Do you have a favorite fruit or veggie? What if you could grow that in your own yard or community garden? The director of Growing Power, Will Allen, said, “To eat something you produce is a worthwhile and meaningful thing”.
"These are tomatoes from our garden. Yumlicious!" - Gen and Rory, 13, South Carolina
One reason why gardening could be fun for you is because you create your own food, which then helps you to eat healthier. The conventional food that you find in grocery stores may contain chemicals that are not good for your body. Home – grown plants are toxic free, so you take in only the good nutrients and minerals. Organic foods can also be stored for longer amounts of time without going bad, this gives you more time to enjoy the food you have produced.
Learning about our ecosystem is another reason why gardening is so great! Did you know that bugs like worms and spiders are actually helpful to gardens? The American Community Gardening Association explains how each critter in the environment has a special part in the ecosystem, and through gardening you can learn about this along with building a better connection to nature.
To make the most out of your gardening experience, try gathering up the neighbor kids and work on the garden as a team. Everyone can grow their own favorite fruit or vegetable and when the time comes to enjoy it, you can share your food and experience.
Check out the New Moon Cooking Club to see lots of recipes you can add your fruits and veggies to!
Growing a living thing is a big job, one that takes patience and responsibility, but as summer continues on you will see all of your hard work become a wonderful thing. Check out some of the reasons why New Moon Girls like eating organic:
- Cate, 11, California explains the harms of processed foods in her story about 6 Ways to Stay Healthier.
- In 100 things to do before you’re 20 Anais, 14, Massachusetts, lists “eat organic for a week”!
- Sarai, 10, Connecticut shares her knowledge about local US foods in her story, Fruits and Vegetables.
- Read this story by Luna that gives Healthier Puberty Tips. You can learn all about how healthy foods make a healthy body!
"Melon from our garden, oh yeah!" - Gen and Rory, 13, South Carolina
Not only is gardening a great way to enjoy being outside, but it is also a learning experience that will help you get closer to our environment. It is important to help expand our environment by growing things so that it can stay healthy, too, for future girls. While you are eating your delicious home-grown foods remember that you made a difference in yourself, and for the world.
Whitney
New Moon Intern
