Soil is the New Prozac ... And 6 More Reasons Why You Should Grow Your Own Food

We told you in our welcome post that health is just one of the many diverse benefits of homegrown food. There are real nutrition advantages, to be sure; organic produce has been shown to be richer in nutrients than conventional fruits and vegetables. But growing at home can also save you money and shrink your carbon footprint. It can empower your kids by fostering a strong work ethic. It can connect them to the natural world and serve as a kind of antidote to the electronic media they're plugged into so much of the time - actually helping them focus and perform better academically. Working in soil may also be the cheapest and safest anti-depressant known to man because it actually has a neuro-chemical effect on the brain similar to Prozac. (The only side effect: exposure to fresh air.) Oh, and it tastes vastly better - fresher and more flavor-rich - to eat sun-ripened food rather than the grocery store produce that's chemically ripened in warehouses. Here are 7 fact-studded, research-supported reasons why you should grow your own organic food. - By Jeanne and Amanda

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