Salaphaty Rao MARRAO

From garden to heart / Saving the environment from your garden

This past year, we have faced the some of the most catastrophic fires from a local town

in California, to the wild fires which greatly affected the Amazon rainforest, to bushfires

throughout the Australian continent, all which are linked to drastic effects of climate

change. One industry which largely contributes to production of the greenhouse gasses,

about 37% of world’s total greenhouse gas emission, which is taking a toll on our

climate is the food industry, which every single one of us are very much dependent

upon.

The food industry in almost every country, is highly based in the practice of

monocropping, which encourages farmers through government subsidies, to grow a

single commodity crop. This practice though being effective in production to meet

supply demands, it is also a very unsustainable practice due to its reliance on the use of

pesticide, herbicide and fertilizers, genetically modified seeds or hybrid crops, and

mechanized farming techniques. All of which reduces the biodiversity of the soil and

eventually draining away the soil’s nutrients.

With rising concerns on climate change and unsustainability of the food industry,

organic product is becoming a trend across generations, but surprisingly, organic food

industry does more harm to the environment comparatively. Aside from heavily relying

on fossil fuels for farming practices to compensate for not using synthetic chemicals, all

of the food which we we eat are transported to the local store and have at least travelled

1500 miles, and maybe more if it’s a specialty food product flown in internationally. The
Salaphaty Rao MARRAO

use fossil fuel and the process of refining it to make it usable, produces so much toxic

waste which has bad effects on the environment, wildlife and public health.

One way I could reduce my carbon footprint in effort to slow down and possibly

reversing the effects of climate change is through starting my very own garden in my

backyard. Aside from the health and environmental benefits, I would also be able to

save a good amount of money. According to an article published in Mother Earth News,

approximately $746.52 worth of produce, with a fairly small investment of $ 63.09 on

seeds and some garden supplies, in a 100 ft2 garden. On a weekly basis I spend about

$5-$30 in fresh produce, whereas if I invest about $35, I would be able to buy heirloom

seeds for all the vegetables purchase on the weekly basis. By careful planning, I could

create a biodiverse garden by planting nitrogen-fixing plants with leafy green and pair

companion plants together and start composting food waste to fertilize my garden.

Hence, creating an ecosystem of nitrogen and nutrient cycle, resulting in good soil

conditions. During winter, I could rotate the crop and grow a variety of cold tolerant

vegetables. The amount of vegetable I could produce during a growing season, could

easily feed two of us in my household and with whatever surplus I have, I could share it

among friends and also preserve them through dehydration, canning and freezing for

consumption in the colder months.

Grocery shopping at Kroger (organic produce)

Per week $27.47

Per month (4.345 weeks) $27.47 x 4.345 weeks = $119.36

Per year (52.143 weeks) $27.47 x 52.143 weeks = $1432.37

Salaphaty Rao MARRAO
Salaphaty Rao MARRAO