HOME GARDENING: MEANING, IMPORTANCE, BENEFIT, HOW TO DO? AND WHAT IT TEACH TO US?
MEANING
Home gardening refers to
the cultivation of a small portion of land which may be around the household or
within walking distance from the family home [14]. Home gardens can be described
as a mixed cropping system that encompasses vegetables, fruits, plantation
crops, spices, herbs, ornamental and medicinal plants as well as livestock that
can serve as a supplementary source of food and income. Fresco and Westphal [15] specify home gardens as a
cropping system composed of soil, crops, weeds, pathogens and insects that
converts resource inputs - solar energy, water, nutrients, labor, etc. - into
food, feed, fuel, fiber and pharmaceuticals. Kumar and Nair [16], while acknowledging that there
is no standard definition for 'a home garden', summarize the shared perception
by referring to it as '…an intimate, multi-story combinations of various trees
and crops, sometimes in association with domestic animals, around homesteads',
and add that home garden cultivation is fully or partially committed for
vegetables, fruits, and herbs primarily for domestic consumption.
Adding to this, others have
described a home garden as a well-defined, multi-storied and multi-use area
near the family dwelling that serves as a small-scale supplementary food
production system maintained by the household members, and one that encompasses
a diverse array of plant and animal species that mimics the natural
eco-system
The home
gardening can be a farming system that combines different
physical, social and
economic functions on the area of land around the family home. It is used as a place
of work and for the storage of farm produce. The home garden is also a place where people live and meet each other and where children play.
Importance
We
learn so much from the garden about life cycles and the symbiotic
relationships between plants, animals, bugs and so much more. Our children
learn from the garden with us as well. If you are gardening with kids, you are changing the future. I
cannot even tell you how many awe-inspiring things I have learned from our
garden.
Some gardeners find
the activity relaxing and stress-relieving, for overall mental health benefits.
Caring for the plants gives the entire family a chance to work together. If you
have neighbors who also garden, the activity sometimes offers
social interaction. Gardening also offers a form of moderate
outdoor exercise.
Benefits
Gardening
helps in burning calories,
Gardening provides a healthier diet
Gardening
is an excellent stress buster,
Gardening strengthens your immune system,
Save money on groceries.,
It can provide a source of community.
Gardening can make you
happier
How to do
home gardening?
Ø Decide what you’d like to grow
Ø Choose a location
Ø Plan your garden beds
Ø Invest in basic garden tools
Ø Test your soil
Ø Prepare the soil
Ø Choose the right seeds or transplants
Ø Plant with care
Ø Nurture your garden
Ø Enjoy your harvest!
What does home gardening teach us?
Gardening
teaches a plethora of life lessons. Gardening teaches everything from economics
to science to spirituality to emotion and love to hard work. Gardening is truly
a master teacher for adults and children.
·
Responsibility – from
caring for plants
·
Understanding – as
they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds
compete with plants)
·
Self-confidence – from achieving their
goals and enjoying the food they have grown
·
Love of nature – a chance to
learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place
·
Reasoning and discovery
– learning about the science of plants, animals, weather, the environment,
nutrition and simple construction
·
Physical activity – doing
something fun and productive
·
Cooperation –
including shared play activity and teamwork
·
Creativity – finding
new and exciting ways to grow food
·
Nutrition – learning about where
fresh food comes from.
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