens contribute to income generation, improved livelihoods, and household economic welfare as well as promoting entrepreneurship and rural development [ 111 , 112 ]. Through the review of a number of case studies, Mitchell and Hanstad [ 20 ] assert that home gardens can contribute to household economic well-being in several ways: garden products can be sold to earn additional income [ 17 , 48 , 83 ]; gardening activities can be developed into a small cottage industry; and earnings from the sale of home garden products and the savings from consuming home-grown food products can lead to more disposable income that can be used for other domestic purposes. Studies from Nepal, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea report that the income generated from the sale of home garden fruits, vegetables, and livestock products allowed households to use the proceeds to purchase additional food items as well as for savings, education, and other services [ 85 , 113 ]. Families in mountain areas of Vietnam were able to generate more than 22% of their cash income through home-gardening activities [ 111 ].

Home gardens are widely promoted in many countries as a mechanism to avert poverty and as a source of income for subsistence families in developing countries. Although home gardens are viewed as subsistence-low production systems, they can be structured to be more efficient commercial enterprises by growing high-value crops and animal husbandry [ 43 ]. A number of research studies have focused on evaluating the potential or real economic contribution to the household and local economy as well as social development [ 114 ]. A study from Southeastern Nigeria reported that tree crops and livestock produced in home gardens accounted for more than 60% of household income [ 115 ]. In many cases the sale of produce from home gardens improves the financial status of the family providing additional income, while contributing social and cultural amelioration [ 116 ]. The fact that home production is less cost-intensive and requires fewer inputs and investment is extremely important for resource-poor families that have limited access to production inputs. Yet it has been assessed that moderately rigorous crop and livestock production in home gardens can generate as much revenue per unit area as field crop production [ 9 , 62 ]. Where land constraints exist, innovative tools have been used to make efficient use of limited space [ 43 ]. Also, livestock housed in gardens diversify risk due to crop losses and provide a cash buffer and asset to the household [ 117 ].

Environmental benefits

Home gardens provide multiple environmental and ecological benefits. They serve as the primary unit that initiates and utilizes ecologically friendly approaches for food production while conserving biodiversity and natural resources. Home gardens are usually diverse and contain a rich composition of plant and animal species. Hence they make interesting cases for ethno-botanical studies [ 110 , 118 ].

Gardens are complex and may resemble ecological agricultural production systems that sponsor biodiversity conservation. The rich diversity and composition of species and the dense distribution of faunal and floral strata denote extraordinary features of home garden ecology [ 20 , 46 ]. Buchmann’s 2009 assessment [ 79 ] of 25 home gardens in Central Cuba noted 182 plant species. Other reports from around the world also identify a significant concentration of plants used as vegetables, fruits, herbs, medicines, yams, and spices [ 78 , 114 ]. Home gardens also contain a wide spectrum of plant species, some of which are landraces, rare or threatened species, and specific cultivars selected for a set of desirable traits [ 119 ]. Thus they become ideal sites for in situ conservation of biodiversity and genetic material [ 111 , 120 ].

Home gardens also provide a number of ecosystem services such as habitats for animals and other beneficial organisms, nutrient recycling, reduced soil erosion, and enhanced pollination [ 121 ]. The high density of plants within the home garden provides the ideal environment and refuge for wildlife species such as birds, small mammals, reptiles, and insects [ 122 ]. Calvet-Mir et. al. [ 112 ] highlight a number of ecosystems services provided by home gardens such as production of quality food, maintenance of landraces, cultural services, pest control, and pollination. They conclude that the most important ecosystems services provided by home gardens differ from large-scale and commercial agriculture.

Nutrient cycling is another ecological benefit of home gardens [ 120 , 123 ]. The abundance of plant and animal litter and continuous recycling of organic soil matter contributes to a highly efficient nutrient cycling system. Another potential benefit of home gardens is the reduction of soil erosion and land conservation [ 70 , 124 ]. The attraction of honey bees provides added benefits including improved pollination and increased fruit dispersal [ 64 ].

Individuals of the household, animals, and plants all maintain a symbiotic relationship within the home gardens. For instance, the plants and animals provide food and other benefits for the family and the family in turn takes care of the home gardens. Plant materials are used as fodder for the animals and animal manure is incorporated into the compost to fertilize plants, hence reducing the need for chemical fertilizer [ 20 ]. Livestock and poultry manure can add a significant amount of organic soil matter, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus into the soil. The integration of livestock activities into home gardening can expedite nutrient cycling in ecosystem and help retain moisture [ 125 ].

Home gardens in Sri Lanka

The economy of Sri Lanka is founded on agriculture. More than 35% of the 20 million people of Sri Lanka are engaged directly or indirectly in the agrarian sectors. Home gardening has been a long-standing practice among the rural and urban households in Sri Lanka for centuries [ 55 ]. Despite the traditional basis for home gardening, over the recent years national policies have focused on promoting home gardening in the country. Currently, two national initiatives are underway and are receiving notable patronage from the government for the initiation of a countrywide food production drive to establish one million home gardens across the island g . The programs highlight the key role home gardens play in the face of food insecurity, economic downturn and malnutrition by providing a diversified source of food and a way of generating income.

In spite of the growing interest in home gardening, literature discussing home gardens in Sri Lanka is rather limited. The bulk of the available excerpts almost exclusively focuses on Kandyan Gardens, also known as Kandyan Forest Gardens (KFG). KFG are a common traditional agroforestry system found in the wet central hills in Sri Lanka. They encompass a mixed cropping system, which includes a diverse collection of economically valuable perennial and semi-perennial crops situated around the household [ 126 ] along with animal species that were raised to suit the necessities of the family, the environment, and the recommendations by scientists and extension workers [ 127 ].

One of the earliest studies on KFG in Sri Lanka was published by McConnell and Dharmapala [ 126 ]. From a survey of 30 KFGs established through the use of a farming systems approach they conclude that, although in the short-run KFG were not as productive and profitable as the commercial farming systems, they lead to multiple benefits over time. Jacob and Alles [ 55 ] differentiate KFGs from other mixed forest-gardening systems found in South Asia and South-east Asia with respect to the diversity of plants grown. They also stated that these garden systems improved the well-being of people who nurtured them through the provision of various food products and timber, livelihood opportunities, and sustainability of the production system. Furthermoe, they emphasized the need to inspect existing agronomic practices and to design feasible models that can improve the productivity per unit of land.

Perera and Rajapaksa [ 90 ] characterize various components of KFGs based on ownership, structure, species composition, livestock composition, and management practices. Their baseline survey of 50 randomly selected gardens in the Kandy District showed that the various species in the KFG had numerous uses including food, cash, timber, fuel wood, construction material, green manure, fodder, medicines, shade, and beautification. KFG also have significant implications to the region in terms of in situ germplasm conservation [ 128 ], watershed management [ 90 ], preservation of habitat and other ecological contributions [ 129 ].

A book by Hochegger [ 130 ] offers a comprehensive overview of the ecological, economic, and cultural relevance of KFG in Sri Lanka investigating six locations in the central hills. The Green Movement in Sri Lanka pioneered by Kumarathunga [ 131 ] has published a guide on environmentally friendly agriculture with key emphasis on home gardens. This publication has been initially written in the Sinhala language and is in the process of being translated to the Tamil language. The guide provides step-by-step instructions to home gardeners and farmers on environmentally friendly cultivation and management practices and strategies to boost the efficiency of small agricultural production systems.

Ranasinghe [ 43 ] has developed a detailed manual drawing on the ideas of family business gardens and low/no-space agriculture. This manual was shaped primarily to attract urban households to develop their home crop production into a small agribusiness. In addition this publication attempted to reach a wider audience that includes professionals, non-professionals, entrepreneurs, as well as policy makers concerned with issues related to food and nutritional security in the face of limited resources such as land. It highlights that, through improved management, home garden cultivations can be transformed into agricultural ventures through the systematic adoption of economical and eco-friendly technologies and interventions.

Constraints and opportunities

While there are multiple benefits of home gardening for developing countries, the literature also reveals the key constraints to the productivity and sustainability of home gardens and makes recommendations for improving the home gardens and making them a viable and sustainable enterprise. Hoogerbrugge and Fresco [ 11 ] and Mitchell and Hanstad [ 20 ] provide a review of key constraints to home gardening. Among several constraints, they identified the access to suitable and sufficient land to establish a home garden along with lack of ownership and usage rights of some form as the most important limiting factors. The other constraints include access to capital or credit, access to water, seeds and planting materials, weak extension and advisory services, access to labor, and access to markets. The cultural acceptance of home gardening is also an important constraint. Table  3 summarizes the most common constraints to home gardening specified in literature by Hoogerbrugge and Fresco and others.

Conclusions

Overall, the literature review supports the inclusion and promotion of home gardens as an eco-friendly sustainable agricultural practice to improve food security and enhance economic growth.

The structure, functions, and contributions of home gardens vary in geographic regions. The literature shows that home gardens fulfill social, cultural and economic needs, while providing a number of ecosystem services. While these benefits are broadly distinguished here for better illustration, these benefits are not mutually exclusive. In the real world, there is substantial overlap and dependence between the various beneficial elements resulting in a bundle of advantages making home gardening initiatives even more attractive.

In the wake of a global food crisis and the soaring food prices, there has been increased emphasis on enhancing and building local food systems. In this context, there is renewed attention to food production and livelihood enhancement through home gardens. However, more empirical evidence on the value and importance of home gardens in conflict and post-conflict situations needs to be researched and documented. There is also a need for research on the cost-benefit analysis of home gardening to determine the economic value and to derive viable models that hold the most promise in diverse circumstances. The areas of nutrition, access to new technologies, extension and advisory services, economic and non-economic benefits, women empowerment, and long-term sustainability of home gardens specifically in post-conflict situations need further research.

Recognizing the value and potential of home gardens for enhancing food security and livelihoods, numerous initiates have been launched by governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations in many developing countries that are providing support and building local capacity to enhance the productivity and also for scaling up home garden activities. In this light, a number of resource materials, manuals, and guides have been developed through various home garden-related projects that can be used to improve and promote home gardening programs to enhance food security [ 43 , 60 , 87 ].

a Food insecurity occurs in three forms: chronic food security is the most severe category where a person is unable to consume the minimum amount of food needed for healthy life over a long period usually due to poverty or lack of productive recourses to generate income to purchase food [ 136 ]. Other types include transitional (short-term) food insecurity, which is further subdivided into temporary (limited time period due to shocks) and seasonal or cyclical (trend) food insecurity.

b The Food and Agriculture Organization [ 137 ] reported an average consumption per person of 3,130 kcal per day by the year 2050 based on their baseline projections. Alexandratos [ 138 ] estimated a slightly lower average daily caloric availability per person of 3,047 kcal per day by the year 2050.

c Since its inception in the early 1970s, the concept of food security has undergone many revisions and has held multiple connotations in research and in policy arenas. The two widely adopted conceptualizations are defined by: 1) the Food and Agriculture Organization - 'food security is a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life' [ 139 ]; and 2) by the United States Department of Agriculture - 'food security for a household means access by all members at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum: the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods; and an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways' [ 140 ].

d For nearly 30 years, the country underwent erratic disorder and military action that caused substantial destitutions to the political and socio-economic structure in the country as well as the infrastructure. The civil conflict was brought to an end in 2009 by the Sri Lankan government forces.

e As noted earlier there are numerous definitions to food security; nevertheless, these definitions highlight three broad dimensions: food availability, accessibility, and adequacy/utilization [ 139 – 141 ] (FAO, 2003 ). Food availability refers to the supply of food made available through domestic production, net imports, food reserves, donations, etc. Accessibility is ensured when an individual is able to obtain food without any physical, social, or economic barriers. Food adequacy/utilization is achieved through various biological and non-biological processes that ensure sufficient energy and nutrient intake.

f One general connotation for crisis is defined by Gasser and colleagues [ 142 ]. Crisis situations are identified as unique and complex in nature and are due to various factors [ 141 ]. At times, crisis is unforeseen and inevitable - as in the case of natural disasters - while others may be more protracted and influenced by economic, social, and political changes - such as civil or armed conflict. Irrespective of the origin, crisis adversely affects society by depriving affected groups of their rudimentary and ancillary needs and services including food, shelter, income, health care, security, and infrastructure.

g The two major national home gardening programs in Sri Lanka are “Api Wavamu, Rata Nagamu” (Let us cultivate to uplift the nation) and “Divinaguma” (Livelihood upliftment). In addition, a number of other regional and village level gardening programs are coordinated and managed by international and non-governmental organizations.

Abbreviations

Kandyan forest gardens.

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Dilrukshi Hashini Galhena, Russell Freed & Karim M Maredia

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Galhena, D.H., Freed, R. & Maredia, K.M. Home gardens: a promising approach to enhance household food security and wellbeing. Agric & Food Secur 2 , 8 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/2048-7010-2-8

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Importance & Advantages of Kitchen Garden in Urban Areas

Uses of Kitchen Garden Disadvantages of Kitchen Garden: Kitchen Garden is now an important aspect of urban areas. There are several explanations for this. Later we discussed how to increase yield. We hope you’ll enjoy this Guide. Now with this guide, we’re going to let you know Kitchen Garden’s benefits. This essay on the importance of kitchen gardening in Kitchen Gardening will introduce you to various aspects. You can, therefore, read this entire guide to learn Kitchen Garden’s uses. So go down and check all the points about Kitchen Garden without wasting time.

Where To Buy Organic Vegetables Online

• Importance of Kitchen Gardens in Urban Areas:
• In your backyard, Kitchen Gardens is nothing but growing vegetables.
• Kitchen Gardening is a fun activity that reduces mental stress in your busy working life.
• It’s a good outdoor habit that will stick in your lifetime.
• Kitchen Garden’s should solve the problem of nutrition that is a big issue in the world.
• It has great potential where you can sell to your neighbors or on the market some of the goods.
• You can grow 100% organic vegetables that have high nutritional and health quality.

Top Uses of Kitchen Garden in India

Benefits of kitchen garden at home:.

1. Fresh and Healthy Vegetables:

Today, to grow vegetables, many farmers use chemicals. That’s why we face a lot of health problems. Our health is greatly affected by the toxic material. You can grow 100% organic, new, and nutritious vegetables for your whole family with Kitchen Garden.

2. Clean Air:

Air pollution is one of city life’s biggest issues. Because the Cities have very fewer trees, Fresh and Clean Air quality is deteriorating. Hence the rescue of this Kitchen Garden. Kitchen Garden will certainly improve your home and backyard air quality. Your health will also improve over time by inhaling this fresh and clean air.

3. Aesthetic Value:

The aesthetic value of keeping a kitchen garden would increase. Whenever you look at the garden, it will please your mind. The Kitchen Gardens would certainly lift your mood even better. It is going to bring some positive vibes.

4. Kitchen Gardening as a Hobby and Habit:

A lot of people have a lot of interests and habits. Maintaining the Kitchen Garden is one of the best activities you can have. Even if it starts out as a hobby, it will quickly become a habit. By entering the Kitchen Gardens, you will never leave a day.

5. Plants are good for Aura or Etheric Body:

Since ages, we have been growing plants in our backyards. Although there are many plants and trees, we only grow certain plant types. This is because they have the Aura. Tulsi, Neem, and Peepal are the top of the trees and plants that will provide you with the best Aura.

Also, See Tips To Maintain Kitchen Gardens

Advantages of Kitchen Gardens in the Backyard:

• It’s not expensive for the kitchen gardens.
• You will get your family a regular and convenient supply of healthy vegetables.
• The Kitchen Gardens production is rich in nutritional content.
• One of Kitchen Garden’s strengths is that the vegetables contain vitamins and minerals of all kinds.
• These don’t contain any toxic materials like vegetables you’re going to get on the market.
• This helps to counter the food issue that now prevails in the country.
• Kitchen Gardens Disadvantages in Urban Areas:
• You’ll find an article on kitchen gardening’s value. But one of the big drawbacks of Kitchen Garden is Time. There’s not enough time for everyone to spend in the garden. It could, therefore, result in a failure.
• On Kitchen Garden, you can get an article that will tell you the price it will incur.
• Sometimes the cost is high, which could be an issue.
• While you’re losing some of your home’s precious space.
• As you work in the Kitchen Garden, you will also face some good amount of injuries.
• In fact, Kitchen Garden’s lack of proper information is a major disadvantage.

These are the different benefits you can face and the drawbacks. In addition, we hope this guide on Kitchen Garden’s Importance will benefit you.

Also, See How to Increase the Yield in Kitchen Garden or Terrace Garden

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The Benefits of Starting a Kitchen Garden

Posted by Esther van Ham | August 14, 2023 | Gardening |

Are you tired of spending a fortune on fresh fruits and vegetables from the grocery store? Well, starting a kitchen garden might just be the perfect solution for you. Not only does it allow you to eat fresh and nutritious food, but it also helps you save money in the long run.

Imagine stepping into your backyard and plucking a juicy tomato or a crisp lettuce leaf straight from the ground. With a kitchen garden, you have total control over the quality of the produce you consume. Say goodbye to the uncertainty of pesticides and preservatives that often come with store-bought produce.

Not only that, but a kitchen garden is also a great way to stay active and reduce stress. Gardening has been proven to have therapeutic effects on mental health, providing a sense of calm and accomplishment.

So why not start your own kitchen garden today? Whether you have a spacious backyard or a tiny balcony, you can grow your own fresh produce and enjoy the benefits of a healthier and more budget-friendly lifestyle.

One of the primary benefits of starting a kitchen garden is the access to fresh and nutritious produce. Store-bought fruits and vegetables often lose their nutritional value over time due to transportation and storage. By growing your own food, you can harvest it at the peak of ripeness and consume it when it is most nutrient-dense.

Fresh produce is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for maintaining good health. By incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs into your kitchen garden, you can ensure a well-balanced diet that supports your overall well-being.

Additionally, homegrown produce is free from harmful pesticides and preservatives that are commonly used in commercial farming. This reduces your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, making your meals safer and healthier.

Cost Savings of Growing Your Own Food

Another significant benefit of having a kitchen garden is the potential for cost savings. The price of fresh produce can be quite high, especially when it is out of season or imported from distant locations. By growing your own fruits and vegetables, you can significantly reduce your grocery bill and save money in the long run.

Seeds and starter plants are generally inexpensive and can provide a bountiful harvest. With proper care and maintenance, a small kitchen garden can yield a substantial amount of fresh produce throughout the growing season. You will no longer need to rely solely on store-bought produce, which can be costly and of varying quality.

Additionally, by growing your own food, you can reduce food waste. You can harvest only what you need, minimizing the chances of fruits and vegetables going bad before they are consumed.

Environmental Benefits of Kitchen Gardens

Kitchen gardens have significant environmental benefits as well. When you grow your own food, you reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating the need for transportation and packaging. Store-bought produce often travels long distances, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

Furthermore, kitchen gardens promote biodiversity and encourage the growth of beneficial insects and pollinators. By avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides, you create a safe haven for bees, butterflies, and other important creatures that play a vital role in the ecosystem.

Additionally, growing your own food allows you to embrace sustainable gardening practices. You can compost kitchen scraps and use organic fertilizers to enrich the soil, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers that can harm the environment.

Planning Your Kitchen Garden

Before you start your kitchen garden, it’s essential to plan and prepare your space. Here are some key considerations:

Choosing the Right Plants for Your Kitchen Garden

The first step in planning your kitchen garden is selecting the right plants. Consider the climate and the amount of sunlight your garden receives. Some plants thrive in full sun, while others prefer partial shade. Research the specific growing requirements of different fruits, vegetables, and herbs to ensure they will thrive in your garden.

It’s also important to consider the available space. If you have limited space, opt for compact varieties or vertical gardening techniques. You can grow plants in containers, hanging baskets, or even on trellises to maximize space utilization.

Maintaining and Caring for Your Kitchen Garden

Once your kitchen garden is established, regular maintenance is crucial to ensure healthy plant growth. Here are some key tasks to keep in mind:

• Watering : Provide adequate water to your plants, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. The frequency and amount of watering may vary depending on the plant’s needs and the weather conditions.
• Weeding : Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with your plants for nutrients and sunlight. Mulching can help suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture.
• Pest Control : Monitor your garden for pests and take appropriate measures to control them. Consider using organic pest control methods to minimize the use of harmful chemicals.
• Pruning and Harvesting : Prune your plants as needed to promote healthy growth and remove dead or diseased parts. Regularly harvest ripe produce to encourage continuous production.

Harvesting and Enjoying Your Fresh Produce

The joy of kitchen gardening lies in harvesting and enjoying the fruits of your labor. The best time to harvest varies depending on the plant, so it’s important to research and understand the specific harvesting guidelines for each crop.

Harvesting at the right time ensures that your produce is at its peak flavor and texture. Enjoy the satisfaction of incorporating your homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs into delicious meals. Whether you’re making a fresh salad, a flavorful stir-fry, or a homemade salsa, the taste of your own garden-fresh produce will elevate your culinary creations.

Tips for Success in Kitchen Gardening

To make the most of your kitchen garden, here are some tips for success:

• Start small : If you’re new to gardening, it’s best to start with a small garden area or a few containers. This allows you to gain experience and gradually expand your garden as you become more confident.
• Know your soil : Understanding the composition and fertility of your soil is crucial for successful gardening. Conduct a soil test to determine its pH level and nutrient content. Based on the results, you can make informed decisions about soil amendments and fertilizers.
• Practice crop rotation : To prevent the buildup of pests and diseases, rotate the location of your plants each year. This helps maintain a healthy garden ecosystem and reduces the risk of plant-specific issues.
• Learn from others : Join gardening communities, attend workshops, or consult experienced gardeners to gain valuable insights and learn from their experiences. Gardening is a continuous learning process, and there is always something new to discover.
• Embrace experimentation : Don’t be afraid to try new plants, techniques, and gardening methods. Experimentation allows you to discover what works best in your specific garden conditions and adds excitement to your gardening journey.

Starting a kitchen garden is a rewarding endeavor that offers a multitude of benefits. From enjoying fresh and nutritious produce to saving money and contributing to a healthier environment, the advantages are endless. Regardless of the space you have available, you can embark on a journey of self-sufficiency and culinary delight by growing your own food. So why not take the first step and start your own kitchen garden today? Your taste buds, wallet, and the planet will thank you.

About The Author

Esther van Ham

Hi, my name is Esther! I live in the beautiful Netherlands, and I love gardens and gardening. Besides gardening, it is my passion to use my knowledge to help other garden fans with all kinds of tips and tricks to make your garden even more fun.

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Why Are Kitchen Gardens So Important In Today’s Society?

30 August 2021

There are an array of benefits associated with growing your own kitchen garden at home. Both for your well-being and for the planet as a whole. We know all too well by now what impact human activity is having on the planet and this is driving many of us to start living more sustainable lives. The garden is a brilliant place to begin a more sustainable lifestyle. It’s easily accessible, very rewarding and a lot of fun. You can create your own kitchen gardens with limited patio space too. Using containers or raised beds instead. If you have no outside space, a window sill can be used to grow fresh herbs.

How can kitchen gardens save the planet?

Have you ever noticed just how much plastic packaging is involved when it comes to fruit and veg? You might think that this is superfluous, but plastic is often used to help increase the shelf life of produce. Cucumbers, for example, last around four days if they don’t come wrapped in plastic but they last for up to ten if they do.

Growing your own can help you get around the excess packaging since you can grow the veggies you know you like to eat regularly and keep everything entirely plastic-free.

You’re also able to really reduce your carbon footprint with a kitchen garden. Have you ever thought about how far your food has travelled before it reaches your plate? Eating seasonally and shopping locally can reduce the carbon footprint of your food, but so can growing food at home. 

If you and your neighbours start to grow together, you could even engage in lots of fun produce swaps - really helping to foster a sense of community, while doing a lot for the environment at the same time.

How can kitchen gardens help you?

And then, of course, as we mentioned before, there’s the health aspect of gardening that simply can’t be ignored . First of all, you’ll spend a lot more time outside than you might perhaps have done otherwise and all that fresh air and organic food will nourish you from the inside out.

It’s also incredibly satisfying to watch something you’ve planted start showing little green shoots and flowering into something you can then harvest for your plate. As you nurture your kitchen garden, you’ll also be nurturing yourself with plenty of opportunities for mindfulness.

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Home » Lists » Importance of Kitchen Garden in India

Importance of Kitchen Garden in India

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The Importance of Kitchen Garden, especially in an urban home, is more than just getting fresh veggies. Find out all its benefits here!

The kitchen garden is miniature farming of vegetables and herbs. It can be a great source of nutritious and fresh veggies. Apart from garden beds, you can create one even in the patio, balcony, terrace, or even window boxes. Succession, intercropping, and vertical gardening are also finding great significance in kitchen garden ideas. The Importance of Kitchen Garden in a home are many! Let’s have a look!

Check out our article on growing a vegetable garden here

Importance of kitchen garden, 1. fresh organic harvest.

The biggest perk of having your own kitchen garden is that you have access to fresh harvest, whenever you need it. It eliminates the hassle of rushing to the vegetable markets. The kitchen garden ensures inexpensive and nutritious harvest year-round. And, you can not deny the fact that homegrown vegetables are far tastier and chemicals-free.

2. Nutritious Diet and Detoxifies Body

Vegetables are loaded with several vitamins, fibers, and minerals that provide essential nutrition to the body and prevent numerous diseases and malnutrition. Leafy vegetables prevent iron deficiency like anemia . Herbs and spices are known for playing a vital role in detoxifying toxins from the body. Furthermore, herbs are easiest to grow and require lesser space. You can pick lemongrass, coriander , dill, rosemary, mint, basil, and thyme for growing in kitchen gardens.

3. Purifies Surrounding Air

Plants cleanse the surrounding air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Apart from cleansing air, they elevate the aesthetic appeal of the house.

4. Gives You a Hobby

Gardening is like a hobby for many. Due to a hectic lifestyle, people’s touch with nature is losing. Vegetable gardening will keep you grounded with nature.

5. Recycling of Vegetables and Plant Scraps

The leftover peels, unused vegetables, and shredded leaves can help you in making compost for further gardening. You can even create a compost trench with these vegetable remnants. And, if you are growing leguminous vegetables like beans, then it has added perk of naturally enriching the soil with nitrogen.

How to Plan a Kitchen Garden?

Choose a sunny location of your yard for creating the kitchen garden. If you don’t have much space, opt for container gardening . Any patio, balcony, or terrace will do the trick that receives 6-7 hours of sunlight.

•  Remove debris and weeds and plow the garden thoroughly. Then, amend the soil with compost and cow dung manure before planting.
• It’s better to start seeds in pots with potting mix, and after a couple of weeks, transplant them to the garden. Especially, tomato , pepper, or eggplant prefer indoor planting, whereas carrot and radish can be directly sown outdoors.
• In gardens, water deeply twice a week, but reduce this rate during winters. For container plants, check the water consistency by poking a finger in the soil. If it looks dry, water well.
• Many vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes, beans, and gourds grow on creeping vines, so install stakes and trellis for them. You can even go for vertical gardening by using wall and railing planters.
• To avoid competition among plants for nutrients and water, always maintain a space of 18-36 inches between the rows or plant them in individual containers.
• You can also go for intercropping, in which some vegetables are grown together as companion plants, like maize, squash, and beans pair .
• A raised bed is a feasible option for creating a kitchen garden, as it facilitates easy maintenance.

What to Grow in Kitchen Garden?

There are so many vegetables that you can try for your kitchen garden. For instance, spinach, turnip, cabbage, coriander, broccoli, kale, garlic, cauliflower, and onion are the best vegetables that grow from October to February. Amarnath, tomato, chili, and bitter gourd dwell from March to June.

If you are a newbie in vegetables growing, then start with the easier ones like parsley, lettuces, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans, cucumbers, and radishes that require comparatively less care. Whereas, if you have a green thumb, then consider going for cauliflowers, cabbage, carrots, and melons.

Note : Prefer heirloom or hybrid varieties for seeds or seedling for better chances of prolific growth.

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The Spiritual Indian

Benefits of kitchen garden | Importance of kitchen garden on your health

Last Updated On February 2, 2016 by amit

we all have small extra space in our house which could be easily used to make our kitchen garden. this space could be our balcony, courtyard or terrace. the plants are not going to object 🙂 but they will definitely give you much more in returns than the effort we put in growing them.

benefits of kitchen garden on health:

1. clean air – one of the major problem with city life is high pollution level. it is very important to plant more trees so that we can have fresh air. plant absorbs carbon dioxide from air and releases oxygen. oxygen is must for the survival of human beings. so if in a society, everyone make good use of their balcony or courtyard to plant herbs, flowers or trees then the quality of air will improve drastically. it is not only important to plant trees in our house but at the same time we should raise awareness about global warming as well.

2. herbs are detoxifying – fertilizers and pesticides have become part of our food chain so its very important that we should add herbs in our food which detoxifies the chemicals from our body few herbs and plants which are either detoxifying agent or are easy to plant are: lemon grass, coriander/cilantro, mint, tulsi, celery, fenugreek, spinach etc although, we can buy these herbs from market also but again they will be grown using pesticides. so better to grow these herbs at home.

3. aesthetic value : a well maintained garden is very pleasing to the eyes and looks aesthetic. it uplifts your mood and make you more positive.

4. creative hobby – everyone should have some creative hobby in life. otherwise our energy become stagnant or destructive. and gardening is a very creative and fulfilling activity. because you are nurturing the plants and helping them.

5. grounding and getting connected to the earth : one of the major problem with modern living is that we are totally uprooted from the mother earth and have lost touch with it. we wear shoes, sleep on beds and rarely comes in direct contact with earth. according to ancient sages, our body is made of five components that is earth, space, ether, air and fire. so it is very important to stay connected with earth and thus stay grounded. gardening connects us back with the mother earth.

6. plants are good for aura or etheric body : every plant has an aura around them which is healing for people who comes in contact with them. in india, we know the important of tulsi (holy basil), peepal and neem tree. plants add a lot of green energy to your aura and thus relaxes you and make you more peaceful. if you want to make your aura more stronger and healthy then sit under a big tree often or plant trees in your courtyard.

these are more than enough benefits to have a kitchen garden. is not it 🙂

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10 Reasons To Start Your Own Kitchen Garden

By Bipasha Das May 17, 2020

Kitchen gardening is something all of us can do to make our cities greener. It’s a garden where you grow your own food— herbs, vegetables, fruits. What’s more, it gives city dwellers a chance to produce their own food—fresher, healthier—and learn in the process about local varieties.

With the rapid growth of cities and urban population around the world, there is enormous demand on urban food supply. Growing greener cities is the road ahead, says the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). To repair our ecological foundations, reduce temperatures and strengthen a city’s resilience to climate change.

Kitchen gardening is something all of us can do to make our cities greener. It’s a garden where you grow your own food— herbs, vegetables, fruits. What’s more, it gives city dwellers a chance to produce their own food—fresher, healthier—and learn in the process about local varieties. Fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden will promote health, because they will be rich in nutrients, especially phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A and folate, without the risk of adulteration and pesticides. Radish, broad leaf mustard, chilli, beans, pumpkins, mint, coriander, peas, tomatoes—your kitchen garden can be as ambitious as your imagination allows it to be. This is how you stand to gain by growing your own kitchen garden:

1.Clean air: Your balcony, terrace or courtyard can become your green lungs amidst the dust and dirt around you. The more you plant, the more fresh air with good oxygen you get.

2.Herbs detox : Herbs are quite essential in our food which helps in detoxifying and healing properties in our body. Few herbs and plants that are easy to maintain in kitchen garden are: lemon grass, coriander, cilantro, mint, tulsi, celery, fenugreek, spinach.

3.Aesthetics matter: Plants make your home greener, more peaceful, uplift your mood and make you feel more positive.

4. Stay grounded: Modernisation uproots us from the mother earth. As the ancient sages say, our body is made of five components that includes earth, water, ether, air and fire. So it is very important to stay connected with earth. 5.Organic vegetables: Growing own fruits and vegetables can offer the opportunity to reduce the amount of pesticides that are used commercially, making them healthier

6. Compost your waste: Plant fertilisers, made by decaying organic materials, like kitchen wastes, will help your plants grow faster, while helping you to get rid of your garbage

7.Cheap and easy: Kitchen gardens can help you grow things at home and bring down the need to buy from the market, hence, save money on food purchase.

8.Recycle and use: You can recycle vegetables in your kitchen garden. For example, you can collect your unwanted vegetables and make compost for it and use it again for compost, growing new vegetables and herbs.

10. Health friendly: It is a great way to engage the whole family in physical activity. Gardening is known to reduce levels of stress hormones.

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Why Is Gardening Important? It Has Endless Benefits for Our Health and the Environment

PUBLISHED Dec. 15 2020, 11:11 a.m. ET

UPDATED Dec. 15 2020, 11:48 a.m. ET

Whether you’re walking in an arboretum during the Cherry Blossom Festival or tending your own lawn, it’s hard to deny that gardens, in general, have a certain universal appeal. There’s something about the presence of gardens in our lives that brightens our sometimes dismal, modern world. Much of this has to do with something intrinsic in human beings: an innate appreciation of the natural world. But why is gardening so important to our lives and culture, and how can it help the environment? 

Why is gardening important?

Gardening is good for a great many things. It can be good for your health, good for your soil, and good for the wildlife in your backyard. It’s a great way to relieve stress, to set goals for yourself, and to nurture something. On top of all that, growing your own produce is a great way to become more sustainable at home and to reduce your environmental impact . 

Gardening also happens to be a great hobby. It's something that you can do season after season, year after year, and into your twilight years. Even if you don’t have robust flower beds or a vast back garden, you can still find ways to garden indoors and on a smaller scale. This makes gardening a versatile hobby, as well as a healthy one. 

Why is gardening important for your health?

Gardening comes with a myriad of well-documented health benefits. The most obvious of these has to do with the fact that quite a bit of gardening is done outdoors. Exposure to sunlight increases your vitamin D , which is good for bones, teeth, and muscles. And speaking of muscles, gardening is a great form of low-impact exercise — high impact if you’re hefting huge pots or wheelbarrows of soil around. 

In terms of mental health, gardening has also been shown to decrease the risk of dementia and as a type of therapy for those already suffering from it, according to a study published by the journal Psychiatry Investig . This might have to do with the mental health benefits we experience just being in nature. Gardens, by virtue of the human-made nature of their construction , allow us a means to connect to nature in a sort of self-determined way. 

Why is gardening important for your mood?

Many studies have found that gardening can boost one’s mood . I obviously can’t speak for everyone, but gardening makes me feel great. Even after spending hours pulling weeds and planting new vegetables every spring, I feel like my demeanor is far brighter than it was when I first pulled on my gardening gloves that day. 

This isn’t just because you feel like you’ve accomplished something either — though that does help. As reported by Quartz , several studies have found that exposure to a specific bacteria commonly found in soil can increase levels of serotonin in the human brain. Serotonin is a chemical that increases feelings of well-being or happiness.

Why is gardening important to the environment?

Gardens are important to the planet because, despite being human-made, they represent a natural environment. Plants and trees grow there, taking in carbon and releasing oxygen . The roots of these plants stabilize the soil and filter water. Municipal gardens and national parks become safe havens for all manner of wild creatures that might have been otherwise displaced by the endless urban sprawl of the modern world. 

Birds, bugs, and bees — especially honey bees — are essential to the lifecycle of the world at large. Bees are one of the most important pollinators in this group but they aren’t the only ones. Your backyard garden is bound to have its own native pollinators and your garden is a great way to coax them back into your life. They’ll help your flowers look nicer, keep your perennials coming back, and help your vegetable garden to flourish. 

Why is gardening important for your community?

If you live in an urban or suburban area but lack the space for a backyard garden, you may not be alone. Community gardens are a great way to build togetherness within a community. Working together to split responsibilities, upfront costs, and the fruits of your labor, can help you understand and appreciate your neighbors in ways you might not have thought possible. 

Why is gardening important to your daily life?

Your health, your frame of mind, your community, and the environment — if those are not enough reasons for why gardening is important, we have a few more to give you. Gardening can also be important for your wallet, nutrition, and environmental footprint. 

By growing your own sustenance, your diet becomes more sustainable, since your food won't have to travel more than a few feet to get to your plate (as opposed to store-bought produce, which can sometimes be flown in from other countries). If your thumb is particularly green, you’ll probably save more money than you realize by harvesting your own fruits and veggies — and by growing your produce organically, it could be healthier than the conventional produce you may otherwise buy at the store.

Why is gardening important to your family?

On top of all that, gardening is a great hobby that you can share with your children . Teaching them to nurture a living thing and to be responsible for their own segment of the environment are great lessons to pass down. My own grandparents have imparted their gardening secrets through the generations and those lessons have taught me much about patience, preparedness, and the nature of nature in my own backyard . They are secrets I plan to teach my own children in due course. 

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Essay On Gardening – 10 Lines, Short And Long Essay For Children

Key Points To Remember: Essay On Gardening For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on gardening for kids, a paragraph on gardening for children, short essay on gardening in english for kids, long essay on gardening for children.

Gardening is one of the activities that can help us stay connected to nature, given our hectic and urban lifestyle. We have great joy when we do gardening because we can see the shrubs and flowers develop from their tender stage until they fully shoot and flourish into their green life. This truly makes us aware of how short life on earth is for all living things. Gardening keeps our daily lives fresh; watering, caring for plants and cleaning the plants make us feel calm and refreshed.

Essays can be a great tool to help your kids understand and appreciate gardening. We have this article to help your child with writing. This article contains an essay on gardening for classes 1, 2 and 3.

There are specific points to keep in mind when writing any essay. Given here are a few pointers to guide you with how to write an essay on gardening:

• Essays generally follow a format that includes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
• For kids, these essays can be written in the form of a single paragraph or point.
• A good introduction and a strong conclusion are essential for a good essay.
• Include the benefits of gardening.
• Touch upon the healthy changes that gardening offers.

Lower primary kids feel easy in writing points for a particular topic. Here is a 10-line gardening essay for classes 1 and 2:

• Growing, developing, planting, and caring for new plants are all a part of gardening.
• Plants are a fundamental component of nature.
• A lovely garden can transform a home’s overall look.
• Without gardening, the garden would have uncontrollable growth and dense bushes, making it appear unkempt and untamed.
• Maintaining a garden requires a lot of hard work, but it must be done frequently.
• Gardening is much more than mere watering.
• Where necessary, it also entails nipping, pruning, and cutting shrubs and dense foliage.
• The beauty of the garden itself is a sign of successful gardening.
• Having a committed and knowledgeable gardener is the first step toward having a garden.
• Gardening gives you an opportunity to grow your own fruits and vegetables to ensure that the food on your table is healthy.

Now let us look at a paragraph on the topic of gardening. Lower primary children can use this paragraph on gardening to write essays:

Another excellent life lesson passed down through the centuries is gardening. Gardening is a great practical activity. Maintaining a beautiful kitchen garden ensures that you have wholesome, organic food on the table. Planning the garden’s layout and being knowledgeable about the many plants that flourish in diverse environments are prerequisites for gardening. Achieving all of them naturally elevates our mood and brings about mental happiness. Gardens offer a calm, refreshing and stress-free environment. No matter what your age is, gardening is an activity that you must practise. It is also known for enhancing our mental abilities as we engage with nature.

Gardening is a beautiful activity that soothes the mind and soul. This is an essay for classes 1, 2 and 3 on gardening:

The existence of plants is vital for all living beings, especially humans, to survive. Without plants, none of our essential bodily processes, including breathing, eating, and drinking, would be possible. In addition to serving as food sources, plants produce oxygen and support the water table. While many plants thrive in the wild, some plants, bushes, and shrubs are also cultivated and grown by humans in their homes or yards. It is referred to as gardening. While gardening may seem like a hobby to some, it is beneficial and significant to us. It entails physical labour on the part of the gardener to perform tasks like weeding, watering plants, mulching, trellising, and harvesting.

Additionally, gardening is a beneficial pastime. This activity enables you to cultivate your own fruits and vegetables, guaranteeing that the food on your table is wholesome. The human desire for beauty is satisfied by gardening. Working in the garden also improves problem-solving abilities. Researching the most effective gardening techniques, testing various approaches, and creating irrigation systems that work for you all help develop your creative and problem-solving skills.

Kids need to write detailed essays as they reach higher grades. This section covers an essay for class 3 children on gardening:

Gardening is a passion for many, and people treat plants and trees in their garden as their kids. People regularly water crops, spot gardens, root grasses, prepare beds, scatter seeds, and plant trees. They maintain the garden’s cleanliness by working both in the morning and at night. In the garden, taking care of pest crops is crucial. Insects might pose a threat to the crops, and they lay eggs on the fruits, flowers, and produce. Insecticides can be sprinkled on top to kill these eggs. Lime is periodically incorporated into the soil to kill bacteria and pathogens. Consequently, the soil’s fertility rises.

Advantages Of Gardening

• Benefits To Your Health:  Gardening is a strenuous hobby. There are numerous health benefits of gardening. Further research has revealed that gardening also lowers blood pressure, stress, and depression, as well as cholesterol levels. Studies have even shown that simply gazing at a garden can positively impact one’s heart rate, blood pressure, muscles, and even brain function. It induces emotions of serenity and tranquilly and is generally quite therapeutic.
• Environmental Advantages:  It is undeniable that humans have had a significant impact on the environment. By gardening, we can lessen and offset this effect. Plants produce fresher and cleaner air by releasing oxygen after absorbing carbon dioxide. Since plants’ root systems keep the soil in place, they help stop soil erosion. You can use rain gardens to collect rainwater and keep pollutants out of lakes and waterways. A well-planned landscape around your home can help keep your place cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, lowering your need for air conditioning by as much as 20%.
• Increase In Property Value:  From a purely aesthetic standpoint, a well-kept garden raises your home’s curb appeal, increasing the property value. Additionally, it may prompt buyers to submit offers for the property sooner than they would for a typical house.
• Organic Vegetable Growth:  There are two benefits of growing vegetables in your yard. One advantage is that you are confident of the pesticides and chemicals you use to help the vegetables grow, so you don’t have to worry about them. Second, making the simplest of provisions for yourself and your family gives you tremendous satisfaction.

You will learn more about gardening skills as you go ahead with gardening. As you gain more knowledge, you’ll be able to think of new options for your garden. You can benefit emotionally and physically from gardening, enabling you to put food on your table and contribute to environmental health. Although gardening takes a while to produce effects, those results are more profound and stay much longer.

1. Can Gardening Be A Hobby?

Yes. Growing plants can be a hobby, and it is a fun hobby to engage in, and can be used as a constructive pastime. People do gardening in their free time.

We hope this article helps your children write about gardening and encourages them to include gardening activities in their daily life.

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• School Kitchen Garden - A Complete Guide

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School kitchen garden.

Children’s cognitive development needs special care in our modern technology-dominant times. Inappropriate use of digital technologies leads to cognitive stress causing fatigue, restlessness, irritability, and mental health issues.

The covid-19 impact may have its implications but we can still build an enabling social environment for our children. What better way than gardening to improve well-being, promote physical activity, healthy sleeping patterns, and nutritious habits?

• What is a school kitchen garden

Benefits of a school kitchen garden

• How to set up a school kitchen garden

Getting children interested in gardening

What is a school kitchen garden.

A perfect safe space for cultivating an inquisitive mind and molding ethical social behavior. Want your kids to crave learning? Gardening sets the foundation for developing intellectual interests, further nurtured in subjects like chemistry, biology, botany, mathematics, and social sciences. It offers a birthing soil for a healthy value system promoting moral growth and community spirit.

“Neurons that fire together, wire together” – Donald Hebb

An OECD Report in 2019 asserts that neuroplasticity is an underlying function of learning. Emerging studies support that our brains alter in response to our experiences, with early childhood characterized as a time of high plasticity. Childhood and adolescence are periods of rapid development and maturation that impact learning, memory, future behavior, and well-rounded functioning.

Therefore, gardening is one of the best child-rearing practices for shaping positive behavior and development, at the right age.

Here are some benefits of a school kitchen garden:

Develops motor skills and cognition.

Fosters team spirit and companionship.

Encourages healthy and clean eating.

Shapes a positive, hard-working attitude.

Builds rationality and scientific temperament.

Inspires self-esteem and dignity of labor.

Improves concentration and focus.

Instills patients and perseverance.

Sharpens and channelizes inherent curiosity.

Builds affinity for the planet and natural environment.

Promotes values like love, compassion, sharing, harmony, responsibility, and candor.

Discourages expediency, laziness, rashness, and insensibility

Unleash the magic of gardening with AllThatGrows' kid-friendly grow kit – where tiny hands sow big dreams! Our specially designed kit transforms curious youngsters into green-thumb wizards, making gardening a breeze. Watch their excitement sprout as they nurture nature with fun and easy-to-use tools, cultivating a lifelong love for the green wonders around us!

How to set up a school kitchen garden?

According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, School (Nutrition) Kitchen Gardens are crucial in an era of rapid urbanization and mounting environmental issues to inculcate the habit of growing their vegetables at schools and homes. The Ministry issued guidelines for developing and maintaining kitchen gardens in all schools, in both urban and rural areas in 2019.

Small tips to get planning and monitoring:

• Gardening Committee : Establishing a small team with school staff, administrators and volunteers can help in coordination. 
• Identify gardening timeline : Access our free vegetable growing season chart for India to plan your vegetable garden.
• Pick the right spot : Areas along the school’s boundary or playground can be demarcated for a uniform space. Ensure that the site receives full or partial sun as most vegetables need sunlight to grow.
• Establish soil beds : Soil beds are accessible for children of all ages and enable easier weed control.
• Check soil quality : Does your spot have a healthy blend of soil? Ensure best soil for growing vegetables. Learn how to check and improve soil quality.
• Water supply source : Ensure a closeby water source to make it easy for the young gardeners to water their plants.
• Picking the right seed varieties : Carrots seeds , green beans seeds , cherry tomatoes seeds , peas seeds , spinach seeds , lettuce seeds , kale seeds, broccoli seeds , radish seeds , and microgreen seeds are the easiest varieties to grow for a young age group.

Explore more vegetables to grow in your kitchen garden .

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Teach them first hand with your support system. Getting children interested in gardening includes bringing out their creative and playful side.

Make it a play! 

Give the young ones a free space of their own within the spot you have picked for your school kitchen garden.

Divide them into teams to grow and take care of specific plant varieties and build ownership. 

Allocate personal responsibilities for inclusive participation and responsible engagement.

Encourage journaling or sketching the plants at different stages of growth to hone creativity and diligence.

Give insights on geographical cycles, ecosystems, and biodiversity of not just their gardens but other parts of the country and the world.

Encourage them to share their school kitchen garden experience with their neighborhood friends at home.

Educate them on climate change, its implications, and the superhero role they can play at their level to solve the larger problem.

Advocate the need for natural and sustainable living through class storytelling, movies, and field trips.

Appreciate dirty hands and sweaty heads by the end of school hours.

Make gardening and sustainable living a part of your child's identity for their healthy growth. Spend quality family time and nurture valuable friendships with our green gifting and DIY grow kits .

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12 Reasons Why Backyard Gardening Is Important

Farming has been part of some people’s lives because of their hard-working ancestors. To some, however, farming is almost impossible because of their city life and the constant development around them. But, do you know that anyone can start their little farming ground? That’s right!

Backyard gardening has enabled many people to create their own sources of food, minimize their stress level, improve their mood, exercise, maintain good mental health, create relationships and a community, and so many more.

If you’re on the verge of creating your backyard garden and need a little push to do so, you may find some useful information in this article. We will discuss with you the 12 reasons why backyard gardening is essential.

Reasons Why Backyard Gardening Is Important

For some people, backyard gardening is “just another hobby”,  but for others, it is a means to improve their overall life and food quality. If you have a vacant garden in your house, then it’s the best time to start practicing your gardening skills.

Here are 12 benefits of backyard gardening.

1. It improves your mood

Backyard gardening can significantly increase your self-esteem and improve your mood.

A research was conducted on people diagnosed with depression and who partook in a gardening activity. During this session, expert psychiatrists monitored their mental health and recorded that their anxiety and depression levels had decreased. The participants’ improvements lasted for months after the 12-week program had stopped.

Researchers also found out that there are bacteria in the soil that increase one’s level of serotonin, which is a chemical known to increase positive feelings over one’s well-being.

Shinri-yoku

There’s a Japanese phrase, “shinri-yoku,” that translates to “green-bathing.” Many people interpret this as a positive reinforcement of spending time with nature. By doing gardening, you allow yourself to be immersed in nature, which positively affects your mood and mental health.

Most gardeners suggest that gardening at least 45 minutes every morning, before engaging in any other activity in the house, can help you prepare both mentally and physically.

2. It reduces stress

As a result of the first reason, backyard gardening is a way to reduce the stress you’re experiencing.

Another set of research has been conducted with participants who had recently experienced a stressful event in their lives. Half of the participants were asked to do gardening activities, and the other half were asked to read.

After partaking in the given activities, researchers recorded that the stress levels of the participants who did gardening were significantly lower and that the activity had left them with a positive state of mind. Meanwhile, the other group’s stress level had only decreased minimally.

If you’re in a job or environment that constantly makes you stressed, doing backyard gardening can be extremely helpful to you. By doing this activity a couple of hours a week, you can be sure that you’ll have better control over your stress and emotions.

3. It fights diseases

Backyard gardening not only helps you mentally and emotionally, but also physically. Indeed, since you’re out gardening in the sun, you absorb the sun’s nutrients that your skin needs — vitamin D.

Research shows that by spending just 30 minutes under the sun, your skin (depending on your skin tone and the amount of clothes you are wearing) can produce vitamin D of around 8,000 to 50,000 international units. With this amount of IU, there’s no doubt that you can boost your immune system and strengthen your body.

Based on this research, many people have connected lower risks of contracting diseases and just hanging out under the sun. Such diseases may include:

• Prostate cancer
• Breast cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Multiple sclerosis
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Type II diabetes
• Psoriasis flares, and many more.

Many people have been skeptical about gardening since it has been linked with skin cancer due to too much exposure to the sun. Although, it’s worth noting that gardening won’t require you to spend the entire day out in the sun. Rather, most gardeners only spend 30 minutes to an hour gardening in the morning, and another set in the afternoon.

4. It improves memory

Backyard gardening has also been linked by some researchers to improved memory. Indeed, during a study conducted in 2014, patients who had been diagnosed with dementia were asked to engage in gardening. Researchers have discovered that people who participated in this activity increased their brain nerve growth, which is responsible for our memories.

In Norway and the Netherlands, people who were diagnosed with dementia have the option to participate in their Greencare programs, in which people spend most of their days gardening or farming.

5. It helps with addiction recovery

Another benefit of backyard gardening is that it helps anyone who’s recovering from addiction. Indeed, some studies suggest that people who experienced alcohol addiction were able to significantly improve when they did gardening, as touching plants procures positive feelings.

6. It builds strength

If you’re always busy and don’t have the time to go to the gym, then gardening could be your next hobby. As if lifting pots and plants from one place to another was not enough exercise, cutting and raking grass, digging, shoveling, and chopping wood provide a whole new set of exercises that your body can take.

Studies also suggested that working in the garden can help people with childhood obesity and decrease weight gain.

There are many reasons to spend time in a garden. It offers humans tremendous health benefits and is a recreational activity that makes you feel relaxed. But, did you know that there are ways to use your garden to make money? Read our article to know how to make money from gardening . 

7. It provides a source of food

One of the most obvious reasons why backyard gardening is important is because it can become one of your sources of food. Not only are you sure that the produce is fresh and organic, but you also don’t have to pay anything to get herbs and vegetables.

Also, by having a food haven in your backyard, you don’t need to worry about supermarkets closing or whether there are changes of products depending on the seasons. Wouldn’t it be nice to just sit down with your family and eat a salad that came from your backyard?

8. It minimizes your grocery budget

As a consequence of the previously mentioned reason, having fruits, vegetables, and herbs in your backyard can reduce your grocery budget. Whether you want cabbage, chilies, carrots, and anything else, you can start planting these in your backyard.

Other gardeners were proud to mention that they were able to reduce most of their grocery budget by 40% thanks to the ample food supply coming right from their garden.

Another reason for backyard gardening that is worth mentioning is that if you have too much food for your family’s consumption, you can sell your excess produce to your friends, family, and neighbors. This could turn into a small business that you can do to earn some extra cash from the sideline.

9. It helps save the Earth

In everything that we do, there have been radical changes in our environment. For instance, doing backyard gardening can reduce your personal and family’s carbon footprint. By growing your own plants, fruits, and vegetables, you can help save a lot of birds and bees.

It’s also a good idea to incorporate some birdhouses or areas from which animals can drink water so that you can help other species as well.

10. It is a recreational activity for the family

If you’re wondering what could be an exciting and productive activity for your kids, then backyard gardening should be at the top of your list. Children can learn how to take care of their own plants and, when the time comes to start growing fruits, they can feel empowered and get a feeling of achievement.

Besides, some studies observed that children who were able to learn new skills while gardening had encouraged other children to do the same. By simply encouraging your kids to give you a hand with your gardening activities, you can help them physically, mentally, and socially.

11. It makes a great bridge to create a community

Community gardening has been included in the many governmental programs mainly because it helps promote healthy and helpful people around the community. Simply exchanging knowledge and helping one another to plant crops promotes a sense of commitment to one another.

12. It increases the value of your property

The last reason why backyard gardening is important is that it increases the overall value of your property. Indeed, research shows that landscaping alone increases your property’s value by at least 77% and can improve the overall appeal of your curb.

Out of all the improvements that you can make, both inside and outside your house, gardening provides you with the most chances of selling your house at a much higher price. Also, compared to improving your property by adding extensions, driveways, and basements, gardening requires the least amount of money.

Growing your own plants is a very rewarding activity. But if you live in the city, the lack of outdoor space may be one of the biggest challenges that you will face if you want to take up gardening as a hobby. The solution to this problem is backyard urban gardening. If you are not familiar with this term, check out our article where we  explained what backyard urban gardening is . 

Final Thoughts

As you have seen in this article, there are plenty of reasons why people enjoy and promote gardening. Not only does gardening help you improve your physical and mental health, you can also benefit financially from this activity.  With all the reasons we’ve provided as to why backyard gardening is important, we do not doubt that you’ll be able to start this activity on your own very soon.

Whether you have huge backyard space or not, you will be able to start gardening in a matter of hours. If this is your first time to try gardening, you can read beginner gardening guides on the internet to boost your confidence. The results of gardening are not instant, but as long as you patiently and diligently do this activity, you will reap its benefits sooner than you think. 

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Essay on Garden for Students and Children

500+ words essay on garden.

Essay on Garden- For me, the garden is an important part of the house. From an early age, I have an interest in gardening. Garden is a place that gives relaxation to the mind and soul. Besides, gardening can be an interesting and productive hobby. Also, it teaches a person the value of patience, hard work, and love and affection. Because gardening takes a lot of effort in growing and maintaining. It also gives peace to the person who takes care of it.

Benefits of Garden

The garden is the only place in the house which calm senses and give a pleasing feeling to the mind and body. Also, you can install a gazebo in the garden and enjoy your garden’s beauty while sitting on it.

Besides, another benefit of the garden is that you can grow organic vegetables and fruits at home. The quantity of this product is large so you can share it with your neighbors.

Also, the homegrown fruits and vegetables are more delicious and taste better than the fruits and vegetables that we buy from the market.

Moreover, my garden has many flowering plants that give a pleasuring fragrance that makes the environment light and aromatic. The flowering plants that I have in my garden include roses, sunflowers, dahlia, jasmine, marigold, common, night-blooming jasmine, tuberose flower, hibiscus and many more. But, my all-time favorite is night-blooming jasmine whose pleasing smell spread at night and make the whole house aromatic.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Maintenance of a Garden

Everyone thinks that planting trees and plants is an easy task and anyone with a trowel, lopper, and weeder can easily do it. But, only gardeners and the people who do gardening knows the effort and energy that gardening needs. Besides, only water is not enough for plants they also need manure. Also, they need daily care in order to keep them healthy and fresh .

Moreover, most of the plants are green which means they need proper sunlight . Many people hire professional gardeners for taking care of their garden but doing it on our own is more pleasurable. Also, it helps us to connect with the garden.

Growing the Garden

Most of the plants and trees that are in my garden are either planted by me or my family members. We go to the nursery to buy seasonal plants every season and most of the flowering plants are replaced every season as they die due to climate change. After buying them we plant these saplings or plants in a strategical order. So, that garden looks more colorful.

To conclude, we can say that gardening is a very good and productive habit. Also, it helps a person to establish a connection with the greenery and love towards nature.

Besides, for most of the people, the best memories of childhood are attached to the garden. Garden is the place where families share their evening tea and discussion that keep their bond stronger. Above all, a garden is the most amazing place of the house no matter what the season is.

FAQs about Essay on Garden

Q.1 What is the purpose of a garden? A.1 Most people love the plants and trees that’s why they have a garden in their homes. Besides, this they provide a relaxing and calm surrounding with fresh air. And it decorates a side our house and gives a pleasing smell that makes the whole house aromatic.

Q.2 Why green plants grow better outside than inside? A.2 Green plants grow better outside because in comparison to indoor plants outdoor plants need sunlight to grow. This sunlight helps them to make their food by the process called photosynthesis which they consume.

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Essay on Importance of Gardening

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Gardening in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Gardening

Introduction.

Gardening is a fun and rewarding activity. It not only beautifies our surroundings but also offers numerous benefits.

Health Benefits

Gardening is a form of exercise that improves physical health. It also reduces stress, enhancing mental wellbeing.

Environmental Impact

Gardens absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, helping to combat climate change. They also provide habitats for wildlife.

Learning and Creativity

Gardening teaches patience and responsibility. It also fosters creativity, as we design and care for our garden.

Gardening is important for our health, the environment, and our personal development. Let’s start gardening today!

250 Words Essay on Importance of Gardening

The therapeutic value of gardening.

Gardening, often perceived as a mundane activity, is in fact a multifaceted discipline that offers a plethora of benefits. It serves as a therapeutic outlet, fostering a connection with nature that is vital in our increasingly urbanized world.

Physical Health and Gardening

Gardening is a form of exercise that promotes physical health. The activity of digging, planting, and watering involves considerable physical effort, contributing to cardiovascular health. Moreover, exposure to sunlight during gardening provides a natural source of vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune function.

Mental Health Benefits

Gardening also offers significant mental health benefits. The nurturing of plants can be a meditative practice that helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The sense of accomplishment derived from watching a plant grow and thrive can boost self-esteem and promote a positive outlook.

Ecological Impact

The ecological impact of gardening is another crucial aspect. It encourages biodiversity, providing habitats for various insects and birds. Additionally, gardening promotes environmental awareness and responsibility, as it necessitates an understanding of the natural cycles and the delicate balance of ecosystems.

Community Building

Finally, gardening can foster community spirit. Community gardens are spaces where individuals can work together, share knowledge, and build relationships. They serve as a platform for social interaction and community development.

In conclusion, gardening is a valuable practice that promotes physical and mental health, ecological balance, and community cohesion. As we navigate through the complexities of the 21st century, the importance of gardening is more relevant than ever.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Gardening

Gardening, often perceived as a hobby or pastime, holds a profound significance that extends beyond the realm of simple recreation. It is a multifaceted activity that intertwines human life with nature, contributing to both physical and mental health, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.

The Physical and Mental Health Benefits

Gardening is a form of moderate-intensity exercise that can help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and other health-related issues. It involves a variety of physical activities such as digging, planting, weeding, and watering, which can improve strength, flexibility, and motor skills.

Beyond the physical benefits, gardening also has substantial mental health benefits. It can serve as a form of mindfulness meditation, providing a respite from our fast-paced, technology-driven lives. The act of nurturing plants, observing their growth, and feeling the soil can be therapeutic, helping to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the accomplishment derived from cultivating and maintaining a garden can boost self-esteem and promote a sense of purpose.

Gardening, particularly when it involves the cultivation of native plants and organic practices, can have a significant positive impact on the environment. Gardens act as mini ecosystems, providing habitat for local wildlife, including insects, birds, and small mammals. They can also improve air and soil quality, as plants absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants, while enriching the soil with organic matter.

Moreover, vegetable and fruit gardens contribute to food sustainability, reducing dependence on commercial agriculture, which often involves harmful pesticides and fertilizers. This not only benefits the environment but also ensures healthier and more nutritious food for the gardener.

Community Engagement and Education

Community gardens can serve as a social hub, fostering a sense of community and promoting social interaction. They can provide a platform for knowledge sharing, where experienced gardeners can guide novices, leading to skill development and lifelong learning.

Furthermore, gardening can be an effective educational tool, especially for students studying biology, ecology, and environmental science. It offers a hands-on understanding of plant life cycles, photosynthesis, pollination, and other key concepts, making learning more engaging and applicable.

In conclusion, gardening is much more than a leisure activity. It is a conduit for physical and mental well-being, environmental preservation, and community building. By embracing gardening, we not only enhance our personal lives but also contribute to a more sustainable and interconnected world. The importance of gardening, therefore, cannot be overstated, as it is an activity that nurtures not just plants, but people and the planet as well.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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