Whether you have a small or a large garden, maintaining it will have huge benefits on your physical health. Do you know that heavy hard work like moving rocks and dirt can burn as much as 400 to 600 calories per hour? Raking and bagging leaves can burn 400 calories per hour, too. That’s more than what you can burn by spending an hour in the gym. Simple garden work such as pulling weeds, cutting grass, and planting flowers can burn about 200 to 400 calories per hour.
People know about the amazing health benefits of gardening. Aside from that, gardening is a great way to lessen your dependence on conventionally grown food, as well as on your electricity. In turn, the simple activity of gardening will help you save money that you would’ve put into the daily costs of living.
Spending Time in the Garden Helps You Save on Your Electricity Bill
One hour in the garden is one hour you are not spending inside your home and using electricity. With the appliances unplugged, your electricity usage goes down. Even if you’re using solar power, the fact that you are outdoors will still minimize your dependence on the use of electricity. The more you spend time outdoors in your garden, the less electricity you need to use inside your home.
Working in the Garden Improves Your Mood
Outdoor activities make people happier. That is true for outdoor sports as it is true for gardening, too. If you are the kind of person who turns to pricier leisurely activities such as shopping or treating yourself to a nice restaurant, try to garden instead. By surrounding yourself with the lush environment, you will improve your mood. Once your mood has improved, you wouldn’t need to spend so much on shopping and expensive dinners to feel good.
Gardening Equates to Working Out
As mentioned above, gardening burns at least 300 calories per hour. That’s for light gardening work. The more you work on your garden, the better it is for your overall health. That means you might not need that gym membership after all. In light of the developments because of COVID-19, it is super important to distance yourself from people. The gym must be the last place in your mind right now. Spend time tending the yard instead. That will do you good.
Growing Your Own Food Saves Grocery Money
Gardens are not only for shrubs and flowers. You can grow your own food, too. You can grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs. How much does a sprig of rosemary cost nowadays? Instead of buying them from the grocery, you can simply walk to your garden and cut a bunch of mint for your lemon tea.
More than that, you can set up a roadside stand where you can sell some of your produce. Just make sure to get the necessary permits. You can also sell or exchange your produce with your neighbors. If you are not growing certain vegetables and fruits and your neighbors do, bartering produce is also an acceptable activity.
Renting out Your Garden for Events
If you have a well-maintained garden, why don’t you rent it out for events? So many people are now looking for outdoor event venues because of the pandemic. Ventilation is excellent in an outdoor setting, which means the chances of transmitting the virus is reduced. You can also offer your property as a campsite for backpackers. Again, you have to make sure your homeowners’ association allows this business activity.
Meeting People Through Community Gardens
Do you love socializing? Instead of spending money in a bar to meet complete strangers, why don’t you get to know your neighbors better? You can start a community garden where everyone can contribute. It’s a great way to grow your own food and at the same time, spend time with the community. Whoever owns the plot of land should, of course, have most of the share of the crops and produce.
You do not have to spend much when you decide to start a garden. You can ask for plant cuttings from your neighbors and friends. Start small and then, grow your garden from there. Read up about how to minimize water wastage in a garden. You have a lot to learn so start now.
Gardening is more than just about having a nice curbside to impress your guests. It’s more than about the health benefits. Gardening is the best way to save on your home expenses, too. With a bit of research and a lot of hard work, you can build a beautiful garden in time.
