ardening means
different things to
different people. Thousands
view gardening as a hobby,
a relaxing escape from the pressures
of an urban environment.
For these people, the food produced
may be almost secondary.
Growing fresh vegetables, herbs,
or fruits provides a great sense of
joy and accomplishment. A vegetable
garden can also reduce the
family’s food budget, and it can
be a source of hard-to-find vegetables
such as kohlrabi, Chinese
cabbage, horseradish, salsify, and
pak choi. One of the main reasons
that people garden is that vegetables
from the supermarket cannot
compare in taste, quality, or
freshness with vegetables grown
in the home garden.
The vegetable garden has
traditionally been located in an
area separate from other parts of
the landscape because it was considered
unsightly. With proper
planning, however, the garden can
be both functional and attractive.
Landscape designers today often
incorporate edible plants into
many areas of the home landscape
and ornamental plants such as
flowering annuals into the vegetable
garden. This gardening philosophy,
coupled with our favorable
climate, can offer gardening
opportunities nearly all year long.