Gardening in your environment; whether in hanging buckets or in the backyard. For it promotes sustainability and helps save on some costs that would have been incurred on things such as groceries. It also plays a vital role in the integrity of the environment. In addition, gardening instills the spirit of naturing or caring for something in you. Keep reading to discover ten environmental benefits of domestic gardening.
1. Reducing Carbon Footprints
Most of the crops grown at home are organic and eco-friendly. They are majorly foodstuffs such as fruits hence eliminating the need to travel to the market to buy them. Minimizing the usage of automobiles reduces carbon emissions into the environment. CO2 leads to global warming; hence minimizing its release leads to a better environment.
2. Protecting Wildlife
Gardens represent a natural environment despite being made by humans. The plants release oxygen into the atmosphere and absorb CO2, promoting a safe environment for wildlife like birds. Insects such as bees help in pollination hence making your garden flourish and yield more produce. Your garden also protects these creatures from predators and harsh weather. It also provides a conducive environment for them to mate and reproduce.
3. Reduce Soil Erosion
The roots make the ground firmer, reducing the possibility of soil being washed away. In addition, roots play a crucial role in bounding the topsoil together, which is the most fertile. The topsoil contains all the organic materials that are broken down to increase fertility. Plants with an excellent rooting system cover the ground, preventing soil degradation.
4. Cleansing of the Air
Have you ever wondered why you breathe clean air despite the many worldwide pollutions? The plants take in harmful gases such as ammonia and nitrogen oxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere. The leaves also filter the air by trapping bad smells and particles. Therefore, the larger the size of your garden, the purer the air in your home.
5. Minimizes Landfills
Sometimes your backyard is filled with waste products. Even though some of the wastes might be organic, much compilation leads to the emission of dangerous greenhouse gases such as methane which harm the environment. The waste can be used to mulch the garden, and it is a way to kill two birds with one stone. First, there will be no waste piling, and at the same time, it will be a way to increase the garden’s fertility.
6. Makes Your Home Energy Efficient
You can cut down a large portion of your cooling and heating costs by strategically planting trees. For utmost cooling during hot seasons, you can plant trees that form a canopy around your house. Moreover, trees can withhold strong winds during winter to prevent freezing. As a result, you will spend less money on heating and cooling your home. Subsequently, your home will be energy efficient.
7. Minimizes Usage of Chemicals
Commercial food production necessitates using fertilizers and chemicals to meet the market demand for food. As a result, the soil is affected since the chemicals disrupt the fungi and bacteria that help break down essential nutrients. Poor soil fertility leads to poor food production hence hindering sustainability. On the contrary, with home gardening, you regulate the type and amount of soil inputs. As a result, the soil will remain fertile with healthier food production.
8. Reducing Noise Pollution
Noise pollution can lead to many health issues, including hearing impairment in children, heart diseases, and mental well-being issues. Fortunately, plants can help deflect and absorb sound waves. If you live near a busy highway, you can plant vertical gardens to reduce the noise due to road activities.
9. Reducing Water Pollution
A rain garden would help keep your water clean. Heavy rainfall might lead to runoffs from the rooftops and driveways. Mostly the runoff is polluted, and rain gardens play a crucial role in capturing and filtering the water. In addition, they help prevent flooding.
10. It Promotes a Greener Environment
The world is facing the challenge of global warming, and everybody must play a part in curbing this problem. You do not need many acres of land to plant trees. A simple garden in your backyard is good to go. You can take gardening classes online to understand how to do it, even on a small scale.
The cost of gardening depends on the size of your garden and the nature of the plants you intend to grow. Generally, it is not an expensive process, and you can start with a few necessary tools and seeds/seedlings. Consider embracing home gardening since it has endless benefits to the environment.
Author bio: Maggie Bloom graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in communication and writing. In her spare time, she loves to dance, read, and bake. She also enjoys traveling and scouting out new brunch locations. If you are into video editing and you are looking into how to remove audio from video, Maggie recommends Invideo.
