Could Growing Your Own Food Change the Way You Eat, Think and Feel?

Written By: Vivian Benjamin

I have a garden full of medicinal flowers, medicinal herbs and vegetables. Well, technically, it is my mum’s garden. I did once try to grow a hibiscus plant myself, but it never sprouted, so I left the serious planting to my mum and happily took on the role of watering everything. Every morning, usually around 7am, I go outside and water the plants. We have hibiscus, blue pea, different coloured tea cup roses, Tulsi (Holy Basil), sage, two types of spinach, gotu kola, lemongrass, curry leaves and jasmine.



While I am watering them, I talk to them. I tell them how much I love and care for them and how I want them to grow happily and healthily. Those few minutes with the plants have become one of the loveliest parts of my morning routine. They give me a reason to slow down, pay attention and simply be present for a while. On particularly hot days, I even water them again in the evening.
 



Our garden also gives us something back. We eat many of the vegetables we grow, make tea and healthy desserts from blue pea and hibiscus flowers and use herbs such as sage and Tulsi in making medicinal concoctions to treat cough and minor illnesses. In the past, our family had an even larger garden, with coconut and mango trees, but when we moved, we had to leave that garden behind. My paternal and maternal grandparents also kept cows, goats and chickens to provide fresh milk and eggs for the family and I grew up drinking goat’s and cow’s milk.



When I was young, my grandmother used to take me to care for the cow and taught me how to milk them. Looking back, I realise that growing plants and tending to animals has become much more than producing food. It has changed the way I interact with food, nature and even my daily routine. And that got me thinking: could growing your own food change more than what you put on your plates? Could it also influence the way you think and feel?




How It Changes the Way You Eat

When you grow your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, chicken, goat or cow, you are aware of how they are cultivated. You know what you feed your chickens, cows or goats, or how you water your plants. As a result, you know what they produce and what you are consuming.



My family uses the vegetable and fruit peels/skin, onion and garlic peels/skin and stems from vegetables and soaks them in a large container with water. When it fills up to the brim, we drain the water the next day and use it for the plants. The compost/fermented liquid can provide nutrients and organic matter that support plant growth, so naturally the plants will appreciate them.  Sort of like giving them back what they own and allowing them to grow well to make sure they are beneficial when we consume them (food cycle).



Moreover, when you grow your own vegetables, fruits, eggs and herbs, you have instant access to them right outside your door; consequently, you are more inclined to eat healthily and know what you put on your plate. Similarly, harvested plants keep more vitamins and minerals because they don’t get affected by packaging, storing and sitting in transport trucks; therefore, you get more health benefits eating them straight from your garden. Besides that, if you need any home remedy for minor illnesses like a cough, you will have your own medicinal plants ready to heal you instead of driving to get over-the-counter medication, which may produce side effects.




How It Changes the Way You Think

When you grow your own food, be it plants or animals, you change from consumer to grower. You become aware of the environment, season or the weather patterns needed to grow your food. You may also have the urge to study more about the environment and different types of soils needed for different types of plants, which encourages learning.


Likewise, you also learn patience and that nature works on its own schedule. When I tried to grow my hibiscus plant, it didn’t sprout, but that never stopped me from growing my own food. Later, I tried my hand at growing spring onions and I successfully managed to grow them and even cook and eat them. Furthermore, when you grow your own food, you tend to value the food more because you spend months growing it yourself from scratch and will subsequently waste food less. For instance, if you have leftovers, you can come up with a creative idea to make another food out of eggs, vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants instead of repeating the same dish or throwing them away because you’re bored with eating the same dish.


Apart from that, you can develop problem-solving skills by figuring out how to fix poor soil, stop pests, or save thirsty or overwatered plants. Not only that, but caring for the plants or animals can create a sense of responsibility and help create a healthy routine. For example, children can learn and have a duty to water plants at the proper time, which can foster a sense of commitment and routine.




How It Changes the Way You Feel

When you grow your own food or animals, you develop a sense of connection and accomplishment. Eating a meal or a dish with the ingredients you grew yourself creates a deep feeling of pride and happiness. When I cooked my own grown spring onion dish with shrimps, I felt a sense of happiness eating the vegetables I planted myself. Additionally, when I had leftover spring onions, I actually chucked them into a pancake batter and made pancakes for breakfast the next day. Although I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, I was amazed and filled with satisfaction for creating a new tasty recipe instantly.



Some of the recipes that I created have ingredients that come from our garden and I’m so grateful and happy with the achievements. Moreover, growing your own food may help reduce stress. When I speak to my plants every morning while watering them, I also tell them my problems and life issues and that actually helps me to have a productive, positive day. Besides that, when you work in your garden by digging, bending and weeding or when you are milking the goat or cow, that actually counts as medium-intensity exercise, which improves your health and mental wellbeing.



Aside from that, you also tend to treat the garden as a source of connection. I love walking barefoot in my garden as it makes me feel I’m in the present, but do make sure it's clean and tidy to avoid hurting my feet. When you spend time outside in the garden or with the animals, you are not just simply producing the food, be it from plants or animals but working with the soil, tending to the goat, chicken and cow, which promotes a feeling of love and care.









All in All
As a holistic nutritionist, I always emphasise to my clients the need to have a positive, happy and healthy relationship with food. My principles in life are “what you eat, think and feel is what shapes you” ,“food be it plant or animal has the power to nourish your body from the inside and outside” and “balance is an important factor in the relationship with food”. Nutrition Takes explores could growing your own food change the way you eat, think and feel. Share or ask questions if you would like to know more about the topic or if you have different insights that you would like to share. I am always happy to hear about your journey in holistic approaches.
 










References
1. Kunpeuk W. et al (2020); The impact of gardening on nutrition and physical health outcomes: a systematic review and
   meta-analysis; Health Promotion International; 35(2): 397-408.

2. Lampert T. et al (2021); Evidence on the contributions of community gardens to promote physical and mental health wellbeing
    of non-institutionalised individuals: A systematic review; PLoS One; 16(8): e0255621.

3. Hume C. et al (2022); Community gardens and their effects on diets, health, psychosocial and community outcomes: a
    systematic review; BMC Public Health; 22(1): 1247.


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