Cultivate Your Plate: growing your own veges this world vegan day.
In a world that is becoming increasingly aware of the impact of dietary choices on personal health and the environment, World Vegan Day is a great time to consider how you might increase your consumption of plant-based food.
One of the most empowering and rewarding ways to increase your plant-based food intake is by growing your own vegetables.
The act of growing your own food is a therapeutic and stress-relieving endeavour. Gardening is not merely a physical activity, it’s a mindful practice that fosters a sense of well-being and tranquillity. This holistic approach to nourishment goes beyond the nutritional value of the food itself; it encompasses the entire experience of cultivating, harvesting, and sense of achievement that comes from self-sufficiency.
You don’t need to have particularly green thumbs to grow a fruitful garden. There are a number of easy to grow, quick win crops that are great options to try if you’re new to growing your own.
Three veges to try growing in your backyard this season are:
🥦 Salad greens—easy to grow and quick to reach harvestable size, leafy greens such as lettuce, rocket and spinach are excellent choices for beginner gardeners. They’re also suited to any size space—whether you have a larger garden bed or a few small pots and containers. Pick them by the leaf rather than taking out the whole plant to keep a continuous supply!
🥦 Sugar snap peas—these are delicious to pluck straight from the vine as a snack, or a lovely crunchy addition to salads. They’re cost effective to grow, as you can plant them as seed. Again, these work well in garden beds or pots, with a trellis or tepee frame to climb.
🥦 Tomatoes—a little more challenging than the previous two options, tomatoes are still a good beginner crop provided you take the time to stake, water, and feed the plants regularly. Pop some basil seedlings under the plant as a good companion for the tomatoes, and your meals!
The journey from seed to plate is a wonderful way to connect with nature, as well as giving you access to fresh, homegrown produce. In the spirit of World Vegan Day, consider taking a leap into the world of home gardening. By doing so, you’re not only embracing a plant-based lifestyle, but actively participating in the journey of your food from garden to table. Let your garden be a testament to your commitment to health, sustainability, and the celebration of all things green!
Join the Glimmer community (it’s free), and encourage your friends to get together to do a clean-up. Because together we can make a difference.
Looking for more information about sustainable living? These other Glimmer articles can help.
Sources:
Gardening can relieve human stress and boost nature connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Egerer, M., Lin, B., Kingsley, J., Marsh, P., Diekmann, L., Ossola, A. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8767951/
We need to Talk about Meat. https://unfccc.int/blog/we-need-to-talk-about-meat
World Vegan Day. https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-vegan-day-2023/
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Gemma is a mother of two young girls and calls Aotearoa, New Zealand home. She works in marketing and sustainability, has a Master of Business in International Business, and recently completed (and highly recommends) the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management course. Gemma is a passionate advocate for brands, organisations and individuals prioritising sustainability to ensure our planet can thrive for future generations.
