17 Reasons Why You Should Be Growing Your Own Vegetables

You're about to get some green thumbs.

1. It's a fun new hobby!

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Be-leaf me, that math checks out.

2. There's no takeout that'll taste as good as food that you grew yourself.

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Plus, homegrown veggies won't be commercially modified so you'll be getting all their natural flavor.

3. It'll save you some precious dollars and cents.

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Once you get started, you can kiss buying vegetables at the grocery store goodbye. Think of what you could do with all that extra money!

4. You can give away any extras, which would make a great gift for friends or family!

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Anyone who gave me fresh produce would have my eternal appreciation.

5. Growing your own veggies will give you some extra motivation to eat more fresh food instead of living off of pantry staples.

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Sadly, eating pasta for every meal just isn't sustainable.

6. If you grow your vegetables yourself, you won't have to worry about pesticide exposure.

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Pesticides are actually kinda gross, so why not avoid them altogether? If you need a mask to spray them, it's probably not a good idea to eat them.

7. Spending time outside is good for you!

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Any time you spend in the sun will expose you to vitamin D, which is super good for you.

8. You can decrease your carbon footprint by not purchasing the produce that has to be transported to the grocery store via truck.

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9. There are a TON of environmental benefits to growing your own veggies, and one of them is that you'll use less plastic.

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A lot of us buy produce at the supermarket and put them in those thin plastic bags. Growing your own means you can avoid that extra plastic altogether!

10. Gardening is good exercise.

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The CDC says that light yard work (aka gardening) constitutes as moderate exercise and can burn up to 330 calories in an hour.

11. Your food will taste so much better if you season it with some homegrown herbs.

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Yes, it's true! There are seasonings besides salt and pepper, can you believe it?? Basil, parsley, cilantro, imagine all the flavors!

12. Growing your own food will make you less likely to waste it.

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Food waste is a serious problem in the US. Growing your own would help lower those numbers!

13. Gardens also reduce greenhouse gases because of ~photosynthesis~.

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Remember photosynthesis? It's the process by which plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and more oxygen means cleaner air!

14. You'll have direct access to food.

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Imagine the time you'd save if all you had to do to get some fresh veggies was go outside. Growing your own food ensures that you'll have access to it when you need/want it!

15. It's also a great activity to do with your friends and family as well as by yourself.

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You might even make new friends!

16. Gardening can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.

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Look at how happy she looks! That could be you!

17. And finally, it's not hard to start! And you don't need a large outdoor space.

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You can garden as much or as little as you want, and there are plenty of easy ways to start developing your green thumb.