Your Green Garden
by Cecilia Gonzalez, posted on 2010-02-23 17:48:58
I heard somewhere that gardening was exercise so I decided to find out the most I could about gardening. I was very happy to find that it is an awesome way to save money, exercise and eat in an earth-friendly way!
Saving Money: Think about how many servings a day you are “supposed” to eat of fruits and vegetables… FIVE! Five servings, which is a lot of money! Well, not if you plant your own fruits and veggies. Fruit trees are very popular with Latinos. You will always find a tía or tío or primo that has an orange tree or a lemon tree, but what about the veggies? They are easy to care for and are delicious. Did you know homegrown lettuce is sweet? You just have to know your stuff: For example, cabbages, lettuces, cauliflowers, broccoli and kale must be transplanted, or they will be a failure. Root crops such as Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, etc., must not be transplanted. Celery may be transplanted in June or July. Tomatoes are easy to grow in almost any climate. If you don't have room for a full vegetable garden, you can still grow tomatoes in a pot on your patio. Cool, huh?
Exercise: Gardening and yard care are forms of exercise that allow you to do something calming and at the same time you can work out various muscle groups and get a moderate level of cardiovascular exercise. You can use your whole body while you do your gardening. It can involve stretching, weightlifting and walking.
Earth-Friendly Eating: As you may realize, the less space for commercial farms we need, the fewer rain forests and natural habitats are destroyed. Also, think of the pesticides you eat, even if you buy organic, there is no guarantee those plants were grown near other crops that were exposed to pesticides.
It’s not that complicated, all you need is a pot, a plant, some soil, water and sunlight. You don’t have to eliminate your entire consumption of store bought fruits and veggies, even half would make a huge difference on the planet, your wallet and your waist!
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