| Organic gardening is on of those things which | | | | point, I felt my self esteem and confidence go |
| sound like a little hobby for senior citizens. As far | | | | further. Perhaps it is the fact that I have |
| back as I can remember, society would look at | | | | accomplished a long term task, or even my |
| organic gardening as something which only hippies | | | | realization that I can wait for a good harvest. |
| or so called tree huggers participated in. However, | | | | What I can say, is that I have been able to |
| based on the current economy and food prices, | | | | control my emotions better and appreciate my |
| organic gardening is fast becoming one of the | | | | quiet time while gardening. |
| best ways to save money and eat healthy. This | | | | 4) Reduced Exposure to Harmful Pesticides |
| article will show you the top 5 health benefits of | | | | Throughout my medical career, I have come to |
| organic gardening. | | | | understand the devastating long term affects of |
| 1) Increased Consumption of Healthy Organic | | | | pesticides. The one thing which boggles my mind |
| Foods. | | | | is how the media is portraying this thing. I |
| Before I first started organic gardening, I did not | | | | remember seeing a television ad some time ago |
| realize that I was consuming vegetables with | | | | saying that the pesticides were safe and |
| weird chemicals included in them. The simple fact | | | | effective at killing bugs. Plants have been known |
| of the matter is that organic fruits and vegetables | | | | to produce their own natural 'pesticide' to deal |
| taste much better. Traditionally grown fruits and | | | | with the onslaught of bugs. Through organic |
| vegetables are dry and lack flavor because they | | | | gardening, you have the chance to free yourself |
| do not have the trace minerals that are added to | | | | from these damaging chemicals as well as |
| the soils in actual organic gardens. Many times | | | | preservatives. The soil you will be using is full of |
| dyes and food coloring are added to make these | | | | rich vitamins and minerals as opposed to |
| vegetables look better. I tend to find these | | | | whatever they are doing on the other farms for |
| unhealthy types in my local supermarket. The nice | | | | the public. Take a look at many of the scientific |
| thing about organic gardening is that by the end | | | | studies which have concluded that pesticides are |
| of the season there is enough fresh harvest to | | | | known to cause cancers and other health |
| last for a long while. I have easily been able to | | | | problems. |
| create a healthy luscious supply of fruits and | | | | 5) The Ability to Save Money |
| vegetables. | | | | I cannot even begin to tell you the amount of |
| 2) Weight Loss from doing an Outdoor Activity. | | | | money I have saved yearly with organic |
| As I mentioned earlier, I used to think of organic | | | | gardening. It makes me very happy when the |
| gardening as a simple hobby and nothing more. In | | | | season arrives because I know that I can create |
| actuality, it serves as a great and healthy hobby. | | | | a well stocked harvest for the year. One example |
| After I finished medical school and started living | | | | I will use is tomato sauce. Spaghetti and other |
| on my own, I ate fried and greasy foods. This | | | | pastas are favorites for my family. Instead of |
| put on a great deal of weight to my body and I | | | | shopping for some strange and expensive brand, |
| really needed something that was able to help me | | | | my wife and I take some of our fresh tomatoes |
| live better. Through organic gardening, I was able | | | | and create our own sauce. Another benefit from |
| to burn a lot of calories each day because I really | | | | this is that we do not have to worry about |
| cared about the end results. Not only is weight | | | | empty bottles lying around. Also, the ultimate way |
| loss a great incentive, but I felt as though I was | | | | that organic gardening saves money is that we |
| one with nature. When I started spending more | | | | do not have to worry about buying a lot of |
| time outside, I realized how long I spent indoors | | | | fertilizer. My wife loves to compost kitchen scraps |
| studying or watching television. At least I was able | | | | in order to create new foods for the next |
| to breathe more fresh air and get plenty of | | | | season. |
| natural sunlight. Keep in mind that you burn more | | | | All in all, organic gardening has many benefits |
| calories in active gardening. | | | | which not only helps your health, but also the |
| 3) Boost of Self Esteem and Confidence. | | | | environment. I have been gardening for over 10 |
| One thing I have noticed is that nature provides a | | | | years and it has truly changed my life and the |
| euphoric feeling of health and calmness. Even as a | | | | way I look at fresh foods. My medical experience |
| medical doctor, I cannot fully explain this | | | | has also helped me to appreciate the time it |
| phenomenon. With the increase in technology and | | | | takes to produce food and take care of it. |
| television programs, it is easy to forget the | | | | Organic gardening is by far the most healthy and |
| serenity and peace of nature. Aside from the | | | | inexpensive way to eat healthy and live longer. |