With the increasing popularity of sustainable, organic and local agriculture, the environmentally conscious consumer is looking harder than ever at the impact their food purchases make. The rise of monoculture has served to greatly increase the distance our food travels to our plates as well as the number of chemicals used in crop production since the 1950s.  With such unfavourable environmental outcomes resulting from simply purchasing our produce at the grocery store, the home greenhouse offers a viable solution for the average city dweller. This article will cover some of the positive elements of growing your own produce in a home greenhouse.

Implementing seasonal gardening practices in a home greenhouse can greatly reduce the carbon footprint of your food purchases and allow you to grow fresh, organic produce year round.   Though a backyard gardener may be able to grow an abundance of fruits and vegetables throughout the late spring, summer, and early fall, they will not be able to grow or harvest through the remaining six months of the year.  A home greenhouse will extend the gardening season indefinitely and with a little supplemental heat can be used even in the coldest and shortest days of winter.  Crop selection is of utmost importance during the cold months.   For a seasonal gardening calendar see “Seasonal Gardening in a Home Greenhouse” at www.nationalgreehouse.com.

Home greenhouses allow the gardener to grow up to 100% of their own produce year round. By choosing to grow your own produce you can greatly reduce your carbon footprint from your purchased produce.  According to the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture the typical food item travels over 1,500 miles to reach our plates.  In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, the home greenhouse can greatly reduce the amount of fertilizer we contribute to the environment.  Fertilizer use in monoculture has been linked to insect pharamone disruption, water shed pollution, soil striping, and dead zones in our oceans among many other adverse impacts.

In conclusion, a home greenhouse will allow you to cultivate your own organic garden year round. Using a greenhouse can foster environmentally friendly food production and reduce the environmental impacts associated with industrial agricultural practices.

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For information: www.nationalgreenhouse.com
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