The Importance of Gardening in 2023 and Aeroponic Innovations

Hey there, fellow garden enthusiasts! Today, I want to share my thoughts on the significance of gardening in 2023, and why I believe it's an absolute must! With climate change becoming an increasingly urgent issue, it is more important than ever to find ways to reduce our impact on the environment . Gardening provides not only a powerful solution, but a doable one. It grants us access to fresh, wholesome food and also carries a host of environmental benefits. Whether it’s a backyard garden, community garden or aeroponic garden, they all reduce the need for transportation and packaging of store-bought produce and can reduce or eliminate the need for harmful pesticides and fertilizers. I'm passionate about sustainability, nurturing connections, and making a positive impact on the world.

Gardening has been so therapeutic for me. Studies show that spending time in nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and improve overall well-being. Gardening is a great way to get outside, get your hands dirty, and play in the dirt. The years that I’ve had “bumper crops” and had to give away broccolini, zucchini, tomatoes & cucumbers were so satisfying and gave me a chance to know my neighbors. The year I started making pickles it was because, I literally had 2-3 new cucumbers every morning (if my dog Sadie didn’t get to them first!). The benefits of gardening extend far beyond environmental concerns. As social beings, we thrive on meaningful connections and the well-being of others wellness.

Gardening can also lead to substantial cost savings. Growing our own food can be a budget-friendly alternative, particularly if fresh produce is expensive or scarce in our vicinities. Community gardens in food deserts might be the only way families can afford fresh, in season produce. Community gardens, in particular, serve as nurturing spaces for people to cultivate their own food while forging connections with like-minded individuals. Gardening offers a wonderful opportunity to build vibrant communities and foster a sense of togetherness.

The first garden I ever planted I was VERY pregnant with my son, I planted all kinds of vegetables, plus we had a plum tree, an apricot tree and a lemon tree. Gardening is a good way to get little ones to try foods they may not normally try. Planting the seeds, smoothing out the soil, watering and checking their growth every day is a fun and interactive way to teach little kids where their food comes from, the importance of sustainability and encourage them to try what they’ve grown.

Lastly, let's not forget the sheer beauty that gardening brings into our lives. Whether it's a windowsill herb garden, a blossoming balcony, or a flourishing backyard oasis, plants and flowers add color, texture, and fragrances that uplift our spirits. Right now I don’t have a yard so I’ve opted for an aeroponic garden, I go out every morning and tell my plants how beautiful they are and how much I appreciate them. My tower is on my front porch, I love the aesthetics and seeing the growth day to day brings me and my neighbors so much joy. Passersby ask what I’m growing and I look forward to being able to share my produce with them. There’s more than one way to have a community garden. In urban areas there are literally farms of vertical/aeroponic gardens. Tower Garden

Gardening holds immense importance in 2023 and beyond. It encompasses so many benefits….from sustainability, community building, mental and physical well-being. So, friends, let's embrace gardening as a transformative journey of connection, nurturing, and positive change for ourselves, our communities and the environment.

Plant-based diets and your carbon footprint

There are a lot of compelling reasons to consider a plant-based diet for environmental reasons. As concerns about the environment continue to grow, many people are turning to plant-based diets as a way to reduce their carbon footprint, that’s what prompted me to go plant-based, this time around. The first time I went vegetarian I was 15 and it was more for health reasons. A plant-based diet is typically made up of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, while minimizing (or avoiding altogether) animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs. Here, I’ll give you some of the key reasons why you might want to consider eating a plant-based diet to help combat climate change.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

One of the most significant environmental benefits of a plant-based diet is its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Animal agriculture is a major contributor, with an estimated 14.5% of global emissions. Livestock farming is responsible for significant amounts of methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions, all of which contribute to climate change. By reducing or eliminating animal products from your diet, you can help to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your impact on the planet.

Conserving water resources

Another important environmental benefit of a plant-based diet is its potential to conserve water resources. Animal agriculture is a highly water-intensive industry, a pound of beef takes approximately 2,500 gallons of water to produce. In comparison, a pound of vegetables typically requires much less water. Choosing plant-based foods can help to conserve water resources and reduce the strain on water supplies in drought-prone regions.

Protecting biodiversity

The production of animal products often involves deforestation, which can lead to the loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction. Large areas of forests are cleared to make way for grazing land and to grow crops to feed livestock, which can lead to the displacement of indigenous people, the loss of wildlife, and the destruction of ecosystems. Eating plant-based, you help reduce the demand for animal products and support sustainable farming practices that protect biodiversity and promote environmental conservation.

Reducing pollution

Livestock farming produces large amounts of manure, which can contaminate waterways and contribute to algal blooms and other forms of water pollution. The use of fertilizers and pesticides in animal feed production also contribute to air and water pollution.

By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water resources, protecting biodiversity, and reducing pollution, a plant-based diet can help to reduce your impact on the planet and promote a more sustainable food system. Whether you're looking to reduce your consumption of animal products, already a vegetarian or vegan, wanting to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet is a powerful way to make a positive difference for the environment.

Making changes can be overwhelming. Even small changes have a big impact. Start with meatless Mondays and shopping at your local farmers market for a few things once a week, or even once a month. Think of this as an adventure and be open to experimenting in the kitchen. A lot of people think that a plant based diet is going to be bland or tasteless, they don’t have to be. The recipes I share here are plant based, and there a tons of others online. Food is a huge way to connect with people and celebrate life, reducing your impact on the environment doesn’t mean you have to reduce your joy!

Vegan Persimmon Pudding

This is one of my favorite desserts, it just tastes like Christmas to me. It’s one of the first desserts beyond sugar cookies I learned to make back in high school. You have to have super ripe and squishy persimmons for this. I get mine from the farmers market, they save them for me every year. I used walnuts but you could also use pecans. If you like raisins you could add those as well. For the pulp I strained the persimmons through a colander into a large bowl. (Remember to compost the skins and stems).

Persimmon pudding

2 cups of persimmon pulp

3 egg replacement (I used Follow Your Heart’s)

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1/2 nutmeg (or pumpkin pie spice)

1/2 cup melted vegan butter

2 1/2 cups almond or cashew milk

1 1/2 cup whole wheat or unbleached flour

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  In a large bowl add the egg replacement to the persimmon pulp, whisk in the sugar.  Add baking powder, soda, salt and spices.  Pour in melted vegan butter, stir & pour in the almond milk.  The mixture will be sort of soupy, whisk in flour, fold in chopped nuts.  Pour into a greased 9 X 13 pan.  Bake for 1 hour or until knife comes out clean.  Serve warm or room temperature with vegan whipped cream.

Why Organic?

Some people think that buying organic produce and products is hype, I am not one of them.  I buy organic whenever possible, not only does it taste better, it’s better for the environment and most of the time it is affordable. The difference is usually only $.20 -.50/ lb or bunch, that is not expensive. 

Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes an updated list of the 12 most contaminated foods, here’s this years list:

The 2019 Dirty Dozen:

Strawberries

Spinach

Kale

Nectarines

Apples

Grapes

Peaches

Cherries

Pears

Tomatoes

Celery

Potatoes

(Strawberries rank number one for the fourth year in a row, and the rest of the list looks similar to years past with one exception: Kale made the top 12 for the first time in a decade.)

If you're concerned about pesticides, the EWG also publishes a list of the "Clean 15," a.k.a. the produce from conventional growers that generally had less residue in the group's tests. 

The 2019 Clean 15:

Avocados

Sweet corn

Pineapples

Frozen sweet peas

Onions

Papayas

Eggplants

Asparagus

Kiwis

Cabbages

Cauliflower

Cantaloupes

Broccoli

Mushrooms

Honeydew melons

If you’re juicing I think it’s extremely important to use organic produce because you do not want a concentration of pesticides and chemicals in your juice, I’d say that pretty much defeats the purpose.  I’m a big believer in farmers markets, I try to go at least once a week. When my kids were tiny we loved going to the Redland’s farmers market then hit Trader Joe’s on the way home (because it was the closest one, thank God we have closer ones now)!  Check out your local farmers markets, it’s super easy…..there are free app locators, just search the App Store.

Sources: www.ewg.org, www.organic.org