It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
Why grow your own vegetables? We’ve been talking a lot about this topic lately at supper time with family, and with volunteers over at the nursery’s organic vegetable garden. Some of our conclusions:
Economic benefits abound
The University of Missouri extension services noted that a $50 investment in gardening supplies (seed and compost) could ultimately produce over $1,100 in produce. In my experience with tomatoes this spring, an investment of less than $25 in tomato seedlings, compost and organic fertilizer yielded over 200 pounds of tomatoes. These would have a value in the grocery store of over $2 per pound. That kind of math works for me! I am so anxious for the fall season to start up.
Healthy eating
By growing your own vegetables organically, you avoid toxic chemicals that are routinely used to produce them on an industrial scale. In Florida they use methyl bromide, a highly toxic soil fumigant, to produce strip-mined tomatoes that are hard as a rock… and entirely without taste. Study after study has shown that people who eat organic produce benefit tremendously from all the nutrients.
Physical health
The act of gardening and exercise is yet another benefit. Getting a little sunshine (vitamin D), digging in the dirt, and listening to the birds sing, just makes me feel good – and I don’t have to go to the gym!
Saving gas
One less trip to the grocery store will save you gas. In addition, all of the products at the grocery have to be trucked in, many for hundreds or thousands of miles. In the case of out-of-season asparagus, it’s flown in from Ecuador daily.
Maybe you already have a productive garden… and I’m preaching to the choir. But you can always use these ideas to persuade non-gardening friends and members of your family to cut down on their trips to HEB, and cut down on their visits to their doctors… by growing their own.
Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a gardening question, send it to me via email: iathyme@yahoo.com. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748