Vegetables are good for you, we all know that. But when you grow your own organic vegetables in your backyard, it’s even better! You could enjoy healthy organic vegetables from your backyard almost all year round.

Working in your own garden can be a pleasant experience. It’s also healthy for you because you can connect with nature.

Consider the benefits of growing organic vegetables at home:

• Save money on groceries while providing your family with healthy, organic vegetables
• Reduce the environmental impact
• Introduce your family to the natural growing cycles
• Allow your children to enjoy the outdoors in nature while they learn from lifelong valuable experiences
• Add a personal touch to your meals

So, ideally, a backyard vegetable garden should enhance your health with healthy organic foods, and it should also bring your family together, outside in nature, while you grow your own food. Gardening should not take too much of your spare time.

How to get started

To get started building your own backyard organic vegetable garden, you should make a plan. Below are 5 tips to get you started with your backyard organic vegetable garden.

1. Consider the garden size

Check and see how much space you are able to use in your backyard. Your garden size will largely depend upon how much space you have, how many plants you want to grow, and how much time and energy you are willing to put into your garden.

2. Garden beds and soil preparation

If you want to grow a successful garden, preparing your soil and bed is extremely important. Once you are done preparing your soil and making beds for your plants, the majority of your gardening work is done. Consider loosening up your soil, add organic compost, and water your beds to mix nutrients properly into the soil. Also, make sure you have enough space between your beds for passage.

3. Build raised beds

Raised beds are quite easy to build and a lot easier on your back and knees. You can eliminate a lot of hard work if you use raised beds and high-quality topsoil for growing your plants.

4. Avoid chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides

Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides often seep into your food and cause many health problems from toxic residues. To focus on organic gardening, try using all-natural methods of gardening.

Although organic methods of pest and weed control tend to reduce the amount of some crop production, because of the losses from pests and weed, you get safer food and stay friendly to the environment. Toxic chemicals are harmful to your health and could also kill important bacteria, insects, and pollinators from your garden, destroying the natural ecosystem.

5. Pick the right plants

Look for plants that are suitable for your specific local and regional conditions. These will be easier to grow without a lot of attention from you. Make sure each plant gets an appropriate amount of shade, sun, and water. (Also see: 3 Fall Herbs to Grow in Your Backyard Garden | Nourish The Planet)

Gardening is a healthy habit. It allows you to grow your own food and also gives you an opportunity to bring your family together.  A successful garden depends on your planning, attention, and hard work. Preparing your soil well and adding enough organic nutrients into it will ensure that your plants grow healthy. Healthy plants are less likely to be attacked by pests or diseases.

Growing your own food could be a rewarding experience, so get out there and start gardening!

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Source: Institute of Ecolonomics 

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