10 Pinterest Account To Be Following Homes Gardens

The Benefits of Home Gardens

Home gardens are small-scale subsistence agricultural systems that are established by families in order to supplement and get food. These garden plots often comprise a variety of fruits, vegetables, trees, crops, ornamental plants and medicinal species as well as livestock [11.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that gardening at home can offer numerous benefits to families with limited resources. These benefits include economics, nutrition as well as agro-ecosystem sustainability.

Nutritional Benefits

Different studies have proven that backyard gardens are crucial in providing nutrition and food security. They can supply a variety of nutrients, as well as supplement food staples and help to reduce "hidden hunger" and help prevent diseases caused by micronutrient deficiencies and improve the income and livelihood of families. They also provide ecosystem services and are often a means to help communities adapt to crises.

In Java, Indonesia, for example, 7% of the time used by people in the garden which accounts for 44 percent of their daily calories consumed and 32% of their protein intake. This is a much greater value than paddy rice, which is only 6percent of a household's total calorie intake.

In addition to providing an array of vegetables fruits, tubers, and vegetables gardeners can also provide a significant amount of proteins minerals, vitamins (particularly vitamin C), calcium, iron, folic acid, and other essential micronutrients. This helps to create a balanced diet and enables families to meet their nutritional requirements with a reasonable cost as compared to commercial sources of food.

Some gardens are designed to produce high-value crops, such as spices and herbal products that can be sold on the market. starting a garden has boosted the income of households with low incomes particularly women, and has improved their health and nutrition. In addition, some households have been incorporating livestock and poultry activities in their garden plots to increase the availability of animal proteins.

Home gardening is often the best strategy to increase food and nutritional security in post-crisis scenarios. During the drought in Tajikistan 2010 a large number of households went to their gardens to harvest various vegetables and herbs that they grew to supplement their emergency food storage. They also grew beans, which were cheap and comprised a significant portion of their food supply. This allowed them to avoid hunger and malnutrition and ensured a healthy diet while decreasing their dependence on imported food items. In many instances this was an important lifeline for families who were severely affected by the war and were facing economic difficulties and unemployment.

Economic Benefits

Home gardens provide a range of benefits, such as income generation and food security. They provide a continuous and reliable supply of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices as well as animal products (e.g. eggs and milk) in addition to many ecosystem services such as soil fertility and conservation of water. These numerous benefits make gardening at home an attractive sustainable agriculture practice, especially in the developing nations.

In various studies, the role of the garden at home in providing essential food items and also as a buffer against insecurity of food has been well established. Research has proven that kitchen gardens provide a constant supply of food items that can be consumed by the household as well as an additional income from the sale of products at markets. These earnings can be used to fund other basic needs of the family like healthcare, education and savings.

A study of the literature reveals that women are the primary gardeners in home gardens. This is a reflection of socio-cultural norms that place value on women's contribution to food production and nutrition for the family. The involvement of women in the management of their home gardens helps them develop proficiency related to the practices of gardening and plants that enhance their agronomic competency and contributes to meeting the needs of families [41].

In addition, the research by Rowe found that gardens at home help to supplement the diet of families living in degraded and densely populated areas with limited croplands. They achieve this by increasing the supply and variety of foods with high nutritional density, thereby improving the balance of diet and health [52].

Because of their location and horticultural composition homes are often described as low-tech and low-cost agriculture systems [53]. This means that they utilize locally available resources such as soil as well as water, seeds, plants and labour to accomplish their objectives. This reduces the cost of investment and operation as compared to food items purchased from commercial stores and generates economic benefit through a reduction in household spending.

Home gardens not only provide an abundance of food and income, but also encourage the development of rural areas and encourage entrepreneurialism. They have been found to be especially effective in post-conflict and fragile situations. In Tajikistan for instance which gained independence following the long civil war and natural disasters such as drought gardening at home was an important way to alleviate the poverty and ensure food security for the population.

Medical Benefits

Many studies around the world have shown that gardens at home offer a variety of social and cultural as and economic benefits. They help in enhancing food and nutritional security in a variety of political and socio-economic situations improving family health and human capacity, generating income and self-reliance, empowering women, preserving indigenous cultures and knowledge, and preserving natural resources. Home gardens contribute to ecosystem services, such as habitats and pollinators for animals as well as nutrient recycling and erosion reduction, as well as watershed protection.

Home gardens are now a part of many countries' agricultural landscapes due to their wide range of benefits. In upland areas in north-east India and Latin America for example, home garden cultivation can be a traditional ethnoecological (TEK), or traditional response to declining soil fertility and degradation of the site because of changing agricultural practices.

In addition to contributing to sustainable food production, home gardens have been shown to play a crucial part in reducing 'hidden hunger' that is caused by micronutrient deficiencies. As reported by vegetable gardens et al, the use of a wide variety of fruit trees and other vegetables in gardens at home allows families to have access to a high-quality diet that is rich in minerals and vitamins and helps them avoid the ailment that is caused by deficiency.

Moreover, in countries undergoing transition or post-conflict, gardening at home has been utilized as a strategy to enhance nutrition, food security and living standards with the assumption that gardening is affordable, flexible and adaptable, particularly for households with women as the primary caregivers. Rowe found, for example, that in Tajikistan (which became independent from the Soviet Union but was plagued by civil war and a severe economic slump), households relied heavily on their gardens at home to supplement their daily meals.

The cultivation of medicinal plants by the home gardeners has also been an important source of medicine and treatments in many developing countries. This is because local, generally traditional herbal medicines are cheaper to make than pharmaceuticals that are manufactured commercially and thus more affordable for people living in poverty.

Environmental Benefits

Home gardens are subsistence farming systems on a small scale that provide food and household goods as well as other household commodities. They usually consist of an assortment of shrubs, trees and perennial plants, herbs, spices, and ornamental species. They also provide a significant source of income, especially for households with limited resources.

Home gardening is a better alternative to commercial agriculture, which is dependent on chemical inputs. They are also beneficial in conserving biodiversity and natural resources.

A garden at home can serve as a habitat for wildlife, such as birds, insects and other animals that depend on it to survive. It offers protection from harsh environmental conditions like extreme weather and the sun. A garden in the home can aid in reducing noise pollution from traffic on busy roads. The tall plants in your garden will help absorb and diffuse noise and maintain peace within your neighborhood.

In response to the growing environmental concerns there is a growing focus on developing and improving local food systems. Home gardens are gaining attention as one of the most viable methods of providing local food and ecosystem services. Numerous studies have proven positive effects on food, nutrition and income generation for resource-poor urban and rural families.

homes gardens on the social benefits of gardening at home has shown positive effects for household members, especially women. For example, in the Achuar Indian community of the upper Amazon, a woman's ability to maintain a lush garden increases her status in society.

Home gardens are a great way to build resilience when confronted by food shortages or crises. They are a low-cost and viable alternative to buying expensive foods from abroad. They can also be a catalyst for change and development through the empowerment of marginalized communities.