| Are there any benefits to growing your produce, and if so, what are they? Growing your vegetables in the UK has numerous benefits, from health advantages to environmental impact. Here are 15 compelling reasons to start your vegetable garden: |
| Health Benefits Fresher and More Nutritious—Homegrown vegetables retain more nutrients than shop-bought produce, which can lose vitamins during transport and storage. No Harmful Chemicals – You control what goes into your soil, avoiding pesticides and synthetic fertilizers used in mass farming. Encourages a Healthier Diet – Readily available fresh vegetables encourage you to eat more greens and experiment with nutritious meals. Outdoor Exercise—Gardening is an excellent form of physical activity that helps improve strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. Mental Wellbeing – Growing your food reduces stress, improves mood, and promotes mindfulness. |
| Financial Benefits Save Money on Groceries—Once established, a vegetable garden can significantly reduce grocery bills by providing fresh produce for free. Less Food Waste – You only harvest what you need, reducing the chances of food going off before use. |
| Environmental Benefits Reduces Carbon Footprint – Growing your vegetables eliminates the need for transportation, packaging, and industrial farming emissions. Less Plastic Waste – Homegrown veggies don’t come wrapped in plastic, helping to reduce household plastic consumption. Improves Soil Health – Growing food naturally enriches soil quality, especially with composting and organic methods. |
| Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability Food Security—A vegetable garden ensures access to fresh food during shortages or price hikes. Supports Biodiversity – A garden attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, essential for maintaining ecosystems. Utilizes Space Efficiently – Small gardens, patios, or balconies can grow food with containers, raised beds, or vertical gardening. Seasonal Eating means learning to eat with the seasons, reducing the demand for imported food and enjoying better-tasting vegetables. Sense of Achievement – There’s immense satisfaction in growing, harvesting, and eating food you’ve cultivated yourself. |
Earthly Comforts 
Our outside temperatures have just dropped to -3 again, so no gardening yet. I hope it warms up soon, Rory…
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Are you up North Jaye? Admittedly it’s been colder than some months, but Kent is warming up now 🙂
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We’re in the south of England, Rory not far from the sea. We have never experienced cold like this before.
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It has been cold, the 60’s the years l was born into there were snows on the grounds as far into the year as May. But this is a changing climate and it is one in which have to adapt to.
I have clients asking me to put flowers into the ground, and l am telling them NO, because of the frosts which will kill them.
We must now simply adapt to the new weather fronts and evolve, tricky, but it is as it is now sadly.
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It must be fulfilling to grow your own produce, Rory. Our weather has warmed considerably, however, a nasty storm is rolling in, and cooler temperatures are predicted. March is living up to its reputation and coming in like a lion.
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Hey Eugenia, – l am certainlly looking forward to this season down on Plot 17 and being able to not just grow food for the table, but getting to enjoy the time down there now with all he improvements.
Winter is still lingering here in Kent, very bitter and biting winds at present mixed with warm sun – great when in the latter and chilling when in the former – come on spring, we are ready!!
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We’re ready for spring too, Rory!
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