As a society, we are trending toward healthy, clean eating. There are many motivations that cause families to question their eating habits and overall health. As people understand more about how environmental factors and foods affect the body, we are questioning the standards that have been deemed acceptable. Is it acceptable for there to be a paragraph of ingredients in a product? Is it acceptable for that product to contain ingredients that can’t be pronounced?
Families are questioning what’s in their food, and it is just natural to want to get back to basics. I laughed at myself the other day when I said, “Organic vegetable gardening is an emerging industry.” How is that possible? It is the “real” oldest profession, wink, wink. As a society, everyone wants to have a better understanding of where food comes from. There is a desire within households to grow their own food, either to be sure they know what’s in it or to learn how food is really produced. The fact of the matter is, whatever motivates someone to get out in the garden, the benefits are profound. That is why one in three households is food gardening. Why not do it together as a community?
In areas where growing vegetables is a challenge either due to poor soil quality, not enough space, or a desire to grow together, community gardens are on the rise. A community vegetable garden offers a unique experience for members of that community to grow together in the truest sense of the words. It helps families teach their children about nutrition in a way that inspires them to try new foods that are whole, nutritious and delicious.
Food gardening also is a form of therapy where the world just slows down. It’s almost like a vacation, where the stress of the day can melt away when you turn the corner and see your first tomato on the vine or harvest your own salad. You see the actual fruits of your labor. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are challenges in the garden, too. That’s why vegetable gardening is an emerging skill that will soon be an accredited, respected profession in the community.
After some trial and error, the challenges and benefits of growing your own vegetables become clear. In a community garden, there is a level of collaboration and support for each other that provides a path to overcome gardening challenges. There is nothing like grabbing your shears, and someone you love, and heading out to the garden to harvest your side dish or main course for dinner that night. In this life, you might be poor, but if you know how to garden, you will never be hungry. Gardening is a means to feed ourselves and get back to nature. That is a true self-sustaining food supply.
When you grow your own vegetables, you know that what goes in is what comes out. Using nutrient-rich organic compost and Florida-friendly seasonal plants, you will get the freshest, nutrient-rich vegetables right from your own garden. The Laureate Park Community Gardens are an excellent example of a community coming together to educate and grow vegetables in their two community gardens. They offer vegetable gardening workshops to residents who are new to gardening as well as seasoned gardeners who just need some occasional gardening tips. Laureate Park encourages its residents to learn and grow together in the garden.
Don’t forget to plant your spring garden in late February or early March to miss the last frost and get the most out of the season before the summer heat creeps in. Happy gardening!
