By: Nadaa FAK
Home gardening has been a trend for quite some time now. This trend has hooked agriculturists, hobbyists, and new comers alike. Home gardening trend came to be from strong campaigns for green and sustainable lifestyle in the wake of an earth that has been affected by climate change.
There are many advantages and positive reasons that drive people to finally do some home gardening of their own. First and foremost, home gardening is green and sustainable. We need all the help we can get to help our dying environment to keep going and this might be a small step on a family scale, but it matters. Second is that home gardening is cheap in itself, it doesn’t cost all that much if you’re smart and it cuts costs for food supplies if you garden your own vegetables, herbs, and spices for example. Third reason is that home gardening can be a hobby or a routine that helps relief stress from your dull daily life. Interacting with plants and nature is always a good stress reliever. Last but not least, home gardening can be a very positive, educational, and fun family activity.
For beginners who are looking into doing their own home gardening, here are a few steps that might help you to get started:
- Do sufficient research
Get to know your own home and its environment. Check the climate, the land, the soil, the sun exposure, and everything else you might need to know about growing a garden. Get to know the basics of gardening, the techniques, and the types of plants. Get down to budgeting. Know your own budget and look into which type of gardening suits you best. Research, research, research.
- Make a plan
After knowing all there is to know about home gardening (or well, the basics of it), plan your garden well. What kind of garden it should be, what kind of plants you will grow, how you want it to grow, and of course, budgeting. If you’re looking to cut into your food supply cost, the most useful home gardening would be to grow your own vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices along with some medicinal plants.
- Consider your space
Having tiny backyard or ‘not enough space’ is not a sufficient excuse to shy away from home gardening. If you have a lot of space, you can plant the usual way, no big deal. If you don’t have enough space in your backyard, vertical gardens and hydroponics might be the best solution for you.
- Get local
Help local business; ask around for seeds and other needs near your neighborhood. This helps you cut cost and it gives the community a sense of togetherness.
- Be patient
It will take a while for your garden to grow but keep a patient heart; plants understand kindness too.