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    Why You Should Grow Your Own Food

    Shopping for fruits and vegetables at the grocery store or your local market can sometimes be a maddening ordeal. From the expensive prices of organic produce to picking up every apple that has a bruise, it can make a person crazy.

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    Stressors like this is why learning how to grow your own fruits and vegetables is an easy and surprisingly simple solution to all of your grocery shopping woes. So, in honor of Earth Day and self-sustainers everywhere, here are a few tips for that green thumb of yours to make its big debut.

    By deciding to grow your own food, you are ultimately saving yourself a huge amount of money. A packet of seeds, depending on what you buy, literally only costs about a dollar. Even though it may still seem intimidating to actually go, plant and take care of your seedlings, you can’t turn down a deal like that.

    According to the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the national average that U.S. households spent on fresh produce in 2009 was $429. Imagine how much that national average has increased in the past five years. This may not seem like an outrageous number, but when you compare $1 for one pack of seeds to $429, my money’s on the seeds.

    Growing your own fruits and vegetables is also great for the environment. A huge benefit is that you’re reducing the use of pesticides that pollute the air and our water systems. Instead of selecting produce that have been injected with hormones and sprayed down with chemicals, you have the benefit of selecting something fresh and clean right from your very own backyard.

    Building a space for your garden isn’t as difficult as it sounds. All you need is a backyard that the sun shines down on, some lumber, a measuring tape, soil and a hammer and nails. It’s just a one day project and a trip to your hardware store that could change your life forever.

    You may have never noticed, but all around Columbus are neighborhood gardens that members of the community volunteer to come and take care of. You have a sense of accomplishment in yourself, you meet like minded people that can give you friendly advice and support, and you’re making our great capital city a better place to live.

    For more information on community gardens in the Columbus area or in your hometown, please visit www.communitygardens.org.

    For ongoing gardening discussion, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.

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    Emma Surber
    Emma Surberhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Emma Surber is an intern staff writer at Columbus Underground. She writes about urban development, civics, and personal interest stories. Emma is currently a senior at The Ohio State University and plans to graduate in August.
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