15 Terms Everyone In The Homes Gardens Industry Should Know

The Benefits of Home Gardens

Home gardens are small-scale subsistence farming systems that are established by families to supplement and obtain food. The garden plots typically consist of a variety of vegetables, fruits, tree crops ornamental plants, medicinal species as well as livestock [1].

Numerous studies have shown that gardening at home can offer many benefits for families with limited resources. These benefits include economics, nutrition and health, as well as sustainability of the agro-ecosystem.

Nutritional Benefits

Gardening at home is essential for ensuring nutrition and food security, according to a variety of studies. They can provide a range of nutrients, as well as supplement food staples and reduce "hidden hunger" and prevent the spread of diseases caused by micronutrient deficiencies and increase the income and livelihood of families. They also provide ecosystem services and are often a way to build resilience in communities to crises.

For instance in Java, Indonesia 7% of people's time is spent on gardening and it produces 44% of the household calories consumed and 32 percent of their protein intake. This is significantly more than the value of paddy rice which represents only 6% of the household's calorie intake (Sato and Perera).

In addition to providing an array of vegetables fruit, tubers, and other vegetables gardeners can also provide a significant amount of proteins as well as vitamins and minerals (particularly vitamin C) as well as calcium, iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that are essential. This allows you to maintain an appropriate diet and allows families to fulfill their nutritional needs at a relatively low cost.

Some gardens are designed to produce high-value crops, such as spices and herbal products that can be sold on the market. This has boosted the income of poor households particularly women, and has improved their nutrition and health. Additionally, some households have begun to integrate livestock and poultry activities into their gardens to increase the supply of animal proteins.

In post-crisis scenarios in post-crisis situations, gardening at home is often the preferred method to increase food and nutritional security. In the time of drought in Tajikistan in 2010, a lot of households went to their gardens to harvest diverse vegetables and herbs that they grew in their emergency food reserves. Additionally, they cultivated crops like beans, which could be purchased at a reasonable cost and comprised the majority of their food supply. This allowed them to avoid malnutrition and hunger and maintain a healthy diet while decreasing their dependence on imported food. In many cases it was a lifeline to families who were severely affected by the conflict and were facing economic difficulties and unemployment.

Economic Benefits

Home gardens provide a variety of benefits, including food security and income generation. They provide a constant and constant supply of fresh fruit vegetables, herbs, and spices as well as animal products (e.g. In addition to eggs and milk as well as eggs and milk, they also provide ecosystem services like soil fertility and water conservation. These multiple benefits make home garden cultivation an attractive sustainable agricultural practice, particularly in the developing countries.

In a variety of studies, the significance of the garden at home in providing staple foods and also as a buffer against insecurity of food is well-established. The research has shown that kitchen gardens can provide an ongoing supply of food for consumption within the household, as well as supplementary income from the sale of produce to markets. These profits can be used to fund other essential needs like healthcare, savings and education.

A literature review shows that women are the primary gardeners in home gardens. This is a reflection of the socio-cultural norms which consider the role of women to the production of household food. Women's involvement in the garden at home allows them to gain proficiency in  gardening  and plant care that improve their agronomic abilities and assists in meeting the family's needs.

In addition, the research by Rowe found that home gardens can enhance the intake of families living in degraded and densely populated areas with limited croplands. They accomplish this by increasing the supply of high nutrient density food items, thus enhancing the health of people and improving their diet [5252.

Because of their geography and horticultural content, home gardens are often characterized as low-tech and low-cost agriculture systems [53]. They utilize local resources such as soil, water and plants to reach their goals. This helps reduce the investment and operating costs in comparison to the cost of commercially bought food and creates economic value by reducing household expenditure.

Home  garden s are not just an abundance of food and income, but also promote the development of rural areas and encourage entrepreneurialism. They have been proven to be particularly efficient in post-conflict and fragile situations. For  raised garden beds , in Tajikistan which was declared independent after a long civil war and subsequent natural disasters such as drought, the gardens of homes provided an important source of food security and poverty alleviation for the population (Rowe et al. 2006).

Medicinal Benefits

Many studies across the world have found that home gardens provide multiple social and cultural as well as economic benefits. They can help improve the security of nutrition and food in various socio-economic and political situations as well as promoting health of the family and human capacity, providing income and self-reliance, helping empower women in preserving indigenous culture and knowledge, as well as protecting natural resources. Gardens at home also contribute to ecosystem services such as habitats for pollinators and animals as well as nutrient recycling, less erosion of soils and protection of watersheds.

The wide range of benefits that home gardens can bring has led to them becoming an integral part of the agricultural landscape in many developing countries around the world. In the upland regions of north-east India and Latin America for example, the cultivation of a garden at home is an ancient ethnoecological (TEK) or a traditional response, to the decline in soil fertility, and site degradation because of changing agricultural practices.

In addition to contributing to sustainable food production, gardens at home have been proven to play a crucial part in reducing 'hidden hunger' caused by micronutrient deficiencies. Wiersum et. al. note that the presence of various fruit trees in your home gardens allows families to access an excellent, vitamin and mineral-rich diet, which can help them prevent diseases caused by deficiencies.

In countries in transition or have experienced the aftermath of a conflict, home gardening is a way to improve the security of food, nutrition, and living conditions. This is due to the fact that it's flexible, affordable and adaptable, particularly for families with women as the primary caregivers. For instance, Rowe found that in Tajikistan which was a country that gained independence from the Soviet Union and was tormented by civil war and economic downturn households could get basic food items from rations, but depended heavily on their home gardens to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as tubers (such as cassava and yams) to supplement their daily diet.

The cultivation of medicinal plants by the home gardeners has also been a major source of medicinal plants and treatments in a number of developing countries. This is because local, often traditional herbal medicine is less expensive to produce than pharmaceuticals that are manufactured commercially and thus more affordable for people living in poverty.

Environmental Benefits

Home  garden s are small-scaled subsistence agriculture systems that provide food and other commodities for the household. They are usually a mix of trees, shrubs as well as perennial and annual plants. They can also include spices, herbs and ornamental species. They also provide a significant source of income, especially for households with a small budget.

Home gardening is a better alternative to commercial agriculture, which relies on chemical inputs. They also help to preserve biodiversity and natural resources.

A garden in your home can serve as a natural habitat for wildlife such as birds, insects, and other creatures who depend on it to survive. It also offers protection from harsh conditions like extreme sunlight and wind. A garden at home can help reduce noise pollution from traffic on busy roads. The tall plants in the garden will help to absorb and deflect noise waves which will help to maintain peace in your neighborhood.

In response to the growing environmental issues, there is a greater emphasis on developing and enhancing local food systems. Gardens at home are being recognized as one of the most feasible ways to provide local food and ecosystem services. Numerous studies have proven positive impacts on food, nutrition and income generation for resource-poor rural and urban families.

Additionally, studies on the social implications of gardens at home also show positive effects on the wellbeing and social eminence of household members, particularly women. For instance in the Achuar Indian community of the upper Amazon, a woman's ability to maintain a lush garden enhances her status in society.

Gardens at home are the ideal way to build resilience in the event that you are faced with food shortages or crisis. They can be a sustainable, low-cost alternative to expensive imported food. They can also serve as an agent of change and growth through the empowerment of marginalized communities.