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The Home Q&A - Oasis Backyard Farms
03/02/2010 - By Renee Mongiovi
Oasis Backyard Farms
Servicing Monmouth County
(732) 294-8703
www.oasisbackyardfarms.com
Question:
Why are so many families interested in starting their own organic vegetable gardens?
Answer:
This is truly a growing trend and for many important reasons…
Health seems to be the biggest one!
It’s well known people are becoming increasingly concerned with modern farming methods which traditionally utilize chemicals, pesticides and questionable handling. While these methods of agriculture may help the farmers produce prettier and larger quantities of produce, we must all consider the long term effects on our families, our children and our planet? The Joni Mitchell song “Big Yellow Taxi” famously drives this point home. “I don’t care ‘bout the spots on my apples, leave me the birds and the bees”. More and more consumers are choosing to purchase organic products and produce because organically grown produce offers a healthier choice while reducing our personal carbon footprint. It’s well known that the FDA regulations and inspection process for “certified organic” produce is severely lacking. So how do you REALLY know what you’re getting? The simple answer is: Grow your own!
Another major consideration is nutrition. It’s well known that by the time a consumer purchases their “fresh” produce at a grocery store… it’s not really as fresh as you might think. Vegetables loose a great deal of their nutritional value in a matter of days! Unless what you buy is grown locally and picked daily, you may not be getting everything you think that you are (vitamins). So how can a family get all the nutrition from their produce?? Grow your own!
Education/Recreation and bringing the family together!
Bringing the family together these days is more challenging than ever!! Our children are so very distracted by today’s technology and their numerous electronic devices… (actually who are we kidding… the adults are too) that we seldom find time for some of the magic and wonder that nature provides. Try asking this question to a young child… “How does a carrot grow?” Their answer may surprise you! “On a tree,” “in a bush” or my personal favorite “at the grocery store!” You’d be surprised how much enjoyment, wonder, education and sense of accomplishment children get from growing/nurturing their own food with their parents. Studies show that children are more likely to eat vegetables that they have had a part in cultivating. So they may even eat better! There is probably no better way to bring the family together in a creative, healthy and outdoor activity, then with this fulfilling endeavor. Grow your own!
Going greener and reducing our carbon footprint!
Although this is listed last, it is by no means any less important. Clearly, our generation and the generations before us have done a poor job of caring for this little pebble hurtling through space that we call Earth. On average, our food travels 5,000-6,000 miles to reach our markets. Might make sense in the winter, but the remaining 3 seasons give us all an opportunity to reduce our personal carbon footprint by making our backyards our own produce isle. Reducing carbon emission, creating oxygen, recycling and composting food scraps, newspapers, grass clipping and leaves are just a few easy things that can be done to enrich our earth and minimize what we a dumping into landfills. How can YOU help to make this earth a better place for your children and your children’s children? Grow your own!
Oasis Backyard Farms
Designing, Creating and Maintaining Organic Gardens for Homeowners
oasisbackyardfarms.com
732.294.8703
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