Plants for the planet

Eating. Most of us do too much of it. That was certainly the case for me this summer. Then right on cue a fitting piece of research hits the news the day I am back at my desk. The ‘Planetary Health Diet’ adds weight to the inkling that my food shopping is due for a gear shift. And it got me thinking. As a gardener I am perfectly placed to do what’s right, both for me and the planet.

Eat mainly plants. Filling plates with fruits and vegetables is such a joy when you’ve grown your own. Who needs all that fat and sugar when we have vegetables that are fresher and tastier and homegrown herbs for seasoning?

A kitchen garden provides the ultimate convenience food. Plus it’s food-mile free! No need for a fuel-burning drive to the shop. No need for nasty plastic packaging. No waste! Food waste is another huge problem for our planet, but having a garden means we only pick what we need for each meal and any scraps go back into the soil as compost.

Parenting experts often state that you are far more likely to get young children to eat vegetables if they are involved in growing and harvesting what they eat. The children of today’s gardeners are the world’s future gardeners.

Ask any keen gardener if their parents were gardeners and the answer is usually yes. Mark Boyd, our real gardener this issue (page 10) can attest to that, although he says he’s not quite the vege gardener his grandfather was. Mark’s driving force is his passion for the ornamental side of horticulture. So much so, he’s made a career of it.

Whether you eat them or simply grow them for their sheer natural beauty, plants are the best chance this planet has of lasting the distance. And autumn is the best season for planting.