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Edible Landscaping: The Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

By on October 7, 2021
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By Hana Rehman

Eating well can be easier said than done. For people to supply themselves with fresh produce, regular grocery store trips are typically in order. However, when you are on a constant back and forth between your house and the local supermarket, it can get draining. This is where the practice of edible landscaping comes in.

When you grow your own produce, you save yourself from trips to the grocery store and reap a variety of benefits. Below, the folks from Angi have outlined the basics of edible landscaping and the health and wellness benefits it can yield.

Edible Landscaping Defined

Put simply, edible landscaping is the practice of growing edible plants around your yard. This practice is different from regular gardening in that you don’t segment your vegetables and herbs away from your yard. Rather, you integrate your herbs and vegetables into your yard’s design and take advantage of the aesthetic qualities of growing produce.

The Perks of Edible Landscaping

unnamed (1)The practice of edible landscaping features an assortment of benefits. Not only does this practice yield fresh ingredients that save you money down the line, but it’s also a therapeutic activity that can impact your health for the better. Below, we’ve outlined some of the best benefits of edible landscaping.

 

Fresh Air

When you dedicate yourself to edible landscaping, you have the perfect excuse to go outside for some fresh air. When watering your plants, you also have the opportunity to soak up some vitamin D. Vitamin D is particularly important and has even been shown to prevent and treat immune-related diseases.

Stress Relief

Not only does growing your own food give you an excuse to go outside and get some fresh air, but it can make you happier. The act of gardening has been found to lower the amounts of cortisol (stress hormones) in your body.

Money Saved

Gardening can save you time and money in the long run. When you produce high-yield plants with inexpensive seeds, you get the best bang for your buck. The more effort you put into your garden, the more money you will save on fresh produce. If you have an abundance of leftover products, you can even offer some to the neighbors as a gift.

Here are several high-yield food plants:

  • Tomatoes
  • Pole beans
  • Kale
  • Alliums (onions, garlic, chives)

Healthier Eating Habits

One of the most obvious benefits of growing your own food is that it enables you to eat healthier. It can be tempting to eat junk food simply because it’s convenient. Once you have easy access to fresh produce from your garden, however, it’s a game-changer. Suddenly, you have nutritious foods at your fingertips.

Edible landscaping is a great way to improve the look of your yard and your overall health and wellbeing. When you grow your own food, you reap nutritional, financial, and mental health benefits that can change your life.

Remember, when you start growing your own produce, the hardest part is getting started. Try not to get overwhelmed, and just take things one step at a time. You’ll be eating healthier and living better in no time.

 

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Hana Rehman is a Chicago-based writer who helps Angi create helpful and compelling stories worth sharing. She’s covered topics ranging from interior decorating to gardening, and enjoys sharing her love for home improvement and the great outdoors. In her spare time you’ll find her hiking, walking her dog, and listening to audiobooks.

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Image of Tray of Vegetables by Lisa

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