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Gardening season is just around the corner and we could not be more excited to share some fun and easy tips about how you can reduce your carbon footprint and have fun doing so!
There are so many different ways to garden these days instead of the traditional backyard garden. Gardens don't have to be big. They can be whatever size fits your space, budget, and imagination! So let's get our hand dirty.
1. What do you like to eat? 😋
This may seem like an obvious first step, but seriously...what do you like to eat that you can actually grow? Is it fruits, veggies, herbs? There are so many varieties of food. Are you a bell pepper kind of guy or a spicy jalapeño one? Growing foods you actually like and want to eat could save 20% or more at the grocery store. You could save more by learning how to preserve them by canning or juicing after harvesting.
2. Even Small Gardens can Produce A LOT! 🌱
Some of the easiest vegetables for contained spaces are peas, potatoes🥔, tomatoes🍅, carrots🥕, radishes, eggplants🍆, zucchini squash, cucumbers🥒, leafy greens like spinach and kale🥬, peppers🌶, and even strawberries🍓! These types of plants can be grown in raised beds or containers, hanging baskets or just a simple pot in a sunny window sill. If you are still tight on space, check out renting a plot at a community garden space.
3. No green thumb?🧟♂️💁♀️
Not all thumbs are meant to be green, but do not stress! There are still ways you can reduce your carbon footprint. One of the easiest is going to your local farmer's market and buying produce grown locally. Think about all the produce at the grocery store that is grown in places like California, Mexico, and Guatemala. How far away are those places from your local supermarket? Long-distance transportation heavily relies on fossil fuels which increases your carbon footprint and takes a toll on the environment.
Another fun way to reduce your carbon footprint is to keep the root or base of the plant. For example, green onions and romaine lettuce are easy to regrow. Place the root or base in water in front of a sunny window, change the water every couple of days, and watch the plant regrow for more use!
Sources:
https://foodprint.org/growing-your-own-food/
https://www.thespruce.com/apartment-gardening-for-beginners-4178600
https://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/nutrition/2018/05/5-reasons-grow-your-own-food
Additional Resources:
https://www.tiktok.com/@creative_explained?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
https://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/