Growing Edibles Is Cool!

So, it seems that one of the positive spinoffs of Covid is that more ‘under 35s’ are growing their own edibles, and finding that it’s a great way to de-stress.

- By Alice Spenser-Higgs

The Garden Media Group, which is often bang on for spotting trends, quotes a study in the United States showing that 8 in 10 young people think gardening is ‘cool’, and would rather go to a garden centre than a nightclub. Considering that nightclubs are super-spreader venues while garden centres offer fresh air and space, that makes a lot of sense!

For our own next generation of gardeners, don’t let little or no experience of gardening stop you from getting started. YouTube is great for picking up tips, but the only way to develop your own green fingers is to get stuck in and do it yourself.

Here are some thoughts:

• Growing your own edibles is not a way to save money. It’s cheaper and easier to buy the same veggies at a large fruit and veggie outlet.

• BUT, growing your own edibles is healthier because you decide whether or not to use pesticides, even organic pesticides.

• Gardening not only connects us to nature and to the seasons, but it also connects us to our food. So many children grow up with a disconnect, and they are poorer for it.

• Gardening is incredibly satisfying, creative and therapeutic. It’s food for the soul. In oldfashioned words, it is a hobby that can last a lifetime.