As I talk around I am constantly amazed at the response when I ask people if they would grow their own veggies. The most common responses are, “I don’t have time”, “I’m not practically minded” and I don’t live in a big enough space”. Our addiction for junk food, instant meals and ‘low-fat’ fixes, have blinded us to the reality of how food is grown, produced and finds it’s way to our supermarket shelves.

So what has happened?

In simplest terms, we have lost our connection with nature. No, not the strange connection of hugging trees or waving placards, but the connection of knowing and understanding the simple things like how our food is grown and where it comes from. We no longer understand the seasons as we buy our English strawberries in the middle of an Australian winter. We no longer value the resource of water as there are over a dozen brands to choose from in the supermarket. At the other extreme we buy tons of produce a year, most of it thrown either into the bin, or shoved to the back of the fridge where it rots and also ends up in the bin.

Much of the fruit and vegetables that we buy on a weekly basis are not in season for most of the year yet because of our demand, they are grown, picked and packaged in another countr and shipped over after they have been frozen for up to nine months. This produce is picked before the produce has been allowed to ripen and so has no flavour upon eating.

So what can we do?

Small ideas enrich lifestyles. Growing our own produce not only improves our physical bodies (especially those that are grown without pesticides), but also helps improve the environment. As we start to understand where our food comes from, what process has to take place for the transportation needs for the food to get to our supermarkets, the more we will start to shop for local ingrediants where possible. By simply digging over a patch of dirt in the back yard, throwing in a few seeds, watering them a couple of times a week, I can almost guarantee you will become obsessed with how these little things that are so good for you will enrich not just your meal times but also your lifestyle. So whether you live in a one bedroom apartment with a balcony, or on an acerage, I dare you to try growing your own and watch how these words ring true!!