yardfoodtess

I run a little garden shop.

I also grow a garden in my backyard. Every year. And as winter turns into spring, this year will be no different.

Except it is...

This growing season brings with it the uncertainty of the Coronavirus. Not to mention the meltdown of world financial systems. And since we're at it – let's not forget about the climate crisis.

Shit.

It also brings with it lockdowns, supply chain disruptions and hysteria.

Shit.

So how should we navigate these unsettled waters? How can we stay calm in the middle of a shit storm?

Three. Little. Words.

Grow a garden. Grow it for your health, your state of mind and for the planet.

Here's 3 reasons it's the smart thing to do

Remember what mom used to say? Eat your vegetables! Turns out she wasn't kidding. Good nutrition is critical if you're to thrive in a virus hostile world.

But here's the thing...

All veggies are not created equal. Despite the marvel of our modern industrialized food system (the fact you can buy fresh lettuce any time of year) big agribusiness generally offers nutrient deficient goods. Not to complain, but the truth is this food leaves us vulnerable. And worse – for most of us – this food is the norm.

Your job, my friend, is to remedy that. Today.

Grow food in your yard. Eat fresh greens until you can't swallow another bite. Pull turnips from the ground and roast them in your oven. Pluck red tomatoes and wonder why the hell you never knew they tasted so good.

Homegrown veggies are like a vitamin pill on steroids. Grow some. You'll be doing yourself the biggest favor of your life.

Stress. Public enemy number one.

Experts agree that gardening helps reduce stress and improves positive mood. Remember, being stressed consumes energy and nutrients which could otherwise be used to protect your body and improve immune function. And in the Age of Corona, that's critical.

Here's good news....

What better way to cap pent up anxiety & fear than to grab a trowel and stick your hands in the earth. Breath fresh air, feel sunshine on your cheek. Close your eyes and stop thinking for a minute...

As stress levels fall and happiness hormones rise, you'll sleep better, be less irritable and have an improved outlook on life. And all that sunshine will increase your Vitamin D levels (another plus for immune function).

Call me crazy but gardening is beginning to sound a lot like your doctors recommendations on how NOT to get sick.

Before COVID-19 became the dominant news headline, climate change was the world's biggest concern. It still is.

While it can feel like we've taken our eye off of the global warming ball, gardening can put us back on the right track. Growing food in the yard, on the porch, even up on the roof helps reduce our nasty carbon footprint in more ways than one.

Small is the new big...

It is estimated that industrialized agriculture & factory farming around the globe are responsible for nearly 25% of our climate problems. But reports show that eating a more sustainable diet can have positive impacts on those statistics.

While a home garden may seem small & insignificant, when multiplied by throngs of backyard gardeners this current crisis is likely to produce, we're now registering on the impact column of the fact sheet.

Small changes in how we eat can go a long way in reducing our collective footprint. As well as how healthy we remain in these crazy times.

Let's get growing!

Here's my Top 10 Tips on starting a garden

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