Earth Day is the perfect time to think about ways we can tread a little lighter on our planet. One of the most impactful steps we can take is to grow some of our own food, no matter how limited our space may be. Having a garden, even just a few potted plants, allows us to reduce our reliance on industrialized food production while cultivating sustainability right at home.
The industrial food system has an enormous environmental footprint, accounting for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. From plowing fields to fertilizing crops to harvesting, processing, packaging, and transporting food across vast distances, modern agriculture uses staggering amounts of fossil fuels. By contrast, growing food in your own yard or on a patio requires virtually zero emissions beyond what you expend doing the gardening itself.
When you grow your own fruits and veggies, you also eliminate the need for plastic packaging, which creates tremendous pollution and singles biggest use of petroleum products. With each bite of homegrown lettuce or strawberry, you’re making an eco-friendly choice.
Of course, any garden will have its own modest impact through the need for water, tools, fertilizer, and so on. But by adopting sustainable practices like using compost, collecting rainwater, and hand cultivating, you can make your garden extremely low-impact. Simply cutting out the transportation piece makes an enormous difference.
You don’t need a lot of space to start growing food at home. Pots and containers are perfect for urban gardeners or those with just a small patio or balcony. You can grow lettuces, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and a surprising amount of produce in a tiny footprint. For those blessed with a bit more space, raised beds are an excellent eco-friendly choice. And of course, nothing beats an in-ground garden, no matter how small.
This Earth Day, celebrate by getting your hands dirty and starting your own edible garden. Even just a pot of basil on the windowsill helps reduce your carbon footprint. Watching something you’ve nurtured yourself flourish is incredibly rewarding. And extremely fresh, local food simply tastes better. You’ll not only be giving back to the Earth, but giving your taste buds a real gift as well.
So this Earth Day, no matter where you live or how little space you have, consider starting your own miniature farm. Once you get started you will find it hard to control your cravings for growing your own food to save money. Your planet and your palate will thank you.