How does planting vegetables help the environment

Why is this bad? Of the many public health and environmental risks associated with burning fossil fuels, the most serious, in terms of its potentially irreversible consequences, is a phenomenon we have all become familiar with — climate change. It is the new global battlefield. It is being presented as if it is the problem of the developed world.

Despite fossil fuels containing large amounts of energy, they are rarely found in a pure, untouched state. More often than not, fossil fuels are refined and purified into a usable form, leaving excess waste material that requires disposal.

The disposal and handling of this toxic waste take a large toll on the health of the environment, the health of wildlife, and the health of surrounding communities. Another factor to take into account is the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers on conventionally grown crops. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency EPA approved the use of many pesticides that were not yet extensively researched and were later linked to cancer and other diseases.

Now the EPA considers 60 percent of all herbicides, 90 percent of all fungicides, and 30 percent of all insecticides carcinogenic. In fact, the latest EPA information on U. This is 22 percent of the estimated 5. Agricultural use accounted for 80 percent of pesticide use in the U. This common farming practice used in the United States, and in other countries, relies on government support for commodity crop production including wheat, corn, and soy through the use of government subsidies.

These farming practices reduce biodiversity, rely heavily on pesticides and commercial fertilizers , involve heavily mechanized farming practices, incorporate genetically engineered seeds, and result in a loss of soil nutrients.

As you avoid some of the negative sides to shopping for food — including a heavy dependence on fossil fuels, carcinogenic pesticides and fertilizers, and monocultures — growing your own food can give you something you may not have considered: exercise. Planting, weeding, watering, and caring for your plants will provide you with a workout that is meaningful. Posted by aussietough on December 12, Featured No Comments. Why is it important? Reduce food miles — Although exact numbers vary, but according to studies a quarter of all road freight by vehicle miles is food.

It has doubled since Planes generate 10 times more carbon emissions than if they were transported by road. The release of CO2 into the atmosphere contributes heavily to global warming. Buying seasonal fruits and vegetables that are grown in the UK significantly reduces this impact.

However, growing fruits and vegetables in your own back garden removes food miles altogether. Whether it is a plastic bag covering a bunch of bananas, or a plastic punnet containing grapes, plastic packaging is commonplace in all supermarkets.

While this packaging helps the products stay fresh and hygienic, it can have devastating effects on the environment. Though plastic is technically recyclable, in the UK it is rarely recycled.

This means it tends to end up in landfill, or in the ocean. The plastic bags that contain our vegetables can end up being ingested by whales, turtles and even seabirds, causing them harm or killing them.

Avoiding plastic packaging by growing your own fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to avoid contributing to plastic waste. This removes the need for packaging as the produce can be eaten within hours or minutes of being picked or can be stored in reusable containers for later use.

The use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is common in farming fruits and vegetables grown for supermarkets. Fertilisers improve plant growth, therefore increasing crop productivity. While commercial farms rely on these chemical products to keep up with high consumer demand, they can find their way into the crops.

Therefore, they can be ingested when we eat the produce from these farms.