Just the other day I was talking to a new homeowner who was shopping at my local nursery. As we spoke he told me about a tree in his yard with red flowers that he could not identify. I asked if he had a photo of it as I would be glad to see if I could Identify it for him. He did, and it turned out to be a pomegranate.
He was happy to know what it was and I was glad to have helped him but the whole thing got me thinking. While home gardening is a growing trend, most people still obtain the majority of their produce from the grocery store or a local vendor at the farmer’s market and many of them have no idea what their favorite foods look like while growing. I mean, from saffron and peanuts to kiwi and cacao - do you know what some of your favorite foods look like while growing?
As more and more people are becoming interested in sustainable living, however, interest in plant diversity and permaculture is also peaking. Quiz yourself on how many of the following plants you recognize while on the vine, tree, or bush.
Chickpeas, aka Garbanzo Beans - on the plant, in the bowl and as hummus.
He was happy to know what it was and I was glad to have helped him but the whole thing got me thinking. While home gardening is a growing trend, most people still obtain the majority of their produce from the grocery store or a local vendor at the farmer’s market and many of them have no idea what their favorite foods look like while growing. I mean, from saffron and peanuts to kiwi and cacao - do you know what some of your favorite foods look like while growing?
As more and more people are becoming interested in sustainable living, however, interest in plant diversity and permaculture is also peaking. Quiz yourself on how many of the following plants you recognize while on the vine, tree, or bush.
Chickpeas, aka Garbanzo Beans - on the plant, in the bowl and as hummus.
Pineapples Sprout from the top of the plant.
The incredible Cacao fruit grows on trees and takes approximately five years to produce. Chocolate, I love it so much I wrote a book about it.
Peanuts (which are also called earth nuts, groundnuts, goober peas, monkey nuts, pygmy nuts, and pig nuts) grow off vines near the ground.
Juicy kiwis grow on vines, too.
Avocados hang off trees looking almost like green water balloons waiting to drop on unsuspecting heads.
The Starfruit is also referred to as carambola and is one of my favorites!
Cinnamon is obtained from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree.
Fragrant vanilla, the second most expensive spice after saffron, hangs off of vines as well.
Black Pepper is a flowering vine in the Piperaceae family, and where would the world be without it!
How did you do? Did any of these photos surprise you?
By the way, the fellow I was talking to in the beginning of this post mentioned that he was thinking of planting a garden in his new back yard as a way of reducing his carbon footprint. Great idea!
Looking for simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint? Why not start in your own backyard? Most people don’t think of gardening when they think about saving fuel or energy. However, growing a backyard garden can save significant amounts of fossil fuel and reduce the carbon emissions.
You will save about two pounds of carbon from entering the atmosphere for each pound of produce you grow for your family. That is because most produce sold in stores must be shipped, often for thousands of miles, and requires many gallons of fuel to get to your table. Your backyard garden will also save you gas. The more yard you have dedicated to a garden, the less you will have to mow!
Saving energy is only one good reason to grow a garden. Here are several more:
Lower your grocery bill. Growing some of your own food in your backyard can put a welcome dent in your food budget during the growing season and beyond. Consider this: the average price for fresh tomatoes in the supermarket is about $2 per pound. Most gardeners get 10 or more pounds of tomatoes per plant. That adds up to at least $200 worth of produce for a modest five tomato plants, which can typically be purchased for about $2 apiece from the garden center. If you grow from seed, the savings are even more: a typical packet costs less than $2 and usually contains enough seed to meet your needs for more than one season.
If you have a small yard, you may think you don’t have enough space to grow food for your family. However, it only takes about a tenth of an acre to produce most of the vegetables one person will eat in an entire year, according to gardening expert Maria Iannotti. Even a small garden plot can produce significant food. For example, you could grow the five tomato plants mentioned above in only about 30 square feet if you trellis them. Even if you have no yard, many vegetables are easy to grow in containers on your porch or balcony.
Improve your health. Eating fruits and vegetables is a proven way to stay healthier. Many studies have found that people who eat more fruits and vegetables suffer less from cancer and chronic diseases such as heart disease, gastrointestinal disease and impaired vision. It’s a lot easier to get more vegetables into your diet when they are growing affordably right in your backyard! Your own vegetables will taste better, too, because you can eat them when they’re freshly picked and still contain the maximum amount of flavor and nutrients.
Good-tasting food isn’t the only heath benefit gardening offers. It’s also an easy and enjoyable way to spend time in the fresh air and sunshine getting healthy, moderate exercise. Most people agree that gardening is pleasant and relaxing, and it has actually been clinically proven to can help alleviate stress.
Help save the bees. Bees are vital to our economy and to the environment because they are such excellent pollinators. Many farmers depend on bees to ensure good crops. However, our bee population is at risk due to colony collapse disorder. Therefore, it’s important to help bees in any way we can.
Planting a backyard garden is an excellent way to ensure that the bees and other beneficial pollinating insects survive in your area. Although many common garden vegetables, such as cucumber and squash, have flowers that attract bees, planting flowers and herbs in your backyard garden will make them even happier.
Teach your kids about nature and healthy living. If you have kids, there is no better way to introduce them to healthy habits than to involve them in growing a garden. Children are much more likely to want to eat vegetables they have grown themselves. Most kids are excited to watch tiny seeds sprout and grow.
By the way, the fellow I was talking to in the beginning of this post mentioned that he was thinking of planting a garden in his new back yard as a way of reducing his carbon footprint. Great idea!
Looking for simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint? Why not start in your own backyard? Most people don’t think of gardening when they think about saving fuel or energy. However, growing a backyard garden can save significant amounts of fossil fuel and reduce the carbon emissions.
You will save about two pounds of carbon from entering the atmosphere for each pound of produce you grow for your family. That is because most produce sold in stores must be shipped, often for thousands of miles, and requires many gallons of fuel to get to your table. Your backyard garden will also save you gas. The more yard you have dedicated to a garden, the less you will have to mow!
Saving energy is only one good reason to grow a garden. Here are several more:
Lower your grocery bill. Growing some of your own food in your backyard can put a welcome dent in your food budget during the growing season and beyond. Consider this: the average price for fresh tomatoes in the supermarket is about $2 per pound. Most gardeners get 10 or more pounds of tomatoes per plant. That adds up to at least $200 worth of produce for a modest five tomato plants, which can typically be purchased for about $2 apiece from the garden center. If you grow from seed, the savings are even more: a typical packet costs less than $2 and usually contains enough seed to meet your needs for more than one season.
If you have a small yard, you may think you don’t have enough space to grow food for your family. However, it only takes about a tenth of an acre to produce most of the vegetables one person will eat in an entire year, according to gardening expert Maria Iannotti. Even a small garden plot can produce significant food. For example, you could grow the five tomato plants mentioned above in only about 30 square feet if you trellis them. Even if you have no yard, many vegetables are easy to grow in containers on your porch or balcony.
Improve your health. Eating fruits and vegetables is a proven way to stay healthier. Many studies have found that people who eat more fruits and vegetables suffer less from cancer and chronic diseases such as heart disease, gastrointestinal disease and impaired vision. It’s a lot easier to get more vegetables into your diet when they are growing affordably right in your backyard! Your own vegetables will taste better, too, because you can eat them when they’re freshly picked and still contain the maximum amount of flavor and nutrients.
Good-tasting food isn’t the only heath benefit gardening offers. It’s also an easy and enjoyable way to spend time in the fresh air and sunshine getting healthy, moderate exercise. Most people agree that gardening is pleasant and relaxing, and it has actually been clinically proven to can help alleviate stress.
Help save the bees. Bees are vital to our economy and to the environment because they are such excellent pollinators. Many farmers depend on bees to ensure good crops. However, our bee population is at risk due to colony collapse disorder. Therefore, it’s important to help bees in any way we can.
Planting a backyard garden is an excellent way to ensure that the bees and other beneficial pollinating insects survive in your area. Although many common garden vegetables, such as cucumber and squash, have flowers that attract bees, planting flowers and herbs in your backyard garden will make them even happier.
Teach your kids about nature and healthy living. If you have kids, there is no better way to introduce them to healthy habits than to involve them in growing a garden. Children are much more likely to want to eat vegetables they have grown themselves. Most kids are excited to watch tiny seeds sprout and grow.
Gardening is also a very easy and accessible way to combat “nature deficit disorder” — a term used to describe the increased alienation and stress experienced by children who grow up without being able to interact with the environment. By playing in the garden and observing the plants and animals in it, children learn valuable lessons about living things and their own relationship to the environment.
One last reason to start a garden may be the biggest bonus of all: gardening builds community. It seems that few people know their neighbors anymore, but when you spend time outside in your yard you may find yourself chatting with the neighbor over the garden fence. And once you realize you have planted more green beans or tomatoes than you could ever use, you’ll be surprised how delighted people are when they see you come their way!
Happy Gardening!!
One last reason to start a garden may be the biggest bonus of all: gardening builds community. It seems that few people know their neighbors anymore, but when you spend time outside in your yard you may find yourself chatting with the neighbor over the garden fence. And once you realize you have planted more green beans or tomatoes than you could ever use, you’ll be surprised how delighted people are when they see you come their way!
Happy Gardening!!
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