首页grown Foods From the Garden Make Family Meals Healthier
Planting your own garden puts fresh, healthy veggies right in your backyard. There’s nothing like a homegrown tomato, ripened by the sun and picked at the peak of the season. And having fresh produce available means it’ll be even 更容易包含 at least one serving at every meal and snack.
Plus, gardening offers health benefits beyond nutrition. It’s an enjoyable way to fit in more physical activity and outdoor time each week as you dig, 覆盖物, 修剪, 给那些讨厌的杂草浇水. It can also help relieve stress and anxiety.
You don’t need a huge yard or tons of equipment to garden. The main thing you need is sunshine, about six hours a day, and easy access to water.
园艺新手?
Try starting small with container gardening. It’s a great way to experiment without getting overwhelmed. Get ready-to-plant seedlings (also called plant starts) from fellow gardeners or local garden stores to give yourself a strong start. Raised garden beds offer a clean slate of prepared soil, and store-bought kits make them easy to assemble. Some versions are designed for accessibility to gardeners using a wheelchair. To get started, fill with good soil that drains well, then get ready to plant.
决定种植什么.
计划一个 五彩缤纷的农作物 to get a good variety of vitamins, minerals and nutrients from your harvest. 考虑有主题的种植, 比如种西红柿, 香菜, 辣椒 and onions to make your own salsa.
没有太多的空间?
Look for container-friendly varieties of your favorites. For example, try tomatoes or berries that grow more compactly than in-ground versions. Or think vertically: Use existing structures as support for climbing vines, hang planters along a fence or from overhead hooks or invest in a vertical tower garden. 土豆, 甜菜, 生菜, 圣女果, 辣椒, eggplant and summer squash grow well in containers.
日照不足?
选择草药, 生菜或其他蔬菜, which can thrive in partial shade and pack nutrients into your meals. Or explore the possibilities of a windowsill or rooftop garden.
没有院子?
Plant small containers of herbs and keep them by a sunny window. You’ll be able to snip just what you need to pack flavor into your healthy recipes without having to buy a whole package from the store. Another option is to join or start a community garden, where neighbors get together to grow food and share in the harvest. 你可以在你所在的地区找一个 communitygarden.org(链接在新窗口中打开).
让孩子们参与进来.
孩子们喜欢弄脏自己的手. Gardening is a great opportunity to teach them about how food is grown. As a bonus, kids may be more likely to try foods they planted or harvested. Include quick-growing items like radishes and 生菜s so they won’t have to wait all summer to taste the fruits of their labor. Plants such as 圣女果 or blackberries are easy to pick and just need a quick wash before snacking. Bonus: 首页grown fruits and veggies can serve as great inspiration for make-your-own salad night!