North Florida Month-to-Month Gardening Guide March 2009  by Nancy George

The Benefits of Homegrown Foods

Flowers, shrubs and trees are always pleasant to the eye, but it is a strong belief of mine that any extra space you have in your garden should be used to grow edibles.  The benefits of homegrown foods are endless, from the health care of our families to the health care of our planet; It is important to consider the rewards of sustainable living.  I’d like to talk now about how easy it is to implement this in our lives; as well as the health benefits of eating fresh nutritious foods.

What to Buy / Plant

Planted since the beginning of time, pomegranate trees are thought to symbolize eternal life.  This small, 6-15 ft., tree is just as easy to plant as any other tree, but eating the fruit or drinking the juice is said to protect the body from heart disease, alzheimer's, and cancer while maintaining prostate health, as well as healthy cholesterol levels.  There are many plants and trees that are easy to grow, and have important health benefits.  Do a little research to find ones that suit you. 

For instance:  bay trees, Laurus nobilis, the evergreen tree that produces bay leaves, helps aid digestion.  Lemons detoxify the liver and protect the lungs.  Don’t forget about trees that produce nuts, high in omega-3 and helpful against wrinkles and the signs of aging.  Zingiber officinalis or edible ginger, grows just as easy as the many other gingers that we grow, but eating or drinking this yummy stuff proves to have anti-inflammatory properties; the same that’s found in aspirin.

It’s important to remember that the pigments in plants that cause yams to be orange, broccoli to be green and blueberries to be blue, help our bodies with disease prevention, anti-aging, deterrence of muscular degeneration, as well as a boost in brain power; so remember to eat a rainbow every day.  Recipes are numerous for how to enjoy these gifts that were put here for us.

Prune/ Propagate

It’s very inexpensive to start vegetables and herbs from seeds.  These can be sown directly into the ground or started in containers.  Once a seed is hydrated with water, it cannot be allowed to dry out, nor should the soil be overly wet.  Water carefully until the plant emerges; then reduce water as needed to prevent stem rot.  Also, unless planted in the ground, slowly introduce the plant to full sun conditions.  Also use other methods of propagation by cuttings divisions.  Some herbs, such as specialty mints and French tarragon, are best started by cuttings; if you have herbs that grow in clumps, divide them and propagate extra, a welcome gift for friends and neighbors.

Herbs

Herbs pack a punch, ounce for ounce, the health benefits are much greater in herbs than for any other fruit or vegetable.  For example, oregano’s antioxidant capability is forty-two times greater than that of an apple.  Parsley is an excellent source of vitamin C and folic acid.  Rosemary improves memory.  Sage is said to help with arthritis, asthma, and diabetes.  Hot peppers help sinus problems and burn fat.  Plants from the Allium family, such as Garlic, onions, leeks, and chives are touted to be one of the groups that are called “superfoods” which offer the most in health benefits.  Be cultural; explore other ethnic foods that typically use more spices then the American diet.

Fertilizer / Pests

Of course you wouldn’t want to use chemicals on your edibles.  It bears repeating that there are plenty of natural products, such as fish emulsion to fertilize, Neem both a fungicide and insecticide, thuricide to deter worms, all natural pyrethrum insecticide, and diatomaceous earth a mineral based pesticide.  All will reduce pest problems and maintain healthy, vigorous plants.

For Fun

Visit Lichgate, 1401 High Rd Tallahassee.  This historical home is privately owned and maintained by the Laura Jepson Institute as a community green space.  Open free to the public.  It has a magnificent old oak tree, considered to be one of the oldest in the state of Florida, an enchanted fairy-tale cottage, and an educational garden, showing how easily you can bring about a garden in your own backyard.

This information originally published on February 27, 2010.

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Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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