Nothing beats home grown strawberries!
Using the Environmental Working Group’s ‘Dirty Dozen‘ List to plant a Healthy Harvest!
*Post updated 4/24/2024*
I’ve used this guide for years to help me choose what I plant in my veggie patch. I pay close attention to the Environmental Working Group (EWG’s) ‘Dirty Dozen’; an annually updated list of the twelve fruits and veggies found to have the highest levels of pesticide and herbicide residue. This is a straightforward publication that can help you both in purchasing healthy food, and planning what you want to plant. The EWG has so much well researched information; their website is worthwhile for their “Food Scores” app among others.
Why do you grow your own fruits + vegetables?
Of course the taste is far better than you can buy in the grocery store, and the nutritional value is higher because of freshness… but after a few common truths, the reasons we grow our food are as wonderfully varied as each garden. I see this as part of the inherent beauty of growing your own food. Beauty in diversity through and through♥!
For my family, we grow what we like to eat (duh). You have to enjoy the ‘fruits’ of your labor or else tending the garden will become more work than pleasure.
One way I can easily justify spending my time hauling compost and growing seedlings is knowing how much tastier and healthier the food we’re eating is than what I can get in the grocery store. Another thing that keeps me weeding through the steamy months is how much money I’m growing- I mean saving – my family.
For those of you interested in getting the most bang for your buck with garden space… Continue reading
