There are a lot of ways you can create health and vitality in your life, but one of the most rewarding is creating a wellness garden. First off, the act of gardening itself is good for you. Being outdoors is beneficial for body, mind, and soul, and regular physical activity is a great way to live a longer, healthier life. Digging in the dirt will burn calories and reduce your blood pressure and your risk of heart attack, all at once. Not to mention, gardening is a great way to increase overall happiness and fight depression.
Fruit
There are so many avenues you can take. First off, keep in mind that most fruit grows on trees. Planting a fruit tree or two won’t yield immediate results, but years down the road you’ll have delicious, organic fruit with minimal effort. There are also several varieties of fruit that don’t grow on trees, including berries, melons, and grapes. All of these can be planted and harvested within a year.
Vegetables
Most vegetables have a similar harvest cycle, and you can grow a ton of food on only 1/10th of an acre. Some will be bushy, some will be tall, and root vegetables will grow underground. Some vegetables are harder to grow than others, but there are plenty that are even easy enough for beginning gardeners. Head to your local garden or home store and have a chat with their experts to see where they recommend starting. They’ll know what grows best in your area, as well as what has the highest chance of thriving given your experience and the kind of space you have to work with.
Herbs
Many varieties of herbs are very easy to grow, in fact, several of them might get a little invasive and be difficult to get rid of if you don’t keep them in check. Herbs straight from the garden are not only good for you, but will also add another level of flavor and freshness to everything you cook. Not to mention, fresh herbs are an excellent garnish that will make even the simplest dishes look professional and fancy. If you’re not much of a cook, don’t forget that herbs are one of the oldest natural remedies, and can help treat a number of ailments and support everyday health.
Flowers
Last on the list is flowers. They can add a wonderful array of color to your outdoor space, and there are so many varieties that the possibilities are endless. Flowers are pleasing to see and smell, and their aromas can bring about peace, happiness, or energy, depending on the variety. Dr. Edward Bach studied several different species and came up with 38 flowers that aid a number of mental and emotional maladies. If you like to experiment in the kitchen, you’ll be happy to hear that there are numerous edible flowers that you can utilize in a variety of ways.
Grow Organic For Health
Now that we’ve covered what you can grow, it’s important to talk about how to grow it. Organic, or as close to it as possible, is the best way to go for your health. Pesticides, germicides, and fungicides can be harmful to the health of you, your family, your pets, and even the local flora and fauna. Not to worry, though. There are plenty of organic pesticides you can make yourself, and a whole slew of others you can purchase from a gardening store.
There are also some crafty tactics you can use to keep pests at bay. For example: rabbits and other small rodents don’t like the smell of hot peppers, earwigs will crawl into paper towel tubes at night to be discarded or relocated in the morning, lady bugs will eat aphids and not your plants, and you can keep backyard chickens as a form of bug control (not to mention you’ll get healthy fresh eggs and meat, too.) No need to worry about pests eating up all your hard work with all of the safe, organic solutions available to gardeners.
Instead of buying plant fertilizers or food that could be full of harmful agents, consider composting your own organic waste. There are so many things we throw away every day that could be made into compost and utilized to feed your garden instead of rotting in a landfill. If composting isn’t for you, do some research and find a good organic fertilizer to add to your soil.
Start Your Own Wellness Garden Soon!
Gardening has so many health benefits that go well beyond the nutritious things you can harvest. If you’re looking to take the next step toward a happier and healthier you, or you just want to move more toward natural, holistic remedies, consider starting up your own wellness garden.