Why do you grow your own?

[Greenleaves]

No doubt this has been asked a hundred times before but I am curious to know why you grow your own?

For me it is not about economics, it is the pure love of gardening. Of course there are lots of additional benifits, no chemicals, great taste and really fresh produce, I also really love the microcosm of society that exists within the gardening community such as the vine, I have said before we are mostly all total strangers to the other but have developed virtual friendships and offer support and advice without any prejudice. I would never had signed up for cookery lessons if not for the encouragement of those on the vine..

The other great things about gardening for me is the very concept that i have nutured that tiny seed into some wholesome to eat or indeed admire, the peace and tranquillity that my allotment offers me, a place to unwind and to bury my woes.

Through gardening I have learnt patience and tolerance ( apart from towards slugs) and in addition plenty of fresh air and excise.

[Thelma Sanders]

Pure love of gardening for me, as well, plus the challenge of putting food on the table - cos I'm pretty sure it doesn't save me money.
It's a good way of getting some exercise and fresh air - plus it lifts my spirits when I'm feeling low.

[Bex]

I completely agree with Thelma. My allotment is my sanctuary, I feel calmer there plus it's mine and I can do what I want, grow what I want.

I also love the nurturing aspect, the challenge of seeing if I can get that tiny seed, to plant, to actually produce fruit or whatever it may be. To win the war against the slugs. The 'putting food on the table' is a bonus.

Then I also enjoy the camaraderie at the allotments, chatting to the old boys and as my dad is on the same site I see more of him. I'm a single mum who works 6 days a week, it gets me out the house lol





Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum

[Guest]

Cos I just don't have enough to do. If you believe that you will believe anything.

More choice. Fresh produce/ better flavour. Less food miles. Being inventive with gluts Having a good potter in the garden and my newest reason to educate my girls about food .

[arpoet]

I have a large garden so no matter what I would have to garden food or flowers, or both.
There is nowt better than picking or cutting some fruit or veg you have grown yourself and eating it within minutes.
I don't grow to save money as I doubt, over all, one does, but the exercise and fresh air is good for me.

[Aberdeenplotter]

taste the first of the new year's crop of tatties, pull a tomato of the vine and eat it, pull a carrot out of the ground, wipe it on your trousers and then eat it(I know shocking innit) but seriously, compare the taste with what comes out of the shops and you have your answer. There's also the satisfaction of walking round the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket, smiling sweetly and thinking, I'm self sufficient in this, self sufficient in that and leaving that section having bought only bananas and mushrooms. Couple those sentiments with the feelings of well being that come with gardening. The companionship on the allotment site, the satisfaction of completing a task and the absolute pleasure of harvesting the fruits of ones labours.

Nuff said

[Bigmallly]

For me it's purely a hobby, going outdoors & getting my hands dirty. In fact this is the 1st year I have actually eaten any of my produce.

[veggiechicken]

Like arpoet, I could say that my house came with a garden and I have to grow something in it or cover it with concrete.
The truth is, I bought my house because it had a garden. The house itself was not important, just an incidental. I love everything about it - even the weeds. Just being out there in the sunshine, listening to the birds and watching the wildlife.
Seeing a seed germinate, how can a tiny speck of dust turn into a massive summat that fills my plate. Its a miracle, gardening is a miracle and I am the miracle worker.
Think I need a lie down now, its all gone to my head

[VolesAteMyPeas]

I have a love of artichokes, celeriac and winter squash, none of which are readily available in the shops. My initial plan was to grow as many of my own expensive veg as possible ie money saving but I don't think it works out that way! As much as anything, I find it so satisfying and cathartic. I have chronic health problems meaning I can't always work so it's a great way to feel useful, productive and get some exercise.

[chilli_grower]

A good hobby for me, and a challenge. I would probably be at the pub otherwise....

And homegrown does always taste better. But perhaps this is just because I 'want it' to taste better because I have grown it.

Either way, it does taste better!!!!!!

I have no doubt that in my scenario, growing my own does not directly save me any money at all.

But that is irrelevant to me.

Although, if I was at the pub, I would easily spend £20 - £30 in an afternoon, so in that respect yes it saves me money.

To summarize:

Growing my own just makes me happy I guess!!!!!!

[WendyC]

I need to have the contact with outside, being under the sky and the soil under my feet. Couple of years ago I went to a talk by Monty Don, he described the moment when he realised he needed to garden. He had been sent out to the family garden to sow carrots. He talked about the feeling of rightness, with the carrots seeds in his hand and the dirt under his nails. I know exactly what he meant. Flora Thompson describes something similar in her book "Heatherley", about not being shut away from the sky. The classroom I am at present is like a cave. I can't even see the sky unless I crane my neck. Worst still, some of the lights have been removed because they shine on the " wonderful" Apple TV. I am desperate to be outside by the end of the week.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[Bex]

I hear you Wendy, I sit in an air conditioned office with no windows from 7:45 to 4:15. In winter I don't see daylight except at weekends.


Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum

[Kristen]

Flavour. Varieties chosen for flavour, but fresh from the garden will always taste better than travelled & stored. Better choice of varieties (compared to supermarket)

Provenance known - Zero chemicals

Not having to shop for food - well, the Veg at least!

Being green, reducing food-miles

[noviceveggrower]

I suppose I do it for similar reasons to everyone.
The allotment is my space. We have 3 raised beds at home that we have odd bits in but main veg are down allotment. I suppose I found I needed my space when I was working cause the juggling kids, taking OH to work and back and then me going to work meant I never had Me time. Having the allotment also meant I didn't totally loose the will to live sitting on a checkout.
When I gave up work to take little boy here there and everywhere with speech therapy it again gave me my time from speech therapy and being patronised, taking OH to work and going backwards and forwards to playgroup and school.
I know my space sounds bad but it is where I can sit down or do some digging and just relax.
Another reason is I think the kids need to know where food comes from and not just a shop. My two love being outside and I think its important that not only how plants grow and what we get off them but other things that can be affected by our actions. We have frogs, hedgehogs, foxes and wild bees so we try and get them to understand that we need to care for nature, don't throw rubbish on the ground put it in a bin and be respectful of our area.
Then there is taste. I don't care how many people give me odd looks in the play ground when I am mucky from digging up my suds but nothing beats the taste of steamed new potatoes with a little bit of butter on them or a fresh cucumber that doesn't taste of anything.
The other thing I grow, well try to, food and bits for is to help out family members. My mom has retired this year and has been diagnosed with COPD, I think that is the one she has. My dad is still working but after his stroke last year his eye site failing because of this and he had a triple by pass several years ago it wont be long before he has to stop working. I think if I can give them just something to help them along then I will give them what I can.

[Greenleaves]

Hi NVG

I am intrigued by the speech therapy as my son had to go through the same when he was 5, he was late to start speaking and he would replace b with f and also say things back to front, the garden back for example. We were told he may struggle with schooling. He left secondary school with 11 gse at A* and went on to get a first at uni and speaks 6 languages.