The Benefits of Home Gardens
Home gardens are small-scale subsistence farming systems that are established by families in order to supplement and get food. These garden plots often consist of a variety of fruits, vegetables, trees, crops ornamental plants, medicinal plants, and livestock [11.
Numerous studies have shown that gardening at home provides multiple advantages to families with limited resources. These benefits include nutrition, economics as well as agro-ecosystem sustainability.
Nutritional Benefits
Home gardens are essential for food and nutrition security, according to a variety of studies. They can provide a range of nutrients, enhance the quality of the staple food items, decrease "hidden hunger" and diseases caused by micronutrient deficiencies and increase family income and lifestyles. They provide ecosystem services and are often used to boost resilience of communities in times of crisis.
In Java, Indonesia, for instance, 7 percent of the time used by people gardening which accounts for 44 percent of their total calorie intake, and 32% of their protein intake. This is a higher quality than paddy rice which only accounts for 6% of a household's total calorie intake.
Gardening at home can provide a wide range of fruits, vegetables and tubers as well as minerals including iron, calcium, folic acids and vitamins (especially vitamin C). This aids in maintaining a healthy diet and lets families satisfy their nutritional requirements at a very low cost.
gardening vegetable are designed to produce high-value crops, like spices and herbal products that can be sold on the market. This has provided an additional source of income to households that are poor particularly women, while also improving their nutrition and health. Additionally, some households have been integrating poultry and livestock activities in their garden plots to increase the supply of animal protein.
In post-crisis scenarios in post-crisis situations, gardening at home is often the most effective strategy for increasing food and nutritional security. For example during the drought in Tajikistan in 2010, a large proportion of households resorted to their gardens at home to grow an assortment of plants and vegetables, which they grew to supplement their emergency food reserve. In addition, they grew crops such as beans, which could be purchased at a bargain price and made up the bulk of their food supply. This helped them avoid hunger and malnutrition and ensured 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 war and were facing economic difficulties and unemployment.
Economic Benefits
Home gardens offer a bundle of benefits that include food security and income generation. They provide a reliable and continuous supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices, as well as animal product (e.g. In addition to eggs and milk they also provide ecosystem services such as soil fertility and water conservation. These numerous benefits make backyard gardening an attractive sustainable agricultural practice, particularly in the developing countries.
The role of home gardens as a source of staple food items and an effective buffer against food insecurity has been established in a variety of studies. The research has proven that kitchen gardens create an ongoing supply of food items for consumption within the household, as well as supplementary income from sales of produce to markets. These profits can be used to fund other essential needs like education, health care, and savings.
A literature review shows that women are the primary gardeners in backyard gardens. This is a reflection of the norms of society that consider the role of women to the production of food for the household. The involvement of women in the management of home gardens helps them develop competence in gardening and plant practices that enhance their agronomic competence and helps meet family needs [4141.
In addition, the study by Rowe found that gardens at home help to supplement the diet of families living in degraded and densely populated areas with limited croplands. They achieve this by increasing the availability and variety of food items with high nutritional density, thereby improving health and balance in the diet [5252.
Due to their geography and horticultural content homes are often considered to be low-tech and cost-effective agriculture systems [53]. This means that they utilize locally available materials such as soil as well as water seeds, plants, and labour to accomplish their goals. garden plant reduces investment and operating costs compared to the cost of commercially purchased food products and creates economic benefits through reducing household expenditure.
Gardening at home not only provides an abundance of food and income, but also promote the development of rural areas and encourage entrepreneurialism. They have been proven to be particularly effective in post-conflict or fragile situations. For example, in Tajikistan which was declared independent following a prolonged civil war and subsequent natural disasters, such as drought, home gardens provided an important source of food security and poverty reduction for the population (Rowe and others. (2006)).
Medical Benefits
Many studies across the world have shown that gardens at home provide multiple social and cultural as and economic benefits. They can help improve food and nutritional security while also improving health and capacity, providing income, empowering women and protecting the natural resources. Home gardens contribute to ecosystem services, including habitats and pollinators for animals as well as nutrient recycling and erosion reduction, as well as watershed protection.
Gardening at home is now a part of many developing countries landscapes for agriculture due to their numerous benefits. For instance, in upland regions of north-east India and Latin America, home garden cultivation is typically a traditional ethno-ecological (TEK) response to declining soil fertility and site degradation from shifting agriculture practices [9The benefits of home gardens are numerous.
In addition to contributing to sustainable food production, home gardens have been proven to play a significant part in reducing 'hidden hunger' associated with micronutrient deficiencies. As noted by Wiersum and colleagues, the utilization of a variety of fruit trees and other vegetables in gardens at home allows families to have easy access to a nutritious diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals which can help them avoid diseases caused by deficiency.
In countries that are transitioning or have been through a conflict, home gardening is a method of improving nutrition, food security and livelihoods. This is due to the fact that it's flexible, affordable, and adaptable, especially for families headed by women. For example, Rowe found that in Tajikistan which gained independence from the Soviet Union and was tormented by economic turmoil and civil war households could get basic foods from rations but relied heavily on their gardens at home to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as tubers (such as yams and cassava) to add to their daily food intake.
In addition to that, the cultivation of medicinal plants in homes gardens has proved to be a significant source of medicines and treatments for a variety of ailments in many developing countries. This is because local, generally traditional herbal medicines are cheaper to make than pharmaceuticals manufactured by commercial companies and thus more affordable for families with limited resources.
Environmental Benefits
Home gardens are small-scale subsistence agriculture systems that provide food and other household commodities. They usually consist of an assortment of shrubs, trees and perennial plants as well as spices, herbs, and ornamental species. They are also an important source of income, especially for households with limited resources.
In contrast to commercial agriculture, which is dependent on chemical inputs, home gardening utilizes organic fertilizers and pesticides to help to maintain healthy soils. They also help in preserving biodiversity and natural resources.
A garden at home can serve as a habitat for wildlife like birds, insects, and other species that depend on it in order to survive. It also offers protection from the harsh environment, such as the harsh sunlight and the wind. In addition, a backyard garden can help reduce noise pollution from traffic noise from busy roads. The tall plants in the garden can help to absorb and block out sound waves, thereby ensuring the peace within the neighborhood.
In response to the increasing environmental issues There is a greater focus on establishing and improving local food systems. Home gardens are getting more attention as one of the most feasible methods of providing local food and ecosystem services. Numerous studies have highlighted positive impacts on food security, nutrition and income generation, particularly for poor families in urban and rural contexts.
Additionally, studies on the social facets of home gardens also reveal positive effects on the wellbeing and social standing of household members, particularly women. In the Achuar community of the upper Amazon region, for example the ability of women to maintain an abundant garden enhances her social standing.
Gardens at home can be an essential strategy to build resilience in the face of constant food shortages and crisis, like conflicts, political instability, and drought. They are a low-cost and sustainable alternative to the importation of expensive food items from abroad. They can also be an engine for growth and change by giving power to communities that are marginalized.