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Growing your own food is a major part of living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle – and allows you to enjoy delicious fruits and veggies from your very own home! Sound tempting? Then we have good news: you can start growing your very own vegetables today, using items you already have around the home.

Many people associate gardening with lots of equipment, some of it expensive, as well as needing plenty of space to plant and grow the crops. It is possible, however, to start enjoying tasty, healthy fruit and veg today – and you already have the tools to do it.

Grow Your Own!

Growing your own vegetables from scraps is a great way to really reduce your food waste, and make every morsel count. This helps us use the Earth’s resources more effectively, reducing the waste we produce which can damage the planet.

Using what we have is also more cost-effective, and helps to reduce the plastic and packaging which often comes with supermarket-purchased items.

What You Need

Food waste or scraps
A small pot or container, such as a yoghurt pot, butter tub or ice cream container

It really is that simple! There are a range of items you can grow, and these include:

Carrots

Next time you chop carrots, save the very tops to generate new veg. Just place the scraps in a bowl top down, fill with an inch or so of water, and place somewhere sunny. Change the water everyday, and you will soon see tiny sprouts start to appear. At this point, you can transfer the plant to soil – again, simply use a container you already have in your home.

Peppers

Next time you enjoy a crunchy pepper, save the seeds. Pop them in a little soil, and make sure you water them regularly. Voila! A brand new pepper plant in no time!

Onion

Onions are truly magical – just chop one in half and bury it in some soil. In no time at all, it will regenerate to give you a brand new onion!

Potato

To maintain a steady supply of potatoes, why not grow your own? Save one from dinner, and cut it in half. Keep the two pieces at room temperature for around three days, and plant them in soil once they are dry to the touch. Before long, you can enjoy a brand new, homegrown potato crop.

These are just a few of the plants you can grow from the food already in your home – why not experiment with other seeds and see what you can create from your scraps?

No matter which country we live in, or the name of the town, whether we live in a house or a flat or a mobile structure, there is one thing we call have in common: we all call Planet Earth our home.

And she needs our help.

There are currently around 3 trillion trees on the planet, but this number is sadly declining quickly.

Why Do We Need Trees?

Trees do a lot of important jobs, and help us in everyday life.

Providing oxygen – Trees are responsible for providing us with oxygen to breathe. They use photosynthesis to remove extra carbon dioxide from the air, and convert it into the oxygen we need to breathe.
They prevent floods – The roots of trees can help to help take in excess water and reduce floods, by giving rainwater somewhere to go.
They clean our air – Trees do a great job at filtering our air to leave it fresh and clean.
They boost our mood – Being around trees makes us less tired, improves our memories, and helps us to relax and unwind.
They provide homes – Trees are a home wildlife and birds, with every part from the roots right up to the thinnest branches creating a habitat for insects, birds and mammals.

Trees are one of the most important features of our planet, and we need to help them out!

What Can I Do?

The easiest way to do your bit for our precious planet is to plant your very own tree! Choose a space in your garden which gets plenty of sunlight, and where your tree will have room to grow. Remember that some of them can get very big! Apple trees are always a great one to start with – and you have the added bonus of delicious fruit!

No Garden? No Need To Worry!

Some of us live in different places, and might not have a garden or any space to plant a tree. We have good news: you can plant things to grow anywhere! All you need is a small pot, and a tree or plant of your choice. If you have a balcony, choose a corner and a plant which enjoys the sun, and instantly brighten up your outside space.

You can also grow an indoor plant – this will still let you do your bit to save the planet, and there are plenty of plants which prefer an inside life. Snake plants, ficuses, spider plants and yuccas are all super easy to get you started with your own indoor garden.

How Do I Plant My Tree?

This might seem like a big job, but it is super simple, and can make a huge difference. Worried that you don’t have a garden? Grab your plant, and lets get digging! Follow these steps to create your own piece of nature wherever you are!

Start by digging a hole in the soil, or filling up your plant pot and making a small dip in the middle. Make sure it is bigger than the seedling you want to plant.
Remove your plant from its container – be very gentle, and don’t tear any leaves or roots.
Place the plant gently in the hole or dip you have made.
Fill in the hole with soil and pat it down firmly – make sure the surface is firm and there are no gaps! Check that the roots are below the surface, and the plant stands straight and tall.
Make sure you provide plenty of water, depending on what your plant needs – you can find this information online or on the seed packet.

Congratulations – you have made a real difference to the planet! Now, time to decide what you will plant next, or do some research on different types of trees, vegetables and flowers!

Make sure you head over to check out Zayna’s latest adventure – she has lots of helpful tips to help you make a difference!