Will I save money?
No you probably won’t save money on your grocery bill initially. You cannot compete with the volume of big agriculture. But that didn’t stop you from having an outdoor garden did it? Those tomatoes or lettuce you grew outside in the summer were probably some of the most expensive food you ate.
My wife was on a radish kick for a while. So in the spring I thought I would plant 4ftx4ft of radishes. When they were ready I brought her out to show her. We picked a few and washed and ate them. I suddenly realized I needed an acre to even keep up with how many we ate.
So why should you start an indoor garden?
Food Safety
You may not save money but you will know the provenance of your food. The food from your indoor garden wasn’t grown in a field with pesticides, fertilizer and possibly wastewater runoff. You know what went into it.
Food Supply Disruptions
With COVID lockdowns we saw disruptions in the food supply chain. Food was being destroyed because they couldn’t process or move it. Meanwhile there were shortages in the supermarkets. To feed a family requires a lot of space. Fortunately, some of the DIY and market products are capable of growing enough food to feed a family of four year round.
Rising Costs
Food costs have been the cheapest in history for a very long time. We have gotten used to this but it’s about to change very quickly. Factors such as a growing global population and climate change have placed a lot of stress on the food supply. It’s predicted that food costs will continue to rise for the foreseeable future.
While I said you may not save money with indoor gardening initially. I meant to say don’t do it if that’s your only reason. Over time you will learn how to grow efficiently based on what your family will eat, what grows best and preplanning your harvest cycles. Yep I said that. But once you start thinking of this as your family farm you will be able to reduce your food bill.
Health Benefits
Beyond the health benefit of the fact that eating food that you grew is a huge plus, there is another. Air Quality.
Indoor air in our homes is some of the most polluted air we breath. Especially if you live in a northern climate where the windows are usually closed for 3-4 months. The worst is cooking fumes - unless you only microwave. Frying, sauteing, broiling, stewing - all give off fumes that remain in the air we breathe.
Imagine having something the size of an Ikea bookshelf but it’s a wall of green plants. Not only is this thing going to feed you but it can potentially cycle the air in your home faster.
Wow Factor
Let’s face it, we all do things because we want to impress our friends and family. Who hasn’t bought something for the cool factor? Well what could be more of a “Wow” feature than having a wall of edible plants in your home?
Green Walls are a hot trend in the interior design world at the moment. Adding a green feature is one of the best ways to improve not only the environment in your home but also the aesthetics. With more people working from home due to COVID, many are looking to destress their home office environment. Studies show plants create a more relaxing environment conducive to getting work done. I’m writing this article as I sit next to my garden wall.