The Kitchen Garden: It’s Important
The sun is just cresting the horizon, birds are chirping, the roosters are stretching their legs, and the dew is drying on the leaves. You step out into the symphony of colors and senses, leaving behind the hot kitchen and the breakfast starting to bubble on the stove. Not much time before you need to add the zappy flavor of fresh herbs into your culinary concoction, but you pull on your boots, grab a harvest basket and then squint your eyes to see the garden……..Said no Kitchen gardener ever!!
Right outside on your doorstep, not far away! A kitchen garden is a hub of sustainability, health and connection. It’s not supposed to be a trek. It is the heart of every home gardener and it holds flavor and freshness that needs easy accessibility and most likely a barefoot visitor in the morning! In this blog post, we'll explore why the kitchen garden is not merely an optional addition but an indispensable element for any household, contributing to a healthier lifestyle, a reduced environmental footprint, and a heightened appreciation for the food we consume.
What is a kitchen garden and why should you have one?
In the simplest of descriptions, a kitchen garden is an easily accessible space where you grow your own vegetables, flowers, and herbs for consumption. A kitchen garden, or commonly referred to as a potager, is space that is separated from ornamental plants and lawn areas. Different from farming as it also includes an aesthetic purpose. The origins of kitchen gardens can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians where the wealthiest could create formal gardens for produce and pleasure. The most famous kitchen garden possibly being the historic kitchen garden at Versailles (Le Potager de Roi), which I had the pleasure of visiting last year. This large potager has multiple different sections dedicated to a variety of different vegetables all surrounded by painstakingly dedicated espalier trees of all kinds. And now here in the states, we have a kitchen garden resurgence occurring. And I’m here for it!
A kitchen garden gives you the ability to step outside your home, pluck your sun-ripened tomatoes, aromatic basils, or your crisp lettuce and create a garden to table meal within your own space. It allows you to experiment with supremely tasty and fresh produce that you won’t find at the grocery store. The kitchen garden can transform an ordinary backyard into an extension of your home while elevating the taste of your culinary creations.
Beyond the taste, a kitchen garden hosts some of the most nutrient dense food. Freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, and herbs all retain more nutrients compared to their store bought counterparts that may have traversed long distances, been frozen for logistical transport, or are much older than you think by the time you get them at the store. Not to mention the way those things are grown and the environmental impacts. No, you don’t have to grow everything yourself. But incorporating homegrown produce into your meals ensures a direct supply of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, that all contribute to a nutrient rich diet that promotes overall well being.
I don’t want to be a farmer and don’t have much time to commit. Should I still think about a kitchen garden?
Yes! A kitchen garden offers so much more than growing food. It is literally a microcosm of sustainable living. It can actively reduce your footprint, it cuts down the excessive packaging, transportation, or even energy-intensive agricultural practices that our country has embraced since the 50’s. By growing even a few things at home, it can have a big impact. Imagine if everyone just grew their own herbs. And most of them in my area are perennials!
And if increasing sustainability isn’t your thing, what about the opportunity for education within our families? Children learn about the life cycle of plants ,the importance of soil health and the basics of agriculture.
Most kids have never seen how big a broccoli plant actually is! A kitchen garden is an immersive education that fosters a connection with the food they eat and imparts valuable life skills. It also can teach them resilience as some things in the garden will just die. And you have to keep trying. The kitchen garden can become a canvas for lessons in biology, ecology and interconnectedness of living things.
But Aerin, I don’t have kids and I live in an apartment. Why should I even think about a balcony kitchen garden?
Even the smallest of spaces can reap the benefits and contribute to your overall well being. Cultivating a kitchen garden, regardless of how small (I started on a balcony) is a hands-on experience that combines physical activity with mental well being. The act of planting, weeding, and harvesting provides a gentle form of exercise, contributing to a healthy and active lifestyle. Additionally, and I spend a lot of time on mental health benefits from the garden, spending time in a garden has been linked to reduced stress, improved mood, and an enhanced sense of well being. It’s a therapeutic escape, offering solace in the simple act of tending to your plants.
Kitchen gardens can be as simple or as complex as you make them. But no matter what, nature is a partner With you. Embracing the ebb and flow of seasons means that you get to cultivate a diverse range of crops throughout the year.
And we have a long growing seasons here! It’s a small yet impactful step toward harmonizing your lifestyle with the broader cycles of the environment. Plus connection with our food is always a good thing.
A kitchen garden is a powerhouse of benefits, from enhancing the flavors on your plate to reducing your ecological impact. It’s a source of fresh, nutritious produce and catalyst for sustainable living. It doesn't have to be difficult, but I’ve touched on that in my previous blog “What is a Garden Coach and Why you want one”. As you embark on your kitchen garden journey or reminisce about your own experiences, share your thoughts below. How has a kitchen garden enriched your life, and what lessons has it taught you? Your insights might just inspire others to dig into the joys of cultivating their own slice of edible paradise.
