Home Gardening. Food for Us … Foundation for Earth

For millennia, humans grew their own food. With the emergence of supermarkets, home kitchen gardens started losing their importance in the food supply. This trend was disrupted only twice. During food shortages due to World War I and II, the government sponsored Victory Gardens to reduce the pressure on public food supply. And, just as gardening was the answer to problematic food crises in the past, it is bound to play an even bigger role in relieving the challenges of our present time and future. 

Healthy nutrition is one of the simplest and best ways to prevent chronic diseases. In fact, the most nutritious produce is that which is organically homegrown. We are fortunate to live in a part of the country where vegetables can be grown all year long and seasonal produce can be harvested at its peak nutritional value and flavor.

Then there is financial health. Food prices have risen astronomically, and with droughts and floods (some caused by climate change) on the rise, the cost of goods may not improve for the foreseeable future. A kitchen garden provides not only free produce, it also reduces trips to the grocery store, which saves gas and prolongs the lifespan of one’s vehicle. Modern, well-managed kitchen gardens can produce an extensive variety of vegetables year-round, making delicious and nutritious meal choices when combined with pantry staples. Research has shown that healthy garden soil and the human body’s microbiome share many of the same microorganisms. Consequently, working in good soil is very beneficial for the immune system. Another well-known fact is that gardening has a calming effect on the nervous system. It has gained extensive use and application in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Modern life and its ever-increasing demands can stress individuals to their absolute limits. Not only do adults find it nearly impossible to escape stress, but also children are under ever-increasing pressure. Many kids suffer from screen time overload. Backyard kitchen gardens are safe, healthy places for family to spend time together and cultivate memories while teaching kids to be self-reliant through the development of critical life skills within a positive environment.

Greenhouse gas emissions, which can be driven by climate change, are great threats to our future. Organic gardens can help to minimize the effects. Homes and dwellings throughout the Midlands generate copious amounts of organic matter in the form of brush, leaves, pine straw, grass clippings and kitchen refuse. Each of these items can be composted and turned into enriched “black gold,” the nutritional foundation for a healthy garden. These simple action steps can help support environmental stewardship while improving soil fertility. Natural gardening and composting also help to reduce the amount of trash that, sadly, ends up in landfills.

Humanity is far out on a limb, in danger of plunging into ecological disaster. The journey back to safety cannot be undertaken without the help of Mother Nature. Prevailing schools of thought are largely rooted in the understanding that we must work together and take decisive steps to improve our natural world to better the human condition. The dramatic increase in disasters in recent years is nature’s response to our mode of conduct and behavior.

To protect and preserve our planet’s future, our actions and lifestyles must be guided by this principle: Understand and copy nature. When we, as humans, grow organic gardens, there is no telling what important nutritional and life- and planet-preserving discoveries await. Just as much of the field of information technology and advancement can trace its roots to one man’s garage, new nature-inspired, planet-saving technology may come from a backyard kitchen garden.

Heidi Lux is a sustainability and gardening teacher and consultant. She is originally from Germany, where she obtained Master of Science degrees in international sustainable agriculture and nature conservation. For more information on Lux, visit 

NewEarthGardener.com.