Have you always thought about starting your own home garden and having fresh produce at your fingertips? This is your sign! It's no surprise that having your own home garden comes with many health benefits. Not only will you always have fresh produce available, but tending to a garden is a fun and natural routine to incorporate into your daily life. Planting new seeds, watering your crops, pulling weeds... you're moving naturally and burning calories without even thinking about it! 

By growing your own garden, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor... literally. If you're new to gardening, try starting small with a few of your favorite herbs. Then, if you're ready to grow fresh produce, follow these tips to get the most out of your garden:

• Grow what's in season. Check out this Seasonality Chart to see when your favorite fruits and vegetables are in season!
• Build a bed. These can be raised or unraised. A garden bed will help protect your plants, ensure you have plenty of nourishing soil for them and offer good drainage. You can find plenty of DIY guides online. Lots of home improvement stores also have step-by-step guides or offer easy to assemble versions.
• Choose a sunny spot. Most plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily and at least five inches of space.
• Invest in good soil and amendments. Improve the conditions of your home garden by choosing organic soil mixes, mulch, and/or fertilizer for those essential nutrients.

Don't have yard space to build an outdoor home garden? No worries! Most fruiting and flowering plants need six to eight hours of direct sun daily so set your potted plants on balconies or rooftops if possible. If you're gardening on a windowsill, you can opt for plants that require less direct sun such as certain salad greens or herbs. Still don't have any direct sunlight available? Add a grow light to mimic the sun's rays.

Gardening is a fun and interactive way to eat wisely, move naturally, downshift, and find purpose. The ultimate Blue Zones Project activity! Get started on your home garden today!