Did you know that you can have fresh, perfectly ripe tomatoes year round, even in an apartment in the city?
Depending on how much you like tomatoes, that may be extremely appealing, or completely repulsive.
Not into tomatoes? Then just substitute your favorite vegetable.
Either way…it is possible to grow your own vegetables, even if you live in a small space like an apartment.
If you want more reasons why you should learn this valuable skill, then here are the 9 primary benefits of starting your own indoor vegetable garden.
1. Year-Round Harvests
The biggest obstacle when growing food outdoors is the weather.
Related Tool: Electroculture Stakes for Potted Plants
You cannot grow if it's too wet, hot or cold.
Planting and harvesting have to be done according to Mother Nature's schedule, not what's convenient for you.
For a perfect illustration of this, watch the series Clarkson's Farm.
It's hilarious and gives you insight into what large-scale farming is really like.
As micro-farmers, we have a distinct advantage over the big guys. Since we don't have large quotas to meet, we can grow indoors and have year-round harvests.
When you control the light, temperature and moisture indoors, there's no “vegetable season” because they are always in season.
Plants like Water Spinach can grow quickly and give you abundant harvests faster than you may think.
2. Maximum Control Over Growing Conditions
When you get your vegetables from the store, you don't know where they have been or what has been sprayed on them.
The one that always makes me cringe is when food is grown next to a busy highway.
I imagine all of the pollution that comes from the cars and how that's probably getting on the food.
Growing vegetables indoors gives you total control of the growing conditions, so you know exactly where your food has been and how it was grown.
You control the lighting, soil, watering and pest control.
No “organic” designations needed.
A lot of food is also imported from other countries and they are picked green so they don't rot during shipment.
Unfortunately, that means that the vegetables usually won't be as tasty because they didn't ripen on the plant.
When you grow your own vegetables, you can pick them at maximum ripeness and get all of the taste and nutritional benefits.
3. Space Efficiency
You don't need a gigantic plot of land to grow a meaningful amount of food.
The only thing you need is a little creativity.
In reality, you can use pots and vertical gardening techniques to increase your growing area in any sized space.
Indoor vegetable gardening is perfect for apartments, townhouses and even mobile homes (van life baby!).
There are also many all-in-one devices that water your plants and provide the right amount of light.
They make growing much easier and automate the process.
You don't need those fancy contraptions though, anyone can put together a system that works for them.
4. Healthier Eating Habits
When you're tired and don't want to go to the store to buy healthy food, it can be very tempting to order some fast food or take out.
But if you have fresh vegetables staring you in the face while you're sitting on your couch, it's much easier to make your own healthy food.
You don't have to drive anywhere or pay extra for delivery.
Just pluck some vegetables from your garden and throw together a few ingredients to have a simple, delicious and healthy meal in a few minutes.
5. Environmental Benefits
Much of the food you see in grocery stores today is imported from other countries.
It's often the case that those countries are far away.
Very far.
So by growing your own vegetables, you reduce the energy and resources that go into shipping that food all over the world.
Think about how much gasoline, electricity and effort goes into getting one carrot from Brazil to your table.
It's mind blowing.
Home gardening also eliminates the excessive packaging often used in store-bought produce, helping to reduce plastic waste.
Many indoor gardening systems, such as hydroponics or aquaponics use far less water than traditional agriculture.
If you cannot grow all of your own food, then supporting local farmers markets is another way to cut down on waste, while getting high-quality food.
The more local your food, the better it is for the environment.
6. Cost Savings Over Time
Yeah, it takes a few bucks to get started with indoor vegetable gardening.
But many of the costs are low and are one-time expenses.
You'll continue to reuse the shelves, lights, pots and more.
Seeds are also cheap and can produce hundreds of new seeds when your plants mature.
It's a self-sustaining process.
Over time, growing your own vegetables can save you a ton of money over buying them from the store.
On top of that, have you noticed that grocery stores are installing digital price tags on their shelves?
Could it be that prices are increasing so fast that it makes more sense to install a fancy digital price tag than printing cheap paper ones?
I'll let you be the judge of that.
7. Mental Health and Wellness Boost
This is a benefit that you might not have considered.
Indoor gardening can have a powerful positive impact on mental health by providing a calming and mindful activity that reduces stress and anxiety.
Tending to plants encourages a routine, which can bring structure and a sense of purpose to daily life.
The act of nurturing something and watching it grow can boost self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment.
Studies have shown that being around greenery and engaging with plants can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
Indoor gardening also offers a break from screens and digital distractions, allowing for quiet moments of reflection.
Overall, it creates a peaceful environment that promotes emotional well-being and mental clarity.
8. Less Dependence on Supply Chains
This is a big one.
I'm sure that you remember a time when you couldn't get something because the suppliers were out of stock or the supply chain was temporarily down.
It's not a big deal if the latest Patagonia jacket is out of stock.
But if your food supply is interrupted, then that becomes a problem…real quick.
And there are many parts to a traditional supply chain, so if any one link breaks, the whole chain goes down.
By growing your own vegetables, you create the smallest supply chain possible and rely less on others.
Sure, your harvests will be small at first, but you have to start somewhere.
It's like anything else in life…once you master it, there's almost no limit to what you can do.
9. Fun and Educational for All Ages
Learning how to grow vegetables and herbs is a skill that has been practiced by countless generations before us.
Only in our modern age have many of us not been taught this valuable knowledge.
So learning and teaching these skills can be fun and useful for yourself and people in your community.
Kids who learn how to grow plants will learn responsibility and have a greater understanding of where their food comes from.
Older family members can also feel productive, especially if they have limited mobility.
An indoor garden provides a creative outlet for them, without the hazards of walking down stairs or falling in a place where they cannot get help.
Indoor gardening is something that everyone can participate in.
Final Thoughts
Starting a garden in a small space might seem daunting at first.
But start with the smallest possible project and only expand once you've mastered that project.
Pick your favorite vegetable and grow it from seed or seedling, to harvest.
You may have to start a couple of times before you get the hang of it.
It can be a little frustrating in the beginning, but stick with it.
I've been there.
Once you feel that you can do it consistently and you have all the plants you want, then move on to the next vegetable.
Also consider experimenting with growing techniques like electroculture.
Above all else, have fun with the project and experiment with your own ways to improve your vegetable quality and yield.
