The Benefits of Home Gardens
Home gardens are small-scaled subsistence agricultural systems established by families to collect and supplement their food needs. These garden plots often comprise a variety of fruits, vegetables, trees, crops, ornamental plants and medicinal species and livestock [11.
Numerous studies have shown that gardens at home can bring many benefits for families with limited resources. These benefits include nutrition and economics as well as health, sustainability of agroecosystems, and health.
Nutritional Benefits
Gardening at home is essential to ensure nutrition security and food security, according to a variety of studies. They are able to provide a variety of nutrients, provide a supplement to food staples, lessen "hidden hunger" and prevent disease due to micronutrient deficiency and boost family income and livelihoods. They offer ecosystem services, and are often used to promote resilience of communities in times of crisis.
In Java, Indonesia, for instance, 7 percent of the time spent by people is spent gardening which accounts for 44 percent of their daily calories consumed, and 32% of their protein intake. This is a significantly higher quantity than paddy rice, which only represents 6% of a household's total calories consumed.
In addition to supplying a diverse range of vegetable fruit, tubers, and other vegetables gardeners can also provide significant amounts of protein minerals, vitamins (particularly vitamin C), calcium, iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that are essential. This helps to create healthy eating and allows families to meet their nutritional needs at a relatively low cost when compared with commercial sources of food.
Certain gardens are designed to produce high-value crops like spices and herbal products that can be sold on the market. raised garden beds has increased the income of poor households, especially women, and also improved their health and nutrition. Some households have also integrated livestock and poultry into their gardens to increase availability animal proteins.
In post-crisis situations, home gardening is often the most effective strategy to increase food and nutritional security. For instance during the drought in Tajikistan in 2010 a significant portion of households resorted to their home gardens for various plants and vegetables that they cultivated to supplement their emergency food supply. In addition, they grew crops like beans, which were readily available at a low price and comprised the majority of their food supplies. They were able to avoid hunger and malnutrition and maintain an active lifestyle, and reduce their dependence on imported food. This was a lifeline in many cases for families that were badly affected by the war, and facing economic hardship and unemployment.
Economic Benefits
Home gardens provide a variety of benefits, including food security and income generation. They can provide a steady and constant supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, as well as animal product (e.g. milk and eggs) in addition to numerous ecosystem services, including soil fertility and water conservation. These benefits make home gardening an attractive sustainable agricultural practice, especially in developing nations.
The importance of gardens at home as a source of staple food items and as a buffer against food insecurity has been established in various studies. Research has shown that kitchen gardens can provide an ongoing supply of food to be consumed in the household, as well as an additional income from the sale of produce at markets. These profits can be used to pay for other necessities of the family like healthcare, education and savings.
According to a study of the literature, women are responsible for the majority of home gardens. This is a reflection of the socio-cultural norms which consider the role of women to household food production. The involvement of women in the management of home gardens helps them develop proficiency related to the practices of gardening and plants, which enhances their agronomic competency and assists in meeting family needs [41].
Additionally, the study by Rowe discovered 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 availability and variety of food items with high nutritional density, thus improving health and balance in the diet [5252.
Home gardens are often described as low-tech, low-cost agriculture systems due to their location and horticultural makeup [5353. They utilize local resources such as soil, water and plants to achieve their goals. This reduces the cost of investment and operation in comparison to the cost of commercially bought food and generates economic benefit through a reduction in household spending.
Home gardens are not just a diverse source of food and income, but also encourage rural development and entrepreneurialism. They have proven particularly efficient in post-conflict and fragile situations. For instance, in Tajikistan which gained independence following a prolonged civil war and subsequent natural disasters such as drought, home gardens provided an important avenue for food security and alleviation of poverty for the population (Rowe and co. 2006).
Medicinal Benefits
Numerous studies have demonstrated that gardens at home can bring social, cultural and economic benefits. These include enhancing food and nutritional security in a variety of socio-economic and political situations improving family health and human potential, providing income and self-reliance, helping empower women as well as preserving indigenous cultures and knowledge, and protecting natural resources. Home gardens are a source of ecosystem services, including habitats and pollinators for animals as well as nutrient recycling and soil erosion reduction and watershed protection.
The many benefits that home gardens can bring has led to them becoming a part of the landscape of agriculture in many developing countries around the globe. For instance, in upland regions of north-east India and Latin America, home garden cultivation is typically an ancient ethno-ecological (TEK) response to declining soil fertility and degradation of the site due to changing practices in agriculture [9The benefits of home gardens are numerous.
In addition to their contribution to sustainable food production, home gardens have been shown to play a significant role in reducing 'hidden hunger' caused by micronutrient deficiency. As reported by Wiersum et al, the utilization of a variety of fruits and vegetables in gardens at home allows families to have easy access to a healthy diet that is rich in minerals and vitamins which can help them prevent diseases caused by deficiencies.
Moreover, in countries undergoing post-conflict and transitional situations, gardening at home has been utilized as a way to increase food security, nutrition and livelihoods with the assumption that gardening is a flexible, affordable and adaptable, especially for women-headed households. For example, Rowe found that in Tajikistan which gained independence from the Soviet Union and was tormented by civil war and economic downturn, households obtained basic staple food items from rations, but relied heavily on home gardens for a variety of other fruits and vegetables as well as tubers (such as cassava and yams) to supplement their daily food intake.
The cultivation of medicinal plants by the home gardeners is also a major source of medicines and treatments in a number of developing countries. This is due to the fact that local generally traditional herbal medicines are cheaper to make than commercially manufactured pharmaceuticals and thus more affordable for people living in poverty.
Environmental Benefits
Home gardens are small-scaled subsistence agricultural systems that provide food and other commodities for the household. garden plants comprise an assortment of trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as spices, herbs, and ornamental species. They are also a major source of income, particularly for those with a limited budget.
Home gardening is a better alternative to commercial agriculture which relies on chemical inputs. They also aid in conserving biodiversity and natural resources.
A home garden can be an area for wildlife to live, like insects, birds and other animals, who depend on it for their survival. It also provides protection from harsh conditions, such as the harsh sunlight and the wind. A home garden can also help to reduce noise pollution caused by the traffic on busy roads. Tall plants in the garden will help to absorb and block out noise which will help to maintain peace in your neighborhood.
In response to the growing environmental concerns there is a growing focus on developing and improving local food systems. Home gardens are gaining attention as one of the most viable ways to provide local food and ecosystem services. Numerous studies have shown positive effects on food, nutrition, and income generation for resource-poor urban and rural families.
Additionally, studies on the social implications of garden maintenance also reveal positive effects on the health and social standing of household members particularly women. In the Achuar community of the upper Amazon region, for example the ability of women to tend to a lush garden enhances her social standing.
Gardening at home is crucial to build resilience in the face of frequent food shortages and crises like conflicts, political instability, and drought. They offer a low-cost, sustainable alternative to importing expensive foods from abroad. They can also be an engine for growth and change by giving power to disadvantaged communities.