For years, my dad has kept a modest sized garden in our yard. He also maintained several fruit trees. Every year, there were fresh apples, pears, blueberries, blackberries, and grapes. The garden yielded whatever we wanted to plant. And every year, we could choose to plant new things. For instance, my fiancee and I have fallen in love with zucchini. I thought it would be great to plant some and it thrived in there!

I took this whole experience for granted. Since I will soon have no land of my own to plant on and I will have to buy my own fruits and vegetables, I have a new appreciation for gardening. I’m going to really enjoy gardening this summer, but that doesn’t mean I will have to stop when I move. Even in an apartment, one can enjoy the rewards of gardening.

Super Foods
You might have heard the term “super foods.” If not, feel free to google it. Super foods are thought to combat disease and keep you very healthy. If you look at any given list of what are considered the best “super foods”, you will find something remarkable. Almost every item, except for salmon of course(my favorite), is a fruit or vegetable. Fruits and vegetables are reliable. No matter what your view on nutrition, fruits and vegetables remain the cornerstone of eating healthy. Here’s where gardening comes in. The best foods in the world are also the ones you can easily grow yourself! If you are into organic, you can grow them to your own satisfaction and you know exactly where your food comes from.

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees
There is an odd paradox regarding obesity. There are usually the highest rates of obesity among the poor. You would think that lower income families would be, if not healthy, at least not obese. Many people attribute this to the Farm Bill that heavily subsidizes corn farming; this leads to the the worst kind of sweetener, corn syrup, being made into cheap, fattening products. I think it is obviously the high cost of fruits and vegetables and the low cost of packaged foods that plays a major role in the obesity epidemic. Does this mean you have to pay more to eat healthy? I think your health is certainly worth the cost, but gardening can help even so. Growing your own fruits and vegetables will save you a lot. It’s very cheap. You can get a pot and seeds for a couple of dollars. And don’t just think of the raw product of gardening. There are a ton of things you can make in abundance. I just had some fresh sauce made from pepper and tomato last night. Salsa is also great fresh. Fruits can be made into jams and jellies. All of these can save you money.

Spice Obsession
Don’t forget the spices. My dad grows basil ever year and makes a killer pesto. My first introduction to pesto was seeing Edward Norton eating it out of a jar in Fight Club, a hilarious scene when I think about it now. My dad made pesto pasta and pesto potatoes all the time. I’ve even heard of of the existence of pesto ice cream. When you have this kind of obsession and I do mean obsession with spices, you can satisfy your insatiable hunger for them by growing as much as you want. My thing is mint. I’m not sure when I became obsessed with mint, but I started growing some this year. I love all sorts of mint products: peppermint patties, mint chocolate, and mint coffee, but I’m going to start using the mint I grow in cooking. I’m sure you have a similar passion for flavor, so go after it.

I think spices are incredibly healthy for two reasons. Well, some spices are thought to have amazing health benefits just by themselves. There is another reason. Many people eat processed, packaged meals just because they can have a lot of flavor. That flavor isn’t free, however. Those foods are usually loaded with sodium, saturated fat, and refined sugar. No one wants to eat bland food, but you can get the same tastes and certainly more variety from spices.

It’s Worthwhile
Growing something is a worthwhile experience. Plants don’t need constant attention. After planting, you will have to do little more than water your garden when it needs it. But the ability to look at something and say “I grew this” is quite satisfying. I want to reiterate the benefits of gardening because I think there are many:

  • Grow the healthiest foods in the world easily.
  • Harvest fruits and vegetables that are very fresh.
  • Eat good for cheap.
  • Plant whatever you want and however much you want.
  • Know exactly what does and doesn’t happen to your plants.
  • Grow organically if you want.
  • Indulge your taste buds without eating junk.

This post was just meant to convey my interest in gardening, even though I admit that I am inexperienced at it. As I learn more, I’ll write more. I really am curious as to what I can do in an apartment.