Health Benefits Of Growing Your Own With Airgarden

The “grow your own food” movement is growing rapidly in Australia, with almost 5 million Australian households now attempting to do so with the goal of being healthier, more self-sufficient, and kinder to the planet.

And it’s pretty easy to understand why – a homegrown garden offers a virtually free supply of fresh, healthy and chemical-free produce.

In addition to being healthier, gardening provides countless benefits for your mind and soul. Check out these research-backed facts about how growing your own can improve your physical and mental health.

Freshness and nutritional value

By the time you buy fruit and vegetables from the supermarket, most are at least a week old. But every hour that passes after harvesting, their nutritional value decreases rapidly – losing an average of 30% of their nutritional value just three days after being harvested.  

As an example, spinach has been proven to lose 90% of its vitamin C content within 24 hours of harvest, and 50% of its folate, carotenoids, and b-vitamins within one week

Our current commercial food system is built on the premise that food needs to be genetically altered so it can travel long distances and look ‘perfect’ on the supermarket shelf. But looking perfect has nothing to do with nutrition and flavour!

Healthy, nutrient-dense food comes from plants that are natural and fresh, which is a cornerstone of growing your own.

Nutritional value of soil vs aeroponically grown produce

As for growing produce aeroponically versus in soil, there is extensive research that shows plants grown aeroponically contain as high or higher nutritional content than those grown in soil.

Plants produce their own vitamins, so vitamin levels are similar whether grown aeroponically or in soil – what matters is the nutrients being used. The result is, when growing with a natural mineral-based solution like Airgarden’s 2-part nutrient solution, that vegetables grown aeroponically are often nutritionally superior and fuller in flavour when compared to their counterparts grown in soil.

Furthermore, as plants’ roots are suspended in open air and directly sprayed with water and nutrients, they do not need to expend energy seeking out these essential growth-drivers – this allows for better nutrient absorption in the process of photosynthesis. 

100% natural - even better than organic!

In order to be labeled “organic”, herbs and vegetables must be grown in a soil-based environment using a plant or an animal-based fertiliser. This means that although the ‘organic’ produce you buy at the supermarket is grown free from pesticides and GMOs, it has often been grown in soil depleted from nutrients, which has been enhanced with animal-based fertilisers (not necessarily plant-based).

When growing with an aeroponic system like the Airgarden, growers use Airgarden’s proprietary natural mineral solution. This solution is made up of 100% natural earth minerals which have been expertly designed to deliver all necessary nutrients straight to plants’ roots, resulting in healthier plant growth. 

Chemical-free

Australia has some of the highest pesticide use in the western world – chemicals such as pesticides, antibiotics and hormones are used commonly in plant farming to boost production, reduce food waste and ensure adequate food supply. Consuming produce which has been sprayed with chemicals has been proven to have detrimental health consequences

When you grow your own garden, you decide what your plant eats, what goes on the plant, and exactly how much of it. Furthermore, when growing aeroponically plants are less susceptible to pests and funguses, which means often aeroponically grown produce does not require any pesticide whatsoever.

Know exactly what you’re eating

Understanding where our food comes from gives us a better sense of appreciation for what goes into producing the things we eat. Since food has become so freely abundant it can be difficult for younger generations to make connections between what they’re eating, and where it’s come from.

Creating meals with and eating your own homegrown herbs and vegetables creates a strong connection between the earth, body and mind.

Homegrown food is far tastier!

Growing your own food, and harvesting from your balcony, courtyard or backyard, means your food simply couldn’t be fresher. By growing your own, you’ll get to enjoy fresher, more nutritious and more delicious food. 

Body and mind benefits

Growing your own connects you with nature, and creates a space away from screens and the hustle and bustle of the daily grind! Plus there’s nothing more satisfying than watching your plants grow from seed, to seedling all the way through to harvesting and enjoying the delicious fruits (or veggies!) of your labor.